It’s Monday, the 2025 NWSL common season is now within the rearview mirror, which suggests it’s time for ESPN’s playoff Energy Rankings.
Who’s greatest positioned for a deep postseason run? Our writers studied the motion from the weekend to provide you with the order of all eight playoff groups. Let’s dive in.
Subsequent match: Sunday vs. Gotham FC, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC (stream stay with ABC on ESPN)
Kansas Metropolis was the primary staff to ebook its playoff spot and the primary to seal home-field benefit by means of the semifinal, if it makes it that far. The Present additionally set new NWSL information for: most factors (65), most wins (21), most street wins (10) and most clear sheets (16) in a single NWSL season. Taking part in San Diego of their closing recreation, they conceded a objective to Dudinha and trailed at residence for the primary time in 2025, however rallied for the 2-1 victory even with Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga injured. Her absence within the postseason could be huge, however she hasn’t been dominated out. Worrying for Gotham, who play them subsequent weekend, the Present have loads of game-changing high quality past her.
Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Racing Louisville, midday ET
With a prolonged harm listing that included their 4 high scorers (Reward Monday was an excused absence), the second-place Spirit misplaced their closing match of the yr 1-0 to Utah. House benefit within the subsequent spherical was already wrapped up, however followers can be rightfully eager to see gamers like Trinity Rodman return from her MCL sprain. Exterior of the Present, Washington has been probably the most constantly elite staff in 2025, however its harm listing is one to look at as we hit the postseason.
Subsequent match: Friday vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET
Carrying ahead an unlucky theme on the high of the desk, the reigning champions ended the season with out their high scorer (and final yr’s Championship MVP) Barbra Banda. Banda’s season-ending hip harm coincided with a regarding nine-game winless run that the staff snapped on the finish of September. Since that turnaround victory in opposition to San Diego, Orlando has gone undefeated in 5 common season video games (three wins, two attracts) together with wins in opposition to three groups within the high six: Washington, Portland and San Diego. It completed the yr at residence the place it settled for a 1-1 draw in opposition to Seattle. The Satisfaction usually are not within the type they have been final yr, however they’ve nonetheless acquired the juice to make a deep run.
Subsequent match: Sunday vs. San Diego Wave, 3 p.m. ET, ABC (stream stay with ABC on ESPN)
Portland’s 2-0 win in opposition to Houston was sufficient to seal home-field benefit within the postseason, and end the yr with three wins from their final 4 video games. On paper, that’s stable type from the three-time champions. Nonetheless, within the second half of 2025, the Thorns have simply two wins, one draw and 4 defeats when taking part in playoff groups. That features defeats to Orlando and Gotham of their closing 5 video games.
Subsequent match: Sunday at Kansas Metropolis Present, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC (stream stay with ABC on ESPN)
Gotham entered their closing match of the yr nonetheless capable of clinch home-field benefit with a top-four end, however after shedding 3-2 to ninth-place North Carolina (and due to outcomes elsewhere in a tightly packed desk), they completed the yr in eighth place. That’s devastating information for the 2023 champs, who’ll begin their postseason on the street in Kansas Metropolis, the place a record-setting Present have but to lose this season. Gamers like Rose Lavelle are in scorching type, getting back from worldwide responsibility (the place she scored two objectives this window) to attain her third objective in 5 video games for Gotham, however the staff’s high scorer Esther González ended the season on the harm listing. The Spanish striker’s 13 objectives are nicely forward of Lavelle’s 5 because the staff’s subsequent high scorer, and followers can be desirous to see if she’s wholesome for a frightening problem in Kansas Metropolis.
Subsequent match: Sunday at Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET, ABC (stream stay with ABC on ESPN)
Sunday in Kansas Metropolis, 20-year-old Dudinha scored by means of the legs of fellow Brazil worldwide Lorena to ship Kansas Metropolis down a objective at residence for the primary time this season. That’s 5 objectives in 5 video games for the Brazilian, whose type is pink scorching heading into the postseason. San Diego went on to lose 2-1 to the league leaders, however the Wave’s type is heating up, after wanting shaky throughout a seven recreation winless run (5 defeats, two attracts) beginning in mid-August.
Subsequent match: Friday at Orlando Satisfaction, 8 p.m. ET
No staff besides Gotham earned as many attracts in 2025, and fittingly, that’s how they ended the yr. Seattle’s ninth draw of the 2025 common season was a 1-1 stalemate in opposition to reigning champion Orlando, with some extent secured due to 19-year-old Jordyn Bugg’s 79th-minute equalizer. A draw is best than a loss, however a win may have secured home-field benefit and a extra favorable matchup within the postseason. As a substitute, they’ll get a second-straight take a look at with the Satisfaction to start out their postseason marketing campaign.
Subsequent match: Saturday at Washington Spirit, midday ET
The curse is lastly damaged. Louisville made membership historical past with a 1-0 win in opposition to Bay FC on Sunday, incomes a postseason berth for the primary time in 5 seasons, narrowly avoiding a fifth consecutive ninth-place end. With a lone objective from rookie Ella Hase (her first NWSL objective, and what a time to attain it) Racing head to D.C. for his or her first-ever playoff recreation. The Spirit can be no straightforward take a look at, and Audi Area is certain to ship its benefit, however the momentum of constructing historical past may propel this constantly scrappy and stable aspect to trigger hassle within the District.
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