Wave locks playoff seed but risks losing home semifinal

San Diego Wave secured the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs after defeating Bay FC 1-0 on Sunday. The win capped a regular season that included 18 victories, a club record. It also earned the team a berth in the Concacaf W Champions Cup next year.

The victory, however, did not guarantee the Wave a home semifinal. The club faces a scheduling conflict at Snapdragon Stadium for Friday’s quarterfinal against the Utah Royals. The match is set for 7 p.m. on Prime Video.

Head coach Jonas Eidevall deferred to the upcoming match rather than the logistics. He stated that the team’s focus is on performance and qualifying for the semifinals. He noted that a top two placement offers the possibility of hosting two playoff games, but only if the team advances. Eidevall added that others must figure out the scheduling details.

The conflict stems from fixed broadcast times for the semifinals. The NWSL has designated two slots for network television: Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on CBS, and Sunday, Nov. 15, at noon Pacific Time on ABC. The higher seed typically earns the right to host, but both current top seeds have stadium conflicts on Nov. 14.

The No. 1 seed, NJ/NY Gotham FC, is scheduled to host New York Red Bulls in an international friendly against Club América at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Nov. 14. Meanwhile, Snapdragon Stadium hosts a San Diego State football game against Utah State at 6:30 p.m. on the same day. Playing earlier on Nov. 14 may not allow enough time to re-line the field for football.

Only one team can use the stadium on Sunday, with the top seed usually receiving preference. If the Wave loses that slot, it may need to seek an alternate venue. San Diego State’s Torero Stadium, used in 2022, seats about 5,000 fans and may be too small for a national CBS telecast. A club spokesperson said it would share updates on the situation on Monday.

The NWSL posted the quarterfinal matchups on its website but did not specify semifinal venues. It confirmed that the semifinals will air on CBS and ABC. The championship match is scheduled for Nov. 21 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., and will be broadcast on CBS.