San Diego Wave did not close the door on the NWSL second seed over the weekend, but they still control the key that could lock it. After tying Boston Legacy and watching KC Current beat the Washington Spirit, the Wave go into Sunday’s regular-season finale against Bay FC needing at least a point to make sure they finish second.
That is why San Diego Wave Vs Bay FC is the search now. Jonas Eidevall kept the math plain: the Wave need to take a point to get the second seed, and they need to win if they want any chance to put pressure on Gotham FC. A draw would be enough to secure the spot outright. A win would do that too, while also keeping alive the more distant route to first place.
The weekend results left the standings tight but readable. San Diego entered with a 17-8-4 record and had won five in a row before the tie with Boston Legacy ended that run. Bay FC comes in at 7-16-6, but the matchup is not just about form. Bay FC beat San Diego 1-0 at Snapdragon Stadium on May 3, a reminder that the Wave cannot treat this as a routine finish.
The broader playoff picture still matters because the second seed changes more than a line in the table. A win over Boston would have locked San Diego into second already, but the tie leaves them exposed to what happens elsewhere. If Washington Spirit win and San Diego fails to get the needed result, both clubs would finish with 55 points, and Washington would hold the better goal differential. That is the path that could push San Diego from second to third and alter the route through the NWSL playoffs.
There is still upside if San Diego handles its business. A victory would force Gotham FC to win or draw against Utah Royals to capture the first seed and clinch the Supporters’ Shield. Utah have only one victory over their last five matches and have been shut out in their last two, while Gotham have lost just twice over their last 17 games, so that race is not settled either. San Diego still has a shot at the top spot, but only if the Wave do their part first.
Kristen McNabb said the group has treated the closing stretch like “six finals,” and that framing fits the moment better than any standings chart. “We want to finish strong and we want to put ourselves in the best possible position,” she said. Eidevall also noted how much home field means, saying it is so important for the club to play at home. That is the real prize in play: not just a better seed, but the chance to keep the postseason moving through Snapdragon Stadium in the NWSL playoffs.
Sunday will settle it. San Diego plays Bay FC, Gotham FC meets Utah Royals, and Washington Spirit face the Chicago Stars. If the Wave get the point Eidevall asked for, the debate ends and the second seed is theirs. If they do not, they have to live with the arithmetic of the other results, and the difference between second and third could come down to one missed night at the finish.
