SportsDonna

All 14 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League are scheduled to play their 26th and final game of the season on November 2, the last weekend of regular-season play. With a mix of long-standing powerhouses and up-and-coming teams fighting for postseason spots, the 2025 season has been among the league’s most competitive in recent memory. Every point in the standings is extremely important because the top eight teams advance to the postseason.

Kansas City Current is leading the league and fighting for the NWSL Shield following a strong season based on attacking depth and consistency. The Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride have also excelled, exhibiting resilience and balance in all areas. Traditional contenders like Gotham FC, San Diego Wave FC, and Portland Thorns FC are still in the running for home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The final weekend could determine the fate of the entire season for those who are on the verge of the playoffs.

The postseason structure this year is a simple single-elimination bracket. With higher seeds hosting each round, the top seed takes on the eighth seed, the second seed takes on the seventh seed, and so on. Finishing well is highly valued in that structure; placing in the top four guarantees a home crowd and may mean the difference between an early exit and a deep playoff run. November 7–9 is the date of the first round, November 14–16 is the date of the semifinals, and November 22 is the date of the 2025 NWSL Championship.

Developing momentum before the playoffs could be crucial. While teams like Orlando and Kansas City have shown defensive balance and attacking cohesion, the Spirit have proven hard to break down due to their youthful core and midfield control. However, if the Wave and Thorns can get back to their regularity, they have the star power to pull off postseason upsets. The final weekend will put not only quality but also endurance to the test; teams that perform well in November are usually the ones that can handle pressure and exhaustion the best.

Looking ahead, Kansas City Current is the clear favorite to win the Championship and Shield trophies. They have an advantage over the opposition due to their depth and tactical adaptability, but if they continue their recent success, Orlando Pride could be the biggest threat. Although lower seeds have frequently upset predictions in NWSL playoffs, Kansas City is currently the team to beat in 2025 thanks to their stability and momentum.