# What’s at Stake on NWSL Decision Day
The NWSL regular season reaches its decisive final day on Sunday, with the Shield race and the last playoff place still to be settled. Gotham FC can secure its first NWSL Shield, while the Seattle Reign, North Carolina Courage and Denver Summit compete for the eighth and final postseason spot.
Seven of the league’s eight playoff places are already claimed. With every match scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. ET, the final standings will come down to a tense afternoon of soccer.
## Gotham FC and San Diego Wave Chase the NWSL Shield
Gotham FC enters Decision Day three points ahead of the San Diego Wave. A draw against the Utah Royals is enough for Gotham to clinch the Shield, regardless of the result in San Diego’s match against Bay FC.
Gotham held a seven-point lead in late summer, but a run of uneven results has kept the Shield race alive. The team remains in control of its destiny and is favored to finish first, though the Wave could apply pressure with a win.
Gotham’s availability is another key storyline ahead of the playoffs. Attackers Jaedyn Shaw and Rose Lavelle missed the team’s 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride last week. The pair have combined for 22 goal contributions this season, and Shaw has been particularly important as both a scorer and creator. Gotham’s attack has been less productive when she is off the field.
The Utah Royals are already playoff-bound, but their defensive record has been inconsistent. That could give Gotham an opportunity to secure the point it needs even if it is not at full strength.
## Three Teams Compete for the Final Playoff Spot
The Seattle Reign currently occupy eighth place with 42 points. A win against the Orlando Pride would guarantee Seattle a playoff berth, giving the team the clearest path of the three contenders.
The North Carolina Courage sit two points behind the Reign, while the Denver Summit are three points back. The two challengers face each other on Decision Day, so the result of that match—and Seattle’s performance—will determine who claims the final spot.
### Seattle Reign: Win and qualify
Seattle controls its playoff fate: beat Orlando and the Reign are in. The team’s defense has been a major strength, conceding 33 goals despite allowing 39.96 expected goals against.
### North Carolina Courage: Win and hope
The Courage must defeat Denver and hope Seattle drops points. Their playoff bid is powered in large part by Ashley Sanchez, but defensive struggles have made the path more difficult.
### Denver Summit: A win and a Seattle loss
In its inaugural season, Denver needs to beat North Carolina and have Seattle lose. Lindsey Heaps has helped drive the Summit’s late-season form, recording seven goals and three assists since joining the club midseason.
## Ashley Sanchez Could Make NWSL History
Ashley Sanchez has scored 20 goals this season and has a chance to add to her remarkable campaign against Denver. Another goal would set a new NWSL single-season goalscoring record. A goal or an assist would also break Temwa Chawinga’s single-season goal-contributions record.
Sanchez’s move to left wing has transformed her season and helped earn her a return to the U.S. women’s national team. Her form has also put her in the conversation for a place on next summer’s Women’s World Cup roster.
However, North Carolina has relied heavily on Sanchez, who has contributed to nearly half of the team’s goals. The Courage’s defensive issues have left them among the league’s bottom six teams in goals conceded. Missing the playoffs would not necessarily weaken Sanchez’s MVP case, but it would underline the team’s limitations.
## NWSL Decision Day Schedule
All matches are scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. ET.
| Match | Broadcast |
|—|—|
| Angel City vs. Boston Legacy | ESPN+ |
| Bay FC vs. San Diego Wave | ESPN+ |
| Gotham FC vs. Utah Royals | ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns | ESPN+ |
| North Carolina Courage vs. Denver Summit | ESPN+ |
| Racing Louisville vs. Kansas City Current | ESPN+ |
| Seattle Reign vs. Orlando Pride | ESPN+ |
| Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Stars | ESPN+ |
With Gotham needing only a draw to claim the Shield and three teams chasing one remaining playoff place, Decision Day will determine the final shape of the NWSL postseason.