Everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL Playoffs
Full Time: A show about women's soccer
The Athletic
4.8 • 756 Ratings
🗓️ 5 November 2025
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Leaves are falling, soup season is upon us, and the NWSL Playoffs are back!
On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the entire 2025 NWSL Playoffs, from the strengths and weaknesses of the eight teams left competing for the Championship, to how each quarterfinal is poised, and which teams will advance.
Who are the key players and matchups? Will we see any upsets from the lower seeds? Can you read too much into end-of-season form? If each quarterfinal match were a takeout order, what takeout order would it be? This podcast gives you everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.
PLUS: Tamerra and Meg close out the show with their brackets and picks for who will make it all the way to the Championship Final in San Jose on November 22, as well as some final words and flowers for the six teams who will not be heading to the NWSL postseason.
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Referenced on the show
Racing finished in ninth place the past four NWSL seasons. This year, they broke the curse
USWNT’s Olivia Moultrie agrees to contract extension with Portland Thorns through 2029
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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Get in touch: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Wouldn't it be crazy if we were able to rather, let's just say this game, you know, extra time still drawn, instead of penalties? |
| 0:14.0 | Could you imagine like a free kickoff between Debenia and Rose Lov? |
| 0:17.5 | Because they both scored recent free kick bangers, which is kind of crazy to think about. |
| 0:21.5 | Hey, NWSL HQ, make it happen. |
| 0:23.8 | Still time. |
| 0:24.3 | Change the rule book. |
| 0:25.2 | The competition rules can be changed people. |
| 0:26.6 | The playoffs have not started yet. |
| 0:27.7 | Sports center would eat that up. |
| 0:29.8 | Just saying. |
| 0:31.1 | Top 10. |
| 0:44.7 | Hello. Welcome back to full-time. I am Tamara Griffin, and depending on where you are in the world, there's a chill in the air. I think we need to start adjusting to these darker days and the |
| 0:52.0 | chaos that they bring, if you know what I mean, because that's right, it's playoff season. |
| 0:57.2 | We're here. We've made it. Somehow, the regular season is over, and now there are eight teams left fighting for one of two tickets to San Jose on November 22nd when we have the NWSL championship. |
| 1:09.9 | There's a lot of drama, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of popcorn that needs to be popped, |
| 1:15.2 | snacks that need to be prepped, beverages that need to be poured between now and then. |
| 1:19.2 | Because this weekend, we've got the quarterfinals. |
| 1:22.6 | And it is going to be amazing. |
| 1:26.7 | Can't miss. |
| 2:02.4 | So much to unpack who we have our eye on, predictions that we have, players that we're going to be on the lookout for, players that might not even be on the pitch that we still need to talk about because that's going to affect things too. I don't even know where to begin. Meg, I have to bring you in my co-host, Meg Lininnahan, of course, because we are in it. My seat is buckled. Like, I'm locked in. Meg, how are you? It's the A.O. Adibre meme of, like, the theater's kicking me out because I'm so seated, right? Yes, yes. Iconic lines, always from her. What is going to be so interesting about this weekend, like I feel like decision day everybody was a little overwhelmed heading into it just because we |
| 2:07.5 | we weren't expecting quite the chaos obviously seating was up for grabs we knew Louisville |
| 2:13.2 | North Carolina were playing for that last spot and then I feel like actually decision day |
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