NWSL playoffs include retiring star Megan Rapinoe
The National Women's Soccer League wrapped up its regular season over the weekend with six of the league's 12 teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The final day of the NWSL season — known colloquially as "Decision Day" — served up plenty of drama.
The closely run regular season meant that nearly every team had a shot to qualify for the playoffs on the final day. Seattle's OL Reign had more at risk than most as its star player, Megan Rapinoe, announced that she's retiring at the end of this season. If the Reign were unable to win their final game against the Chicago Red Stars, Rapinoe's peerless career would be over.
Rapinoe, however, stepped up when it counted, scoring two goals to keep the Reign's hopes — and her career — alive for just a bit longer.
The Reign will face the Los Angeles Angel City in a playoff match Friday. Better yet, they'll face them at home — meaning Rapinoe will get at least one more game in front of Reign fans before retirement.
"You know my message," Reign coach Laura Harvey said to the fans. "There'd best be 34,000 again there [at the Reign's Seattle stadium] on Friday night, because that's how we give her what she deserves."
While the Reign wrapped up the regular season in fourth, the San Diego Wave finished first in just their second season. The Wave will receive a bye to the semifinals — a huge gift for a young franchise.
"It just means the world," said Wave forward Alex Morgan. "I'm really proud of this team."
The NWSL has been in operation for 10 consecutive seasons, with teams such as the Reign and the Wave regularly filling 34,000-seat capacity stadiums for regular-season matches.
That's a long way from its roots — the league was created following the collapse of Women's Professional Soccer and originally shackled by money issues. The league's conservative start has paid dividends, though, and the 12-team NWSL is set to welcome an additional two franchises for the 2024 season.
Before the NWSL can expand, however, it must settle its 2023 scores. The NWSL playoffs — see complete schedule here — begin Friday, with the final match set for November.
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