Game preview October 11th – 13th | Official website of the National Women's Soccer League

Sunday, October 13th

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC – 5:00 p.m. EST
Here's how to watch: NWSL+

Washington Spirit and Racing Louisville meet in the first NWSL match on Sunday at Audi Field. In their last meeting, Washington prevailed with a 2-1 victory and since then they have been virtually unstoppable at home, scoring multiple goals in five consecutive games. However, Racing's defense, led by current Iron Women Katie Lund and Abby Erceg – both of whom have played every minute this season – will look to disrupt the Spirit's attacking rhythm and provide stability as Louisville looks to pull off an upset. A win and the Spirit secure the elusive home advantage in the quarterfinals.

Match: Utah Royals FC vs. Seattle Reign – 5:00 p.m. EST
Here's how to watch: ESPN 2 | ESPN+ | ESPN Sports

The Utah Royals host the Seattle Reign in a high-stakes matchup that could dramatically change the playoff landscape. Utah has been impressive at home, winning six of its last nine games and proving dangerous late in games – 76.5% of its goals came after halftime. The recent burst of form from Hannah Betfort and Mina Tanaka has breathed new life into their attack and made the Royals a tough challenge for any opponent, as their win in Portland last weekend showed. A loss would officially eliminate Utah from playoff contention, while a tie would make their postseason hopes dependent on previous results. For Seattle, it's simple: They need all three points. Anything less and their season will end before the playoffs even begin.

Match: San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash – 8:00 p.m. EST
Here's how to watch: NWSL+ | Paramount+ | Golazo

San Diego Wave hosts Houston Dash in a must-win showdown for the home team. The Wave have been lethal from set pieces this season and led the league with nine goals from corners, including Hanna Lundkvist's strike last weekend. However, San Diego cost valuable points in this game by failing to score a second goal, which added pressure to this game. Houston, already eliminated from playoff contention, may have nothing to offer in terms of placement, but it will still be eager to play spoilsport and post a strong result. The Dash won't go down quietly, making this a challenging test for a Wave team looking to finish strong.