The NWSL season is heating up, and with every team still in contention, the race to finish above the playoff line has become particularly intense.

Four teams — NJ/NY Gotham FC, Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave and Seattle Reign — are tied for third place on 30 points, while the defending champion Orlando Pride are just one point further back. Three points separate Racing Louisville (currently holding the eighth and final playoff position with 26 points) from 11th-place Angel City FC. The NWSL views its parity as a strength, and it’s looking like the 2025 season at the peak of women’s soccer will come down to the wire.

At the top of the table, the Kansas City Current could end the weekend as regular-season champions, while the Washington Spirit could secure a postseason berth with a win Thursday night coupled with an awful lot of help around the weekend. At the bottom, the Chicago Stars and Utah Royals need to maintain their improved recent form to keep their narrow hopes alive.

Here are kickoff times and how to watch this weekend’s NWSL games, as well as a breakdown of playoff clinching scenarios:

NWSL Matchday 21: Weekend schedule, times, how to watch

All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.

Thursday, Sept. 18

Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit, 10:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Fubo

Watch Angel City vs. Spirit on Fubo (free trial)

Friday, Sept. 19

Houston Dash vs. Chicago Stars, 8 p.m. | NWSL+
Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. | Prime Video
Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville, 10 p.m. | Paramount+

Watch Orlando Pride vs. NC Courage on Prime Video

Saturday, Sept. 20

Kansas City Current vs. Seattle Reign, 7:30 p.m. | Ion
Portland Thorns vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. | Ion

Sunday, Sept. 21

Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN+

Watch Bay FC vs. Gotham FC on ESPN+

What is the NWSL playoff schedule?

The NWSL regular season will end on Sunday, Nov. 2, with all 14 teams playing. After that, the postseason will play out on the following schedule:

Nov. 7-9: Quarterfinals
Nov. 14-16: Semifinals
Nov. 22: NWSL Championship

NWSL playoffs format explained

The NWSL playoffs will see eight teams qualify, with an easy-to-follow format in place. In the quarterfinal round, the top four teams in the regular-season standings will host the other four teams that qualify for the postseason.

The four winning teams move onto the semifinals, with the higher-seeded team on each side of the bracket hosting. The NWSL playoffs do not re-seed after the quarterfinals. Finally, the two surviving teams will play in the 2025 NWSL Championship final.

All games will follow the norms of the sport: If scores are tied after 90 minutes, a given playoff game will go to a 30-minute extra time period (divided into 15-minute halves, with no ‘golden goal’ rule). Should the scores still be even after that, the teams will endure the tension of a penalty-kick tiebreaker.

NWSL playoff picture: If the season ended today …

We’re a long way from settling the NWSL playoff bracket, but if the postseason began today, this is what we’d see:

Home teams listed first.

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1: Kansas City Current (1) vs. Racing Louisville (8)
Quarterfinal 2: Washington Spirit (2) vs. Orlando Pride (7)
Quarterfinal 3: NJ/NY Gotham FC (3) vs. Seattle Reign (6)
Quarterfinal 4: Portland Thorns (4) vs. San Diego Wave (5)

Semifinals

Semifinal 1: Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner (higher seed hosts)
Semifinal 2: Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner (higher seed hosts)

Final

Final: Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner (final at PayPal Park in San Jose, California)

Who has clinched an NWSL playoff spot?

The Kansas City Current clinched a playoff spot in August and can finish no lower than second. After holding their closest challenge, the Washington Spirit, to a 0-0 draw last week, it’s a matter of when, not if, they’ll claim the NWSL Shield as 2025 regular-season champions.

If the Spirit (36 points) fail to defeat Angel City FC Thursday night, the Current (50) could be ready for a trophy lift Saturday evening at CPKC Stadium. If Washington were to tie or lose in Los Angeles, a Current win over the Seattle Reign this weekend would clinch the Shield for the runaway league leaders.

