The regular season was defined by … Extreme parity. Thirteen points separated all 12 teams, from first to last, the most competitive season in league history. The NWSL has long been known as the most competitive league in the world, but this year, the Shield came down to the final day and 10 of 12 teams were mathematically alive for the playoffs on Decision Day, when the drama unfolded with simultaneous kickoffs. The NWSL is pure entertainment. Jeff Kassouf Competition. NWSL has long been a league known for its parity-driven, uber competitive, anything-can-happen dynamic. The 11th regular season expanded on that promise. For the second season in a row, the Supporters’ Shield was decided on the final, with San Diego Wave picking up the title. San Diego’s trophy-lift marked the lowest points total (37) required to win the Shield in NWSL history. And at the other end of this year’s hard fought table, Chicago Red Stars fell into last place while collecting the most points (24) of any last-placed team. Megan Swanick Best team that didn’t make the playoffs … Orlando Pride. On paper, more talented teams missed the playoffs, and in the case of the Washington Spirit, it cost Mark Parsons his job as head coach. But Orlando’s 10 wins on the season matched the Portland Thorns for second most in the league. The Pride picked up some huge results this year, including wins over the Thorns and Shield winners San Diego Wave FC, despite being expected to be among the worst teams in the league. Orlando’s biggest issue was not salvaging points in games; they lost 11 of 22 games, with only one draw. This is a young team on the up. JK The Washington Spirit concluded their season in heart-wrenching fashion, falling out of the playoff spots (for the first time this season) on the final day. Trinity Rodman picked up a straight red in the 23rd minute, handicapping the team she’s so often vaulted to victory. The playoffs were theirs to lose. And given the talent in their ranks – from goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury through to their forwards - it’s a shame for the football-loving spectators among us that we won’t see their post-season form. MS Your dark horses are … Angel City FC. It’s hard for the league’s glamor team to be a dark horse, granted, but Angel City looked like a dead team walking in the spring before a head-coaching change. Since Becki Tweed took over as interim coach, the Los Angeles side have lost only once in 11 regular-season games. They qualified for the playoffs on Sunday with an emphatic, 5-1 win over the Thorns that also denied Portland of the Shield. Angel City are the team in the best form right now. JK Angel City FC entered the Decision Day in eighth place, but unfurled a performance of the year 5-1 drubbing of reigning champions Portland Thorns to secure their playoff spot. Now on their way to play OL Reign in Seattle this Friday, they’ll need to prove they belong in the postseason. With Becki Tweed at the helm and momentum fresh at their back, they’ve certainly got what it takes to go deep in the postseason. MS Player to watch … Megan Rapinoe. There are players in better form right now. There are plenty of MVP finalists (which Rapinoe will not be) in the playoffs. Rapinoe, however, is trying to extend her career by a week or two. She has spoken openly about how the OL Reign franchise shaped her United States career. She is one of the team’s last original players from the inaugural 2013 season, but she and the Reign are yet to win an elusive NWSL Championship despite several years in the position as favorites. Rapinoe gets one last shot, starting Friday against Angel City. JK Sophia Smith is NWSL’s 2023 Golden Boot winner, despite missing matches due to injury and the World Cup. Smith scored 11 goals in just 17 of the year’s 22 matches, and is just now returning to the field after a mild MCL sprain. Portland have plenty of goal threats, but Smith’s return to top form (she scored in five consecutive appearances this summer) will have an enormous impact on their chances of lifting the trophy a second straight year. MS Who is on the hottest seat … The NWSL. The league has been working hard to become big-time and has made significant progress in professionalization. How will that all come together with more eyeballs on it? Sponsors who could spend seven to eight figures are watching not only to see what the crowds and TV viewership numbers are like, but also how the product is presented. The NWSL Championship remains the league’s only tentpole, made-for-TV event (a problem league leadership is trying to rectify), so it’s important that it gets executed flawlessly. JK Alex Morgan. The national team’s star striker and San Diego’s captain has had a tough year, failing to deliver at the World Cup and running into a tough run of form upon return to the league. She did score an elite goal in the Wave’s final game to finish the season with seven. But pressure is still on Morgan to prove, once more and to everyone watching, that she can deliver the goals and the glory as the first-placed San Diego Wave have home-field advantage in the semi-finals, as well as the finals, if they arrive. MS Team at risk of going out early … North Carolina Courage. This is a possession-based team that is much more than a one-player show, but the reality is that Brazilian attack Kerolin scored 10 of the team’s 29 goals and is the focal point of North Carolina’s attack. Kerolin left Sunday’s match after a non-contact knee injury, putting her health in doubt. Making up for her potential absence could be a task too large for the No 3-seeded Courage. JK OL Reign slid into the playoffs by the skin of Megan Rapinoe’s teeth, as the tepid-looking side entered the final match-day running on a string of so-so performances. Rapinoe’s brace of goals was impressive, and enough to ensure Laura Harvey’s side met the postseason. But they’ll need to find a new level to stick around past Friday night. MS Semi-finals predictions … San Diego 2-1 Angel City; North Carolina 3-3 Portland (Courage advance in penalty shootout) JK San Diego Wave 2-1 Angel City; North Carolina Courage 2-3 Portland Thorns MS NWSL Championship … San Diego Wave 1-0 North Carolina Courage (AET). The Wave will grind out a tense final that mirrors the recent scoreless draw between the team. New addition Kyra Carusa will deliver the game-winner. JK San Diego Wave 1-0 Portland Thorns (AET). Former England captain Casey Stoney is among the elite manager’s in the NWSL, and will have a few weeks to ensure her SoCal side is well-prepared for all potential opponents –including the Thorns. The Wave are defensively sound and in form (Alex Morgan is scoring again!), and perhaps most importantly, they have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. MS