The 2026 NWSL regular season wrapped up over the weekend, leaving eight teams to battle for the championship. Gotham FC has already claimed the Shield and now has a chance to finish the season with both major trophies.
Here’s a look at the teams that stand out as the playoffs begin.
Favorites
No. 2 San Diego Wave — Quarterfinal against Utah Royals
- Expected goals created: 51.9, fourth-most; goals scored: 45, sixth-most
- Expected goals conceded: 30.0, fewest; goals conceded: 31, third-fewest
San Diego enters the postseason on a seven-game unbeaten run and looks like one of the league’s most well-rounded sides.
Captain Kennedy Wesley leads a backline that has made the Wave exceptionally tough to break down. After struggling to find a consistent scorer in 2025, San Diego now has Trinity Byars, who has 11 goals. The team also has an exciting young group, including Melanie Barcenas, Mimi Van Zanten, Lia Godfrey and Kimmi Ascanio. It’s easy to see why the Wave will be a popular pick to win the title.
The winner of the Kansas City Current–Angel City FC quarterfinal
Kansas City has won five straight, while Angel City is unbeaten in its past 10 matches.
This could be a lively first-round matchup. Both teams have scored 54 goals, the most in the league, and Kansas City leads the NWSL in expected-goal differential, with Angel City sitting third.
They’re closely matched in another way, too: each side has three players with at least eight goals.
One possible edge for Kansas City is CPKC Stadium, where the Current set a league record with a 32-game regular-season unbeaten streak. Still, the team lost at home in last year’s quarterfinals to Gotham, which went on to win the 2025 championship.
Contenders
No. 1 Gotham FC — Quarterfinal against Seattle Reign
- Expected goals created: 48.5, seventh-most; goals scored: 39, tied for sixth-fewest
- Expected goals conceded: 39.1, fourth-fewest; goals conceded: 23, fewest
The Shield winners belong among the favorites, though their path has become more complicated.
Midfielder Jaelin Howell left the regular-season finale in the 22nd minute, and any absence would be a significant blow. Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw returned as second-half substitutes, but it remains unclear whether either will be ready to start in the playoffs.
Gotham’s defense has been remarkable, recording an NWSL-record 14 clean sheets. A strong backline and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, a leading candidate for Goalkeeper of the Year, have been central to that success.
The concern is at the other end of the field. Gotham scored only 39 goals, the league’s seventh-lowest total. If Shaw, who has 11 goals, isn’t fully fit, the team’s lack of attacking production could matter even more.
No. 3 Washington Spirit — Quarterfinal against Portland Thorns
- Expected goals created: 47.3, eighth-most; goals scored: 43, eighth-most
- Expected goals conceded: 34.8, second-fewest; goals conceded: 28, second-fewest
Washington’s defense, led by Tara Rudd, Esme Morgan and Gabrielle Carle, has been one of the league’s strongest, making life difficult for opposing attacks.
The offense has been more middle-of-the-pack, but Trinity Rodman has put together a career year, with 20 goal contributions: 12 goals and eight assists.
The Spirit will be without midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who was placed on the season-ending injury list. It’s another setback for a team that has dealt with plenty of health problems this season.
Washington lost five of six home matches before responding with two straight wins at Audi Field. Which version of the Spirit will turn up in the quarterfinal?
Wild Card
No. 6 Portland Thorns — Quarterfinal at Washington Spirit
- Expected goals created: 48.7, sixth-most; goals scored: 50, fifth-most
- Expected goals conceded: 47.9, fifth-most; goals conceded: 41, ninth-most
Portland has the playoffs’ leading remaining scorer in Sophia Wilson. She returned to the NWSL in emphatic fashion, finishing with 20 goal contributions: 15 goals and five assists. A player like Wilson can change a postseason game almost on her own.
Pietra Tordin has also enjoyed the best season of her career, recording 17 goal contributions with eight goals and nine assists. She has played across all four attacking positions and formed an excellent partnership with Wilson.
The Thorns have also held their own against other playoff teams, posting a 5-5-4 record.
Still, Portland has the weakest expected-goal differential among the eight postseason teams. The attack may need to do a lot of the heavy lifting.
Long Shots
No. 7 Utah Royals — Quarterfinal at San Diego Wave
- Expected goals created: 45.2, seventh-fewest; goals scored: 44, seventh-most
- Expected goals conceded: 42.2, seventh-fewest; goals conceded: 39, tied for sixth-fewest
Utah has reached the NWSL playoffs for the first time. But rather than building momentum late in the season, the Royals finished the regular season without a win in their last four matches.
Cloé Lacasse leads the attack with 18 goal contributions, including eight goals and 10 assists. Mina Tanka has added 14, with nine goals and five assists. Utah is the only playoff team without a player who scored at least 10 goals.
At the back, Kate Del Fava has delivered another impressive season. The three-time Iron Woman also earned her first call-up to the USWNT.
The concern is Utah’s record against fellow playoff teams: 3-8-3.
No. 8 Seattle Reign — Quarterfinal at Gotham FC
- Expected goals created: 43.4, fourth-fewest; goals scored: 37, third-fewest
- Expected goals conceded: 40.9, sixth-fewest; goals conceded: 39, tied for sixth-fewest
NWSL great Jess Fishlock is guaranteed at least one more game before her career ends.
Seattle has a sturdy defense, but its attack has struggled. The Reign scored the third-fewest goals in the league and the fewest among the playoff teams. They’ll need someone beyond Maddie Mercado to make an impact.
Seattle will also have to contend with a 4-7-3 record against teams that made the playoffs.