As for the Spirit, a win in LA could clinch a playoff spot, but only with a lot of help. Washington would need the Courage, Racing, and Dash to all lose later on the weekend to seal the deal. As North Carolina and Louisville face each other on Oct. 4, this set of results would guarantee the Spirit finish somewhere in the top eight.

2025 NWSL Playoffs: Who has been eliminated from contention?

NWSL’s bottom two teams, the Chicago Stars and Utah Royals, both avoided defeat last weekend. Both have 15 points, and while the playoff line is currently held by Racing Louisville (26), there are still 18 points on the table for all teams.

As such, neither is in danger of being eliminated from the postseason race this week, though a loss for either side in this 21st round of games could put them on the brink of mathematical elimination.

The Minnesota Lynx punched their ticket to the WNBA playoff semifinals.

The No. 1-seeded Lynx overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 75-74 in Game 2 on Wednesday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. With the win, the Lynx advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive year and will face the winner of the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty series, which will be decided Friday.

‘I just happy we got the dub,’ Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, who scored 12 points on four 3s, said. ‘It’s hard to play in this arena, they play hard. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 left and finished with a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride added 18 points and four rebounds, including a layup that gave the Lynx a 71-70 lead with 2:48 remaining. It was Minnesota’s first lead since the first quarter. 

The Valkyries had a shot to win the game. Cecilia Zandalasini missed a buzzer-beating jumper that would have forced a Game 3. Monique Billings had 15 points off the bench, while Zandalasini and Janelle Salaun each finished with 14 points. The Valkyries shot 50% from the 3-point line in the loss.

Here’s what you need to know for Game 2 between the Valkyries and Lynx:

End of Q3: Valkyries 63, Lynx 49

Ten minutes separates the Golden State Valkyries from their first franchise playoff win. The Valkyries have an 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Four Valkyries players have scored 10 or more points, lead by 14 points from Janelle Salaun. Veronica Burton and Monique Billings each added 13 points, while Cecilia Zandalasini has 10 points and five rebounds. The Valkyries are collectively shooting 50% from the 3-point line.

Napheesa Collier has a game-high 17 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Kayla McBride is up to 12 points. The Valkyries’ persistent defense has prevented the Lynx from finding their offensive rhythm. Minnesota is shooting 38.5% from the field and 5-of-23 from the 3-point line.

Halftime: Valkyries 41, Lynx 28

The SAP Center at San Jose is rocking as the Golden State Valkyries have a 13-point lead over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx heading into halftime. The Valkyries held the Lynx to nine second-quarter points.

Golden State is firing on all cylinders. Seven Valkyries have scored and five different players have hit at least one 3-pointer. Not only are the Valkyries shooting 55.2% from the field and 63.6% from the 3-point line, Golden State has recorded five steals, two blocks and forced the Lynx into eight turnovers, which the Valkyries have converted to 13 points. Janelle Salaun has a team-high nine points, while Monique Billings has eight points off the bench.

Napheesa Collier has a game-high 10 points and three rebounds for the Lynx. Kayla McBride, who scored seven points in the first quarter, was held scoreless in the second quarter. The Lynx are 2-of-13 beyond the arc.

End of Q1: Valkyries 27, Lynx 19

The Minnesota Lynx jumped to a 5-0 start, but the Golden State Valkyries went on a 10-2 run to take the lead. Golden State has an eight-point lead heading into the second quarter.

Veronica Burton, the WNBA’s Most Improved Player, leads the Valkyries with six points. Janelle Salaun added five points, while Monique Billings had four points off the bench. The Valkyries are shooting a staggering 83.3% from the 3-point line and 66.7% from the field.

Kayla McBride has a team-high seven points and one steal and said the Lynx must play better perimeter defense against the Valkyries moving forward. Napheesa Collier added five points. The Lynx are 2-of-8 from 3.

What time is Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries?

