As the summer winds down, the NWSL begins to come to a close, and the top teams become increasingly secure in their playoff spots. Some teams are arguably locked in, and others are less sure, remaining on the bubble. For all of the teams, though, their security hinges largely on this weekend's games. This is especially true for fourth-place Chicago Red Stars, who will take on fifth-place Sky Blue FC. Only three points separate the two teams, meaning that if they lose this match, then they’ll be under a lot more pressure to perform in the coming weeks to stay above the New Jersey side.
Why Sky Blue is a threat
A team that hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2013, Sky Blue is often underestimated by their opponents. Their eighth place finish in 2015 did not help that, but so far this year, the team has managed a winning record. They’ve proved that they have the tenacity to defeat tough teams, logging wins against Seattle Reign and Washington Spirit. Forward Natasha Kai isn’t discouraged easily, and that resilient mentality is shared by the rest of her teammates. Even if Chicago scores early, it wouldn’t be surprising for Sky Blue to get one or two goals back. Opening the season with a win against last year’s runner-up, they showed early on that they are a force to be reckoned with. They have been able to build on that throughout the season, but not enough so to place in the top four. The playoffs are well within their grasp, though, so they will extra hungry for a win this weekend.
Chicago’s upcoming schedule
The team’s schedule sees them facing teams that could realistically keep them from making it into the playoffs, putting roadblocks in their road to the championship. They will see the other three 2015 playoff teams, including the Spirit, who are currently in first place. It will not be easy for them to hold onto their spot, especially with Sky Blue trailing closely behind them. The teams in the middle of the table are all very close in points, and the Reign are another team that could wedge their way into the playoffs. With a newly healthy Megan Rapinoe rejoining the team post-Olympic Break, the team will have another impactful and influential player in their squad. Rapinoe, who saw some playing time with the United States during the Olympics, is coming back from an ACL tear, but still caused problems for opponents in the limited time she was on the field. With a few favorable results, the team could slide into Chicago’s place if they aren’t careful.
The weekend ahead
For now, Chicago’s focus will be on Saturday. If they win, then that will widen the margin between them and Sky Blue. Until they grab those three points, though, the team remains in limbo, with the very real possibility of not making the playoffs on the forefront of their minds. The match against Sky Blue will kick off at 7:00pm EST and can be watched on the NWSL youtube channel.