The penultimate NWSL matchday has arrived, and there's no game with higher stakes this weekend than Saturday's clash between seventh-place Portland and ninth-place Louisville.
Both clubs sit three points from the postseason cutoff line, and while Louisville has everything to gain, the Thorns — who snapped Orlando’s unbeaten streak last weekend — have everything to lose.
Elsewhere in the NWSL, eighth-place Bay FC's Saturday test against the fifth-place Courage could determine multiple postseason fates. Meanwhile, ACFC hosts the surging Royals in a must-win match on Sunday.
NWSL playoff field comes down to two spots
With just two regular-season games to go, six of the NWSL's eight playoff berths are locked, while six other teams — Portland, Bay FC, Louisville, Utah, Angel City, and San Diego — are looking to punch the last two tickets.
This weekend's clinch and elimination scenarios:
- Seventh-place Portland can secure a berth with a win over Louisville, or a draw with Louisville plus a Bay FC loss.
- Eighth-place Bay FC can clinch with a win over North Carolina and a Louisville loss, or a draw with North Carolina plus a Louisville loss and a draw between Angel City and Utah.
- A Bay FC win immediately eliminates Angel City, San Diego, and Utah.
- To stay alive, 11th-place Angel City and 12th-place San Diego must win while 10th-place Utah must at least draw.
- Ninth-place Louisville can only be eliminated with a loss to Portland plus a Bay FC win or draw.
Hardware hoisters face off on Sunday
The top of the NWSL table has postseason berths and hosting duties all locked up, but even without playoff positioning on the line, Sunday's tilt between league-leaders Orlando and third-place Gotham is about more than bragging rights: The 2024 Shield-winners' visit to the 2023 champions feels like a postseason preview, all wrapped up in a Kelley O'Hara retirement party.
The Pride's response to their first season loss will unfold on Sunday's pitch while Gotham will be facing the only team to defeat them since June. Low stakes aside, this match is arguably all about momentum.
How to watch key NWSL matches this weekend
Portland kicks off against Louisville on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET before Bay FC takes on North Carolina at 10 PM ET, both on ION.
Then on Sunday, Angel City faces Utah at 7:30 PM ET, with live coverage on Paramount+.
The Pride's visit to Gotham will kick off at 5 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage on ESPN.