Decision Day has arrived in the NWSL: there’s just one day packed with six games, all starting at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+, to end the regular season. Two teams have already clinched spots in the postseason, two teams have been eliminated and four slots are left for eight teams. It’s a recipe for classic NWSL chaos, and if you’re a neutral just trying to figure out what to watch, it could be a little overwhelming.
So The Athletic has whipped up a guide for which games you should tune in to if you have to choose. Keep in mind this could all change quickly given the unstable field that seems to make up the warp and weft of this league. There are 726 possible outcomes across the six games, but some of those outcomes are more chaotic than others.
Factors that went into considering the “must-watchability” of each game include winning the Shield, playoff ranking to determine who gets to play at home and the on-field matchup between teams, along with other intangibles like, quite frankly, vibes. With the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds getting a first-round bye, the No. 3 seed and the No. 4 seeds will host. Travel, however, somewhat diminishes as a factor given the long break between quarterfinals and semifinals due to the November international window, as well as six days to rest and…
