With the 2026 NWSL regular season entering its final stretch, the fight for the final playoff positions has become one of the league’s biggest storylines. Gotham FC has already secured its place in the postseason, becoming the first club to clinch a playoff berth. That leaves seven spots still available as teams across the middle of the table continue to battle for positioning.
The tightest part of the race sits around the final three playoff spots. Based on the latest standings, Seattle Reign sits sixth with 40 points, while Angel City and North Carolina Courage are tied on 39 points. North Carolina currently occupies the eighth and final postseason position, with Kansas City Current just one point behind on 38. Denver Summit remains within reach as well with 35 points, meaning only five points separate sixth-place Seattle from 10th-place Denver.
Kansas City’s position makes its upcoming matchup with Denver especially important. The Current still have a match in hand on Seattle and North Carolina, giving them an opportunity to move back above the playoff line as the season winds down. The league also identified Kansas City–Denver as one of the key Matchweek 23 fixtures because of its direct implications on the final playoff position. Angel City has also surged back into the postseason picture after picking up consecutive wins during Matchweek 22. Victories over Seattle and Utah helped ACFC climb the standings while Ally Sentnor continued her strong run of form, scoring in three straight matches.
Further up the table, Utah Royals and Portland Thorns are tied on 42 points, while Washington Spirit and San Diego Wave continue to battle for positioning behind league-leading Gotham. With several teams separated by only a handful of points, the final weeks of the regular season could produce significant movement around the playoff line. For Seattle, Angel City, North Carolina, Kansas City and Denver, there is little room left for dropped points.
