The 2025 USL W League Playoffs presented by VensureHR are just one week away, but none of the matchups are set in stone just yet. This last weekend of the regular season will lock in who makes it into the postseason and who they will face in the Conference Semifinals.  

Nine of the 16 playoff spots have been clinched; six divisional winners and the Southern Conference wild card spot remain. The final playoff bracket will be set by Monday, June 30. 

For more information on playoff qualifications and seeding, read about the 2025 playoffs structure here.  

Here’s a look at each conference’s current contenders and potential scenarios in the first round: 

Central Conference 

Minnesota Aurora FC and Kings Hammer FC Cincinnati have locked in the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Central Conference, leaving Great Lakes and Great Forest remaining.  

Reigning conference champions Detroit City FC are currently on the outside looking in, but AFC Ann Arbor needs to earn results in its final two matches this weekend to make its first W League playoffs appearance. Expansion club Pittsburgh Riveters SC could also punch its ticket to the postseason with a win tonight. 

If those results were to stand, Minnesota would face Pittsburgh, and Kings Hammer would face AFC Ann Arbor. 

Eastern Conference 

The Eastern Conference has the most complete playoff picture as of today. Annapolis Blues FC, NC Courage U23 and Eagle FC have all clinched their divisions, leaving the Metropolitan Division last. 

With a win tonight, Paisley Athletic FC could advance to the playoffs for the first time in club history. Any other result leaves the door open for the Long Island Rough Riders to swoop in. 

As it stands, Annapolis will match up against the winner of the Metropolitan Division, while Eagle will have a rematch of the 2023 National Semifinals against the Courage. 

Southern Conference 

The Southern Conference part of the playoff bracket is halfway complete, with Sporting Jacksonville and Asheville City SC clinching their divisions already. The Lonestar Division still needs a winner, and this conference also has the lone wild card bid for the league. 

Tomorrow’s match between Lonestar SC and last year’s division champs AHFC Royals will determine who advances. The Royals need a win, while Lonestar can advance with just a draw. As for the wild card spot, TLH Reckoning can clinch it with a win tomorrow, but Fort Lauderdale United FC is not fully out of the picture yet, if another result occurs. 

The results of this weekend’s games will determine seeding for #3 and #4, but to avoid inter-divisional matchups, Sporting JAX will likely play the winner of the Lonestar Division, while Asheville will face the wild card winner. 

Western Conference

The Western Conference will see at least three first-time playoff teams, as Stockton Cargo SC and Utah United have both clinched their divisions already. The new SoCal Division will have its winner decided this weekend along with the Northwest Division. 

Tomorrow’s matches will determine if Santa Clarita Blue Heat FC or Capo FC will come out of the SoCal teams. Meanwhile, FC Olympia needs a win or draw tonight to advance to the playoffs; otherwise, Salmon Bay FC is still in the running to advance in its inaugural season.  

Seeding can potentially change based on this weekend’s results, but if the current division leaders were to advance, Utah United would face FC Olympia, and there would be a California matchup between Stockton and SC Blue Heat. 

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