After the NWSL’s first Decision Day delivered on the chaos, the playoffs promise just as much excitement.
While the San Diego Wave and Portland Thorns take a break after earning a first-round bye, four other teams – including three sides who missed out on last year’s playoffs – begin the 2023 postseason with the hopes of lifting the NWSL’s revamped silverware a month from now.
The OL Reign will embark on yet another quest for NWSL glory after Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars, allowing them to extend Megan Rapinoe’s career by at least one more game before she officially retires. They will take on first-time playoff contenders Angel City, who have lost just once since making a managerial change and handing Becki Tweed the reins in June.
The North Carolina Courage, meanwhile, hope to translate this year’s Challenge Cup triumph into a meaningful postseason run on the back of an MVP-caliber season from Kerolin. They will have to get through NJ/NY Gotham FC first, though, who hope to give Ali Krieger an ideal sendoff before her retirement and will rely on attacking talents like Lynn Williams and Midge Purce to get the job done.
Here’s a look at the NWSL playoff picture before the action…
