The semifinal round begins Saturday, November 15 on CBS at 12 p.m. ET as the Washington Spirit hosts Portland Thorns FC at Audi Field.

Orlando Pride take on Gotham FC on Sunday, November 16, at Inter&Co Stadium, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ABC.

• The top eight teams in the NWSL will qualify for the playoffs at the end of the regular season.
• The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament.
• The teams are seeded 1 through 8 based on their regular season standings.
• The higher-seeded team will host the match in both the quarterfinal and semi-final rounds, unless venue availability prevents it.

• Quarterfinals:
• Seed 1 vs. Seed 8
• Seed 2 vs. Seed 7
• Seed 3 vs. Seed 6
• Seed 4 vs. Seed 5
• Semifinals:
• The winner of the 1 vs. 8 game plays the winner of the 4 vs. 5 game.
• The winner of the 2 vs. 7 game plays the winner of the 3 vs. 6 game.
• The winners of the two semifinal games will compete in the NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, on 11/22 at Paypal Park to determine the league winner.

If two or more teams finish the regular season with the same number of points, the tie is broken using the following criteria in order:

1. Goal differential
2. Most total wins
3. Most goals scored
4. Head-to-head results (total points accumulated)
5. Head-to-head most goals scored
6. Least Disciplinary Points Accumulated
7. A coin flip for two teams, or a drawing of lots for three or more teams

• If a playoff game is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety.
• Teams are allowed the use of an additional substitute in extra time and an additional substitution window (whether or not the team has already used the full number of permitted substitutes/windows).
• If the score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner.