Wave Host Utah Royals in Playoff Quarterfinal
San Diego, the No. 2 seed, faces the No. 7 seed Utah Royals in a Friday NWSL playoff match.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Soccer
Live Poll
Would you attend a San Diego Wave playoff match this season?
The San Diego Wave host the Utah Royals in a Friday NWSL playoff quarterfinal after finishing second of 16 teams in the 30-game regular season. A win would advance the Wave to a semifinal that would presumably be played in San Diego.
Why it matters
A loss would end the Wave's season, leaving them without another match until 2027. Advancing would give the club its third semifinal appearance in franchise history.
The Wave took two wins from two regular-season meetings with Utah, 2-1 in March and 4-2 in August, and finished 8-1-1 in their last ten matches. Whether those results carry over to a single-elimination playoff match is not yet known.
The players
San Diego Wave
A National Women's Soccer League club based in San Diego that finished second of 16 teams in the 2026 regular season.
Utah Royals
A National Women's Soccer League club based in Utah that enters the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
The details
Kenza Dali did not play in the August match against Utah. The Wave's only previous playoff victory came in 2022, when Alex Morgan scored in extra time against Chicago.
Timeline
March 2026: The Wave won 2-1 at Utah.
August 2026: The Wave won 4-2 over Utah in Mission Valley.
Friday: NWSL playoff quarterfinal against the Utah Royals in San Diego.
2027: Next scheduled Wave match if they lose Friday.
Season Trajectory
The Wave's 2022 playoff win over Chicago, won on Alex Morgan's extra-time goal, remains the club's only postseason victory on record. A quarterfinal win would extend that history into a semifinal, the third in franchise history.
A Wave win would keep the club in the playoffs and extend its postseason run into a semifinal. A loss would end their season and leave them without a match until 2027.
The takeaway
Friday's quarterfinal is single elimination, so a single result will decide whether the Wave's season continues. Fans can follow the match through the club's schedule as kickoff approaches.
What happens next
If the Wave advance, a semifinal is expected in San Diego, pending facility scheduling.
Further reading
Follow the club's full season coverage in Soccer for more on the Wave's playoff run.
Live Poll
Would you attend a San Diego Wave playoff match this season?
