The National Women’s Soccer League will wrap up the 2021 regular season with a six-game slate over four days, including a doubleheader on Sunday on CBS Sports platforms. Three teams have clinched postseason spots and four are battling for the final three spots heading into the season finale. You can read up on all of the possible clinching scenarios here. As always, you can watch all the action on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and Twitch.
Here’s how to watch and what to know about the games this weekend:
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How to watch NWSL regular-season finale
Thursday, Oct. 28
- NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (Twitch)
Friday, Oct. 29
- Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars 7 p.m. ET (Twitch)
Saturday, Oct. 30
- Kansas City NWSL vs. OL Reign, 8 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage, 10 p.m. ET (Twitch)
Sunday, Oct. 31
- Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash, 2 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC 3 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Current NWSL standings
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Portland Thorns: 43 points — clinched playoff spot
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OL Reign: 39 points — clinched playoff spot
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Washington Spirit: 36 points — clinched playoff spot
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Chicago Red Stars: 35 points
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NJ/NY Gotham FC: 33 points
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Houston Dash: 32 points
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North Carolina Courage: 32 points
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Orlando Pride: 28 points — eliminated
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Racing Louisville FC: 20 points — eliminated
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Kansas City NWSL: 16 points — eliminated
Two chances for Gotham FC to clinch
Both teams will meet on Thursday and Sunday, with a previously postponed match finally being made up ahead of the final day of the season. Gotham FC have a win-and-in decision day scenario for Thursday, and a victory on the road against Louisville will have them clinch a playoff spot. Racing Louisville might be eliminated from playoff contention for weeks, but their final two games will serve as an opportunity to close out their season strong and look ahead to 2022. Additionally, Racing will have the chance to play the role of spoiler if they can keep Gotham’s attackers at bay; Margaret Purce has nine goals, which has her second in the Golden boot race.
Chicago eyes sixth-straight playoff appearance
The Orlando Pride recently announced that interim coach Becky Burleigh will not be in charge next season, which means Saturday’s match will be her last with the club. After taking over the team in July after Marc Skinner resigned to take over the Manchester United job, Burleigh and the Pride were eliminated from playoff contention with one game remaining. The team now has one final chance to snap its four-game losing skid. The Chicago Red Stars, fourth in the league table, head to Orlando one hoping to seal their playoff destiny with a win, after defeating the Pride two weeks ago at home, 1-0. The last time Chicago failed to make the postseason was back in 2014.
OL Reign in search of bye-week berth
After a 2-0 loss to the Spirit last week, the Reign are on the road in search of locking up second place, which is good enough for a bye week into the semifinal. Kansas City, meanwhile, is in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak at home as it has embraced the role of spoiler late into the season. OL Reign outside back/winger Sofia Huerta is tied for the NWSL lead in assists with six and center forward Bethany Balcer is in a three-way second-place tie in the golden boot race with nine goals. The two have a chance to lead OL Reign to the NWSL semifinals for the fifth time in franchise history with a strong outing.
Courage face a must-win
As it stands, the North Carolina Courage sit outside the top six and are on the brink of missing the postseason for the first time in franchise history. On the road facing rivals Portland Thorns FC, North Carolina will need a strong performance from striker Lynn Williams, who is averaging 0.7 combined expected goals and expected assists per 90 minutes, good for fifth-best in the league. She scored a brace against the Thorns in their previous regular-season meeting.
Houston tries to stay afloat
Houston Dash are in sixth and level on points with a North Carolina squad that’s outside of the top six. The Dash will try to punch a ticket to the playoffs on the road against Washington Spirit, needing a big game from team captain Rachel Daly, who’s in the golden boot mix with nine goals. She’ll go head-to-head with the current leader Ashley Hatch, who has 10 goals this season. Houston just needs to notch more points than North Carolina in order to stay in the top six and secure a postseason spot.
