Only eight teams can advance to the 2025 NWSL Playoffs and with seven spots already secured, one postseason ticket remains up for grabs. Here are the playoff scenarios that will decide that last spot as well as the many ways each postseason-bound team could match up in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.

READ MORE: NWSL Decision Day 101

Who Has Clinched and Who Has Been Eliminated

Clinched

1. Kansas City Current – No. 1 seed / NWSL Shield winner
2. Washington Spirit – No. 2 seed
3. Orlando Pride – Clinched Week 24
4. Seattle Reign FC – Clinched Week 25
5. San Diego Wave FC – Clinched Week 25
6. Gotham FC – Clinched Week 25
7. Portland Thorns FC – Clinched Week 25
8. —

READ MORE: 2025 NWSL Playoffs: Who Has Clinched So Far

Eliminated

• Chicago Red Stars – Eliminated Week 22
• Bay FC – Eliminated Week 23
• Utah Royals FC – Eliminated Week 24
• Angel City FC – Eliminated Week 25
• Houston Dash – Eliminated Week 25

Playoff Scenarios

Racing Louisville FC clinches playoffs with:

• Win
• North Carolina draw/loss

North Carolina Courage clinches playoffs with:

• Win AND Louisville draw/loss

Top-4 Clinching Scenarios

(note: any scenario denoted with "OR" needs only one of the following to occur)

Orlando Pride

• Clinches No. 3 seed with a win
• Clinches No. 3 or No. 4 seed with a draw AND San Diego draw/loss OR Portland draw/loss
• Clinches No. 4 seed with a loss AND San Diego draw/loss AND Portland draw/loss AND Gotham draw/loss

Seattle Reign FC

• Clinches No. 3 seed with a win
• Clinches No. 4 seed with a draw AND San Diego draw/loss AND Portland draw/loss AND Gotham draw/loss
• Clinches No. 4 seed with a loss AND San Diego loss AND Portland loss AND Gotham draw/loss

San Diego Wave FC

• Clinches No. 3 or No. 4 seed with a win AND Orlando draw OR Portland draw/loss OR Portland win but San Diego finishes ahead on goal differential
• Clinches No. 4 seed with a draw AND Seattle loss AND Portland draw/loss AND Gotham draw/loss

Portland Thorns FC

• Clinches No. 3 or No. 4 seed with a win AND Orlando draw OR San Diego draw/loss OR San Diego win but Portland finishes ahead on goal differential
• Clinches No. 4 seed with a draw AND Seattle loss AND San Diego loss AND Gotham draw/loss

Gotham FC

• Clinches No. 4 seed with a win AND San Diego draw/loss AND Portland draw/loss

Tiebreakers

If teams finish level on points, standings will be determined in the following order:

1. Goal differential
2. Total wins
3. Goals scored
4. Head-to-head record
5. Head-to-head goals scored
6. Fewest yellow/red cards
7. Coin flip