NWSL playoff push is on with three weeks remaining

The GIST: There are just three weeks to go in the NWSL regular season and six of eight playoff spots still to be claimed. With so much still up in the air, let’s narrow in on tomorrow’s tilts, featuring eight teams still firmly in contention. Every inch matters in these very tight standings.

🦇 No. 1 Gotham FC vs. 👻 No. 3 Washington Spirit — Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET: These squads have played five times in the last 18 months, with Gotham holding the Spirit scoreless each meeting. That said, a win or tie sends Washington to the playoffs, so expect Trinity Rodman and Co. to be hungry for the back of the net.

⚡ No. 5 Kansas City Current vs. 👑 No. 4 Utah Royals — Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET: A win for either team opens up a path to clinching a playoff berth this weekend. KC enters with more momentum, and a Current dub would help them leapfrog the Royals in the standings and steal their first-round home field advantage. Spicy.

🌊 No. 2 San Diego Wave vs. 🦁 No. 8 North Carolina Courage — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez’s Courage are clinging to the final postseason berth like a barnacle to a ship. Meanwhile, the Wave already punched their playoff ticket, but three points would keep them in the hunt for the top seed. Considering SD’s four-game win streak, they won’t take their boot off the gas.

🪽 No. 6 Angel City FC vs. 🏔️ No. 10 Denver Summit — Tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. ET: A Denver loss would all but extinguish the expansion team’s playoff hopes, so they’ll be relying on captain Lindsey Heaps and defender Janine Sonis, who’s having the best season of her life, to keep the dream alive. Not the best time to be playing Angel City, a squad that hasn’t lost since August and could jump into the top four with a W.