Choose Wave vs. Houston at Snapdragon Stadium

When the San Diego Wave begins its game against the Houston Dash at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, the results of the teams vying for the final playoff spot (along with Angel City's) will already be known.

If Bay FC and Portland win, the only way for SD Wave to mathematically stay alive is to beat last-place Houston. If these two teams tie, that means the Wave will stay alive with a tie regardless of whether ninth-place Racing Louisville beats the Washington Spirit or not, as the regular-season finale is at Snapdragon Stadium will be played against Louisville.

The advantage for the Wave, led by interim coach Landon Donovan, is that Portland plays the top-seeded and undefeated Orlando Pride, while Bay FC faces fourth-seeded Kansas City Current, who the Wave will face on Oct. 19 at the Dash beats the Wave, San Diego can stay alive if either Portland or Bay FC loses this weekend, which is entirely possible given the opponents.

Things will be dire if Bay FC avoids defeat, because even if San Diego can still keep up with Portland in their final two games, the tiebreaker will likely be in the Thorns' favor based on goal difference. The best way to avoid further drama, which this team has had far too much of this season, is to win and let things fall where they may.

Finishing with 31 points is the best San Diego can do, and if it does, the team would enter the postseason as one of the hottest in the league, likely facing the Orlando Pride in the quarterfinals.

Photo by San Diego Wave FC