North Carolina Courage Can Clinch Playoff Spot with Midweek Win
It’s win and they’re in for the North Carolina Courage as goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and her teammates prepare for a midweek match against Mallory Pugh and the Washington Spirit at Maryland Soccer Plex on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Anything less than all three points against Washington will postpone the postseason party until at least the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Spirit will come into the matching having been officially eliminated from playoff contention – along with the Boston Breakers – in Week 18.
2017 NWSL PLAYOFF PICTURE
# | Team | Pts. | GD | GR | Max Pts. | Magic No. | Elimination No. | |
1 | North Carolina Courage | 39 | + 12 | 6 | 57 | 3 | — | |
2 | Portland Thorns FC | 37 | + 10 | 4 | 49 | 5 | — | |
3 | Chicago Red Stars | 32 | + 3 | 4 | 44 | 10 | — | |
4 | Orlando Pride | 32 | + 11 | 4 | 44 | 10 | — | |
5 | Sky Blue FC | 29 | – 6 | 4 | 41 | — | 10 | |
6 | Seattle Reign FC | 27 | – 5 | 4 | 39 | — | 8 | |
7 | FC Kansas City | 23 | – 6 | 4 | 35 | — | 4 | |
8 | Houston Dash | 23 | – 9 | 5 | 38 | — | 7 | |
9 | Boston Breakers | 16 | – 10 | 4 | 28 | — | Eliminated | |
10 | Washington Spirit | 16 | – 10 | 5 | 31 | — | Eliminated | |
Glossary – Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining, Max: Maximum points possible |
Magic Number formula*
The Magic Number for a team to clinch a playoff spot is determined by subtracting that team’s current points total from the maximum number of points possible for the fifth-place team, then adding one.
Elimination Number Formula*
The Elimination Number for a team to confirm their exclusion from the playoffs is determined by subtracting that team’s maximum number of possible points from the current number of points of the fourth-place team, then adding one.
* = The Magic Number or Elimination Number for each team does not reflect scenarios that require tiebreakers. Tiebreaker scenarios are required when a team’s Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1.
Week 19 midweek scenarios:
North Carolina Courage will clinch a spot in the 2017 NWSL Playoffs if…
… Courage win vs. Spirit
Tiebreaker Procedures
To Break a Tie in the Standings
If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken through the following steps:
Two teams
1.Head-to-head record
2.Overall goal difference
3.Overall goals scored
4.Head-to-head road record
5.Goal difference in all road games
6.Goals scored in all road games
7.Head-to-head home record
8.Goal difference in all home games
9.Goals scored in all home games
10.Coin toss
Three teams
1.Points per game against other two teams
2.Overall goal difference
3. See tiebreaker procedure for two-team scenarios
NOTE: If two teams are still tied after the third team has advanced via the tiebreaker, the tie will be broken using the two-team tiebreaker rules.

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