With the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs out of the question, Sky Blue FC still has plenty incentive to register wins and points the rest of the season.
Ninth-place Sky Blue FC (0-13-3, 3 points) needs to accrue nine points in its final eight games to avoid that dubious distinction. Given the abysmal results of the team, that must be considered a long shot at the present time.
As for avoiding dubious records, the 2016 Boston Breakers (3-15-2, 11 points) finished with the poorest record in the six-year history of the league. That version of the Breakers tied the 2013 Washington Spirit for the least wins in a season with three apiece.
The New Jersey side will also try to avoid setting the league mark for the most losses in a season, 16, held by the 2014 Houston Dash.
Sky Blue FC is coming off a 2-1 home loss to Portland Thorns FC Saturday night, which eliminated the team from playoff contention. It will visit the Chicago Red Stars Saturday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. at 8 p.m. ET.
Here are the worst finishes in each of the NWSL’s first five seasons:
2013 — Washington Spirit — 3-14-5, 14 points, eighth place
2014 — Houston Dash — 5-16-3, 18 points, ninth place
2015 — Boston Breakers — 4-13-3, 15 points, ninth place
2016 — Boston Breakers — 3-15-2, 11 points — 10th place
2017 — Washington Spirit — 4-13-7 19 points — 10th place
2017 — Boston Breakers — 4-13-7, 19 points — ninth place