The Golden State Valkyries host the Minnesota Lynx at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, California. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries: TV, stream

Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: SAP Center at San Jose (San Jose, California)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscriber

Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx starting lineups

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn

Golden State Valkyries starting lineup

6 Kaila Charles | G 6′ 1′ – Maryland
12 Iliana Rupert | C 6′ 4′ – France
13 Janelle Salaun | F 6′ 2′ – France
22 Cecilia Zandalasini | F 6′ 2′ – Italy
22 Veronica Burton | G 5′ 9′ – Northwestern

Golden State Valkyries Natalie Nakase named Coach of the Year

She is going to need her best coaching job of the season to beat the Lynx. Minnesota is 5-0 against Golden State this season.

Golden State Valkyries feeling at home

The Valkyries know the way to San Jose.

Valkyries guard Veronica Burton wins WNBA Most Improved Player

When All-Star Kayla Thornton was lost to a right knee injury in mid-July, many wondered if the Golden State Valkyries would be able to continue on a postseason pace.

In stepped Veronica Burton, who lead the Valkyries in nearly every statistical category – points (11.9), assists (6.0), steals (1.1) and blocks (0.6) – and on Monday, Sept. 15, she was named the WNBA Most Improved Player. Burton’s game is well-rounded, demonstrated by the fact she’s one of five players to average at least 10 points, 5 assists and 1.5 made 3-pointers a game, joining Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Skylar Diggins.

Minnesota Lynx arrives in San Jose

The Lynx are ready looked read to get down to business and advance.

Valkyries in their home away from home

The Valkyries are playing at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, and the Caltrain is here for it.

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The Phoenix Mercury needed a win on the road to keep their playoff lives alive. The Mercury not only got the victory, they completely dismantled the defending champion New York Liberty in the process. 

The No. 4 seed Mercury routed the No. 5 seed Liberty 86-60 in Game 2 on Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, marking the Mercury’s first playoff win since the 2021 WNBA Finals. The best-of-three first-round WNBA playoff series now shifts back to Phoenix for a decisive Game 3 on Friday (TBD, ESPN2).

‘It’s a series for the reason,’ Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said. ‘We were disappointed in the way that we shot in the first game. We knew today was going to be a different day. We were just going to come out there for 40 mintues and give them everything we had.’

Five Mercury players scored double-digits in the win, led by Phoenix’s Big 3 — Thomas (15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Satou Sabally (15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals) and Kahleah Copper (14 points). DeWanna Bonner (14) and Kathryn Westbeld (10) combined for 24 of Phoenix’s 27 bench points.

The Mercury’s defense held the Liberty to 60 points, their second lowest total of the season, and made the defending champions look hapless on Wednesday. New York shot a season-low 30.2% from the field and 23.1 % from the 3-point line. None of New York’s starters scored double digit points.

There were questions surrounding Liberty forward Breanna Stewart entering Wednesday’s matchup after she suffered a MCL sprain in her left knee in Game 1. She was limited to six points in 20 minutes.

The Mercury outscored the Liberty in the paint (38-22) and in transition (20-2). The Liberty also gave up 15 turnovers for 30 Mercury points. Here’s a recap for Game 2 on Wednesday:

End of Q3: Mercury 69, Liberty 47

The Mercury’s lead swelled to as many as 24 in the third quarter and Phoenix is taking a 22-point advantage over the Liberty into the fourth quarter. New York shot 2-of-10 from the field in the third quarter, with the first field goal coming with 1:35 remaining in the quarter, in addition to 0-of-3 from 3.

Liberty forward Breanna Stewart is playing with a sprained MCL in her left knee. She’s been held to six points, two rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of play. Emma Meesseman is the only Liberty player to reach double-digits with 11 points off the bench.

Alyssa Thomas (15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), Satou Sabally (12 points, 4 assists, 4 steals) and Kahleah Copper (14 points, 2 rebounds) lead the Phoenix Mercury in scoring.

Halftime: Mercury 51, Liberty 37

The Phoenix Mercury dominated the second quarter, outscoring the defending champion Liberty 26-12 in the frame to take a 14-point lead into halftime. 

Phoenix’s big three — Alyssa Thomas (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Satou Sabally (12 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Kahleah Copper (12 points) — all have double-digit points in the first half. Phoenix’s bench added 12.

