The Seattle Reign just barely snagged the final playoff spot in the 2026 NWSL regular season, earning their place in the postseason after a wild Decision Day that saw all 16 clubs kick off at once. It came down to the wire, but our Emerald City squad found a way to survive and advance, proving once again that you can never count us out!
Decision Day Delivers, and the Reign Fight Their Way In
Decision Day was absolutely bonkers, folks. The NWSL Shield was up for grabs, that last playoff spot was hanging in the balance, and home-field advantages were still to be settled. When the final whistles blew, it was Gotham FC that lifted the NWSL Shield, with San Diego Wave right behind them in second. But the real story for us was the Seattle Reign, who clawed their way into the playoffs. They secured their spot with a clutch 1-0 win over the Orlando Pride. Talk about high stakes and delivering under pressure! Across the league, Gotham FC beat Utah Royals 2-0, San Diego Wave edged out Bay FC 1-0, and Washington Spirit also won 2-0 against Chicago Stars. Kansas City Current also locked in a home game with a 2-0 victory over Racing Louisville. It was a day of close calls and big wins, but our Reign did what they had to do.
The Playoff Gauntlet Is Set, and It Starts With a Monster Matchup
Now that the dust has settled on Decision Day, the 2026 NWSL playoff bracket is locked. Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current, thanks to their 2-0 wins, get to host at least one home playoff game. Gotham and San Diego, as the top two seeds, will also host their quarterfinal matchups, and if they win those, they’ll host the semifinals too. Keep an eye on San Diego, Angel City, and Kansas City; all three are coming into the playoffs on hot streaks. San Diego and Angel City are unbeaten in their last five games, and the Current are on a five-game win streak! The NWSL playoffs kick off on November 6, leading up to the 2026 NWSL Championship on November 21, which you can catch on CBS.
But let’s be real, Seattle fans, our eyes are on one game: The Reign’s quarterfinal. Sunday, November 8, at 12:30 p.m. Mark your calendars! Our Seattle Reign are heading into a monumental clash against Gotham FC. Gotham, fresh off clinching their first-ever Shield, is a force. They needed only a draw against Utah Royals but won 2-0 at home. This is the same club that’s won previous NWSL Championships as the lowest-ranked eighth seed and now they’re coming in as the top seed after winning the Shield in the longest season ever. They are a dynasty in the making, and they are our first playoff opponent.
This is it, 12s. Our Seattle Reign fought like crazy to get into these playoffs, and now they face the ultimate test right out of the gate. Can they pull off the upset and keep this dream alive? We’re going to find out on Sunday, November 8, when they face Gotham FC at 12:30 p.m. Get loud, Seattle, because our team needs us!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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