After being eliminated from the Concacaf W Champions Cup on Wednesday night in a 1-0 loss to Club América, the San Diego Wave now face the real prospect of being eliminated from NWSL playoff contention this Saturday at CPKC Stadium against the Kansas City Current.

The Wave needs a win over the fourth-seeded Current and a loss by Bay FC in its match against the North Carolina Courage to remain with a heartbeat for the season finale versus Racing Louisville. If Bay FC and the Wave suffer defeats or earn a draw in their respective games, San Diego will be eliminated if Louisville or Utah win over the weekend.

San Diego also has to keep an eye out for Angel City since that team, which was recently deducted three points by the league, is one point ahead of the Wave.

Despite the 2024 season starting memorably thanks to a 1-0 victory over the reigning champion Gotham FC in the NWSL Challenge Cup final, San Diego never managed to find its footing due to a combination of inconsistent play, instability in the coaching front, injuries, and off the field accusations against the front office that may have affected the focus inside the locker room.

To be a contender next season, the 2023 Supporters’ Shield winner will have plenty of adjustments to make during the off-season if it hopes to regain the level of play during its first two seasons.

The match against the Kansas City Current is at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Photo by David Frerker