The North Carolina Courage can capture the NWSL Shield for the second consecutive season with a win over Portland Thorns FC at Sahlen’s Stadium in Cary, N.C. Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
Coached by Paul Riley of Bay Shore, N.Y. the Courage also can secure the Shield with a draw against the Thorns FC and a tie or loss by the Seattle Reign FC in its match against the Washington Spirit at UW Medicine Pitch in Seattle Sunday at 9 a.m. ET.
Sky Blue FC and the Washington Spirit already have been eliminated from playoff contention following their respective loses in Week 17.
NWSL Shield scenarios:
North Carolina Courage will clinch the NWSL Shield if…
…Courage wins vs. Thorns FC
OR
…Courage draws vs. Thorns FC AND Reign FC draw or lose vs. Spirit
Tiebreaker Procedures:
To break a tie in the standings
If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken through the following steps:
Two teams
1. Head-to-head record
2. Overall goal difference
3. Overall goals scored
4.Head-to-head road record
5. Goal difference in all road games
6. Goals scored in all road games
7. Head-to-head home record
8. Goal difference in all home games
9. Goals scored in all home games
10. Coin toss
Three teams
1. Points per game against other two teams
2. Overall goal difference
3. See tiebreaker procedure for two-team scenarios
NOTE: If two teams are still tied after the third team has advanced via the tiebreaker, the tie will be broken using the two-team tiebreaker rules.
2018 NWSL PLAYOFF PICTURE
|
# |
Team |
Pts. |
GD |
GR |
Max Pts. |
Magic No. |
Elimination No. |
|
1 |
North Carolina Courage |
46 |
27 |
5 |
61 |
Clinched |
— |
|
2 |
Seattle Reign FC |
30 |
5 |
6 |
48 |
15 |
— |
|
3 |
Portland Thorns FC |
29 |
7 |
6 |
47 |
16 |
— |
|
4 |
Orlando Pride |
29 |
1 |
5 |
44 |
16 |
— |
|
5 |
Chicago Red Stars |
28 |
4 |
6 |
46 |
— |
18 |
|
6 |
Houston Dash |
23 |
-6 |
6 |
41 |
— |
13 |
|
7 |
Utah Royals FC |
22 |
-4 |
6 |
40 |
— |
12 |
|
8 |
Washington Spirit |
10 |
-14 |
6 |
28 |
— |
Eliminated |
|
9 |
Sky Blue FC |
3 |
-20 |
8 |
27 |
— |
Eliminated |
Glossary – Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining, Max Pts.: Maximum points possible
* = The Magic Number or Elimination Number for each team does not reflect scenarios that require tiebreakers. Tiebreaker scenarios are required when a team’s Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1.
