With Decision Day done, the 2026 NWSL playoff schedule is officially locked in. Eight teams survived a chaotic final weekend of play on Sunday to earn top seeds and inch their way above the cutoff line. Now, the NWSL playoff bracket shapes up with a loaded field heading into next weekend's quarterfinals.
Gotham FC earned its first ever NWSL Shield after beating the Utah Royals at home, 2-0. The 2025 NWSL Champions finished the season 18-5-7 with a league-best 61 points, just edging the San Diego Wave.
On the other end of the table, the Seattle Reign secured the eighth and final seed after slipping past Orlando Pride 1-0. At the same time, Seattle’s win knocked both North Carolina Courage and expansion side Denver Summit out of contention.
Where to Watch the 2026 NWSL Playoffs This Weekend
Now, with the bracket set, quarterfinals open Friday, November 6th No. 2 San Diego hosts No. 7 Utah at 10 PM ET (Prime). Significantly, the matchup marks Utah's first-ever playoff run.
On Saturday, No. 4 Kansas City takes on No. 5 Angel City at 12 PM ET (CBS).
Then, on Sunday, a doubleheader kicks off with Gotham and Seattle at 12:30 PM ET, followed by No. 3 Washington against No. 6 Portland at 3 PM ET (ABC).
Lastly, the championship match kicks off November 21st in Washington, DC (CBS/Paramount+).
