NWSL Decision Day: Megan Rapinoe scores twice to fire Reign into playoffs

Megan Rapinoe scored two goals in three minutes as OL Reign won 3-0 at the Chicago Red Stars to finish fourth in NWSL, securing a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.

Jess Fishlock added a 59th-minute goal for the Reign, who ensured at least one more home match at Seattle’s Lumen Field in Rapinoe’s final season.

San Diego Wave finished as the league’s top seed and have a bye for the opening round of the playoffs. Jaedyn Shaw and Alex Morgan scored to give San Diego a 2-0 win against Racing Louisville on Sunday, clinching the NWSL Shield for the league’s best record.

Portland’s Sophia Smith won the Golden Boot, finishing with 11 goals.

Eight teams entered Sunday in contention for four remaining playoff spots, with every NWSL game kicking off simultaneously on what is known as Decision Day. The Reign, North Carolina Courage, Angel City and Gotham secured the final four spots.

The playoffs open on Friday with Angel City at the Reign. The winner advances to play away at San Diego on 4 November in the semi-finals. The winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between Gotham and the Courage in North Carolina will advance to a semi-final in Portland against the Thorns. The final is in San Diego on 11 November.

In front of 30,312 fans at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, Shaw dribbled by multiple players and slotted into the right corner in the 26th minute for her sixth goal this season. Morgan scored from the top of the penalty area in the 47th.

“It just means the world. We came into this game just acting like, if we do our job and get a little luck then we’ve got this,” Morgan said. “I feel like we dominated from start to finish. It was really a complete game for this team and I’m really proud of this team.”

Portland