As if the sports weekend couldn’t get any worse after the Padres were eliminated in the playoffs by the Dodgers, the San Diego Wave lost 2-0 to last-place Houston Dash on Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium. The chances are now beyond slim that San Diego will make the postseason for a third straight season. The Wave not only needs to win out in the two remaining games, but will also need several other things to fall its way including Bay FC losing its two matches, Racing Louisville losing or drawing to Portland, the Utah Royals losing or drawing one of its remaining two games, and still find a way to finish ahead of Angel City, which is one point ahead of the team.

Whether or not the off-the-field issues concerning accusations made by former employees toward the front office have been a distraction for the players, the fact remains that the team has underachieved this season after coming in with high expectations after winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2023.

What makes the task even more daunting is that its next league opponent is the Kansas City Current, which is seeded fourth and has already clinched home-field advantage in the quarterfinal round, with a chance to finish as high a second place in the standings. The last time Kansas City and San Diego faced each other was on March 23 at Snapdragon Stadium with the Current winning 2-1.

San Diego Wave will take on Club América on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the Concacaf W Champions Cup.