The NWSL Sleeper Championship Team To Watch

We’ve reached the final two weeks of the NWSL regular season, and the postseason race is heating up with just three playoff spots remaining.

If you’re just catching up, here’s what you need to know about all 10 teams vying for six spots:

Portland Thorns FC (13-6-4) officially locked up the top seed in the playoffs OL Reign (12-8-3) continue to hold the second place spot in position for a first-round bye
The Washington Spirit (10-7-6) have been in top form, extending their undefeated streak to eight-straight with their third consecutive victory against the Reign. They sit at No. 3 with the possibility of hosting to begin the postseason
The Chicago Red Stars (10-8-5) sit fourth with three dubs in their last four contests. Chicago needs just one point from its final regular season game on Oct. 29 at Orlando to hold their spot
NJ/NY Gotham FC (8-5-8) moved into fifth on Sunday with a victory over the Courage, and could close out the season as high as second with three games to go
The No. 6 and final playoff spot (for now) belongs to the Houston Dash (9-9-5) thanks to a tie-breaker
The North Carolina Courage (9-9-5) are on the wrong end of that tie-breaker, meaning their next two matches are do-or-die
The Orlando Pride (7-9-7) sealed their fate with a loss last weekend, officially eliminating themselves from playoff contention. Racing Louisville (5-12-5) and Kansas City (3-13-6) are also out of the hunt

Portland +120 (bet $100 → win $120)
OL Reign +260 (bet $100 → win $260)
Spirit +600 (bet $100 → win $600)
Red Stars +800 (bet $100 → win $800)
Gotham +1000 (bet $100 → win $1,000)
NCC +2500 (bet $100 → win $2,500)
Houston +3000 (bet $100 → win $3,000)

The Spirit’s offense of Ashley Hatch, rookie Trinity Rodman and second-year forward Ashley Sanchez is loaded
Hatch is the leader in the golden boot race with 10 goals this season
Rodman is fourth in the league in shots (50) and assists (5) with five scores
Sanchez is the third and final piece of Washington’s balanced attack with four goals this season
The Spirit are arguably in their best form of the season and with a ton of momentum. While their offensive trio is on fire, goalkeeper Audrey Bledsoe has been an absolute wall, totaling the fourth-most saves in the league (63)

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