The Mercury’s defense has been smothering, holding the Liberty to 37.1% shooting from the field and 5-of-15 from the 3-point line. Phoenix is outscoring New York in the paint (24-12) and in transition (14-2). 

No Liberty player has reached double-digits yet. Sabrina Ionescu has a team-high nine points, four rebounds and two assists. 

What time is Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty?

The New York Liberty host the Phoenix Mercury for Game 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Mercury forward Satou Sabally called for technical

Emotions are running high in Barclays Center as the Mercury fight for their season on Wednesday and tempers appeared to boil over, resulting in a technical foul for Mercury forward Satou Sabally. The technical foul was called with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter after Sabally and Liberty guard Natasha Cloud fought for possession of a loose ball. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts called a timeout, but Sabally didn’t appear to be happy with Cloud’s level off physicality.

Phoenix Mercury goes on 15-0 run to take largest lead

The Phoenix Mercury went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead over the New York Liberty, marking the largest of the game by either team. Phoenix is outscoring New York 24-5 in the second quarter with 2:48 remaining. Mercury forward Satou Sabally and guard Kahleah Copper are each up to 12 points.

End of Q1: Liberty 25, Mercury 25

We are all tied up after one quarter. The Liberty led by as many as six points, but the Mercury surged back to take the lead before the quarter ended with both teams at 25. 

“We came out like we don’t want our season to end,” said Kahleah Copper, who had a team-high six points in the first quarter. 

Seven different players scored for the Mercury, highlighting Phoenix’s league-leading depth. Alyssa Thomas added five points, three rebounds and two assists, while Kathryn Westbeld had five points off the bench. However, the Mercury’s struggles from beyond the arc continued. After going 6-of-26 from the 3-point line in Game 1, the Mercury have started 2-of-6 from 3. 

Liberty center Jonquel Jones has seven points, while Emma Meesseman added seven points and two rebounds in five minutes off the bench. However, New York has left some points on the board at the free throw line (2-of-7).

New York Liberty off to a fast start

Game 2 is underway and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones can’t miss, scoring eight of the Liberty’s 14 first-quarter points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from the 3-point line. She’s also getting it done on the defensive end with two blocks. 

WNBA starting lineups today

Here are the starting lineups for Wednesday’s Game 2:

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

New York Liberty starting lineup

Head coach: Sandy Brondello

9 Natasha Cloud | G 5′ 10′ – St. Joseph’s
13 Leonie Fiebich | F 6′ 4′ – Germany
20 Sabrina Ionescu | G 5′ 11′ – Oregon
30 Breanna Stewart | F 6′ 4′ – UConn
35 Jonquel Jones | C 6′ 6′ – George Washington

Is Breanna Stewart playing? New York Liberty forward injury update

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart told reporters during Wednesday’s shootaround that she was diagnosed with a sprained MCL in her left knee. She said she plans to play in Game 2, even though she is listed as questionable. — Elizabeth Flores

Phoenix Mercury injury report

The Phoenix Mercury have all players available for Game 2 on Wednesday.

Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty predictions

Who will win Game 2 in Brooklyn, New York? We asked the USA TODAY staff:

Heather Burns: Liberty 83, Mercury 80
Cydney Henderson: Mercury 89, Liberty 82

X factor: New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud 

Natasha Cloud called Phoenix home last year, and now she’s facing against her former team as a member of the New York Liberty. Cloud turned in a game-high 23 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Liberty’s 76-69 overtime win over the Mercury on Sunday. Cloud shot 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from the 3-point line and her nine field goals were the most she’s recorded for the Liberty this season.

New York Liberty arrive to Game 2 in style

The Liberty made a fashion statement heading into Game 2. Liberty forward Breanna Stewart rocked a briefcase because she means business, while Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison let every one know that the ‘WNBA been popping.’ Check out all the Liberty arrivals:

Spike Lee is in the house to cheer on Liberty

Game 2 between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty is sure to draw a star-studded crowd. New York superfan Spike Lee, who turned out to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center 90 minutes before tipoff. The Academy Award-winning director is a mainstay at New York sporting events and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s SuperFan Gallery in October 2024.

Emma Meesseman: New York Liberty forward stats

The addition of Emma Meesseman has yielded instant dividends for the New York Liberty, as she averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games (12 starts) in New York. Meesseman has championship experience — she won an WNBA title with the Washington Mystics in 2019 and was named WNBA Finals MVP.

Phoenix Mercury guard Satou Sabally stats

Sabally is looking to bounce back from a particularly rough shooting night in Game 1. She recorded nine points in the Mercury’s loss to the Liberty on Sunday, shooting 2-of-17 from the field and 1-of-10 from the 3-point line. Sabally averaged 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 39 games (all starts), shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.1%.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas stats

Thomas averaged 15.4 points, a league-leading 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 39 games (all starts) this season. The 33-year-old recorded eight triple-doubles this season, a WNBA single-season record. Thomas, who was traded to the Mercury in February following 11 seasons in Connecticut, nearly reached a triple-double in Phoenix’s Game 1 loss, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Phoenix Mercury guard Sabrina Ionescu stats

Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season, shooting 40.1% from the field and a career-low 29.9% from the 3-point line. Ionescu had 16 points, seven assists and two blocks in Game 1, shooting 6-of-18 from the field and 3-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty schedule

Game 1: Liberty 76, Mercury 69 OT
Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Liberty at Mercury, TBD Friday (ESPN2)

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

*if necessary

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After four seasons ending in either abject failure or mediocrity, the Chicago Cubs are back in the playoffs.

The Cubs recorded their 88th win Sept. 17, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-4, at PNC Park to become the second club from the National League Central to qualify for the playoffs.

It’s highly likely the Cubs will enter the playoffs as a wild card; they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 4 ½ games with 10 to play. Yet it’s equally probable Chicago will host the best-of-three wild card series at Wrigley Field, likely against the San Diego Padres.

Their return to October baseball is the culmination of investing in both brain power and one big bat: A five-year, $40 million contract to lure manager Craig Counsell down from Milwaukee turned the page on desultory years spent under David Ross’s leadership. And a major trade to land All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker from Houston galvanized the lineup.

Tucker remains both a near- and long-term question mark: He’s been out with a calf injury and his status for the postseason is unknown. In the bigger picture, he is a free agent after this season and will truly test the Cubs’ commitment to winning should the club pursue him for the long haul.

In the clincher, the Cubs got home runs from Ian Happ and rookie Moises Ballesteros to make up for another lackluster start from lefty Matthew Boyd, who has struggled since the All-Star break as his innings count coming off injury-plagued seasons has risen.

Still, the Cubs will have time to line up their pitching for the postseason, with lefty Shota Imanaga and top rookie Cade Horton likely to come out of the gate 1-2 in the early round.

The Cubs last advanced in the playoffs in 2020, when they qualified for the expanded field in the COVID-19 season but were swept by the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Their last full-season berth came in 2018, when they lost the NL wild-card game to the Colorado Rockies – after losing a one-game tiebreaker to Milwaukee for the Central title a day earlier.

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Plenty of changes are happening at UCLA − but its quarterback remains the same.

Nico Iamlaeava was practicing with the team on Wednesday, Sept. 17, three days after the Bruins fired second-year coach Deshaun Foster.

While it shouldn’t be a total surprise for a team’s starting quarterback to be practicing, it’s a noteworthy because Foster’s departure opened a 30-day transfer portal window for Bruins players. And since the firing happened before the team played four games, players that have not redshirted can retain a year of eligibility if they leave the team.

While Iamaleava has already used his redshirt and wouldn’t be able to join another team until the spring semester, his participation in practice signals he plans to continue play with the Bruins, for now.

Hours after Foster was fired, atheltic director Martin Jarmond told reporters he spoke with the team and no players indiciated they were thinking about transferring. Interim coach Tim Skipper shared a similar sentiment ahead of practice.

‘Had very positive conversations with our guys. There’s nothing to announce or report that way,’ Skipper said. ‘This university, this campus, this coaching staff, has a lot to offer to these guys. You remind them of that, and they see it. They see how our energy is every day, and we’re just going to take it one day at a time and keep on working.’

UCLA plays next at Northwestern on Sept. 27. Iamaleava has until Oct. 14 to enter the portal, allowing him to play in the next three games against Northwestern, Penn State and Michigan State. The Bruins host Maryland on Oct. 18, three days after the window closes.

UCLA part ways with defensive coordinator

While UCLA’s starting quarterback is still with the team, its defensive coordinator is not.

Skipper announced the Bruins parted ways with defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. He did not disclose why the two sides separated.

Malloe joined the staff in December 2022 as a defensive position coach and took was interim defensive coordinator for UCLA’s bowl game in 2023. Afterward, he was officially given the position.

Defense was UCLA’s strongsuit in Malloe’s first full season, ranking sixth in the country in rushing defense (96.2). However, the unit has struggled out of the gate in 2025, ranking near the bottom of several categories including:

Scoring defense: 36 points per game (121st out of 134 teams)
Total defense: 431 yards per game (117th)
Rushing defense: 244 yards per game (132nd)
Defensive passing efficency: 184.7 (132nd)
Defensive third down percentage: 62.2% (133rd)

How damaging is an 0-2 start? Nearly 88% of teams that have started that way since 1990 have missed postseason.
But what happened last season that might offer added hope to 2025’s winless clubs?
And what did Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes say following his first 0-2 start?

Panic mode. Desperation time. A proverbial cold sweat. Tightened … well, ya know. All euphemisms synonymous with the dreaded 0-2 start in the NFL – recently anyway.

Turns out, maybe what coaches, players and fans should be doing is taking a beat and resetting − all isn’t necessarily lost.

How Zen is Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who just lost his opening two games for the first time since 2014 – his second year in K.C. and the only instance since he’s been with the franchise that it didn’t make the playoffs?

“I trust this group. I mean, this group’s a good group – got good leadership and they’ll stay together,” Reid said Monday, a day after the Chiefs lost their Super Bowl 59 rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sure, it’s easier to remain on an even keel when you’ve reached five of the past six Super Bowls and won three of them.

Added Reid: “(T)hey’ll work hard on cleaning things up, there’s nobody more aware of it than the guys, and we’ll make sure we get back to the drawing board.”

It’s almost as if he doesn’t know (or care) that, since the playoff field expanded to 12 teams in 1990, only three teams – the 1993 Cowboys, 2001 Patriots and 2007 Giants, all legendary in their own right – of the 288, or 1.04%, that have begun 0-2 over that period have won the Super Bowl.

“It’s just the little things,” Ryans said Tuesday, following his team’s last-second loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

“We talk about technique, we talk about decision-making, we’re talking about tackling. We talk about all the little things that we control, that we can fix. I’m excited to see what it looks like moving forward.”

The deck is most definitely stacked against Houston, Kansas City and the eight other currently winless clubs. Since 1990, just 12.2% of 0-2 teams have rebounded to qualify for postseason. Just 6.6% have come back to secure a division.

Yet the 17-game regular-season schedule, which took effect in 2021, and 14-team playoff field first introduced in 2020 both provide an increased margin for error. That was certainly the case last season, when three of the nine teams that started 0-2 wound up in the Super Bowl tournament. Two (Rams, Ravens) won their divisions and got as far as the divisional round of the postseason.

The weight of the historical data is daunting, suggesting just one of this year’s 0-2 squads will overcome its circumstances to endure into in Week 19. But last year’s snapshot is proof that more teams surely can.

Let’s rank all 10 by their postseason viability from least likely to most:

10. Cleveland Browns

They looked competitive in a Week 1 loss to the Bengals but decidedly weren’t in Sunday’s 24-point defeat at Baltimore. In addition to being mired in a highly competitive division, it stands to reason that the Browns will eventually turn to rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and/or Shedeur Sanders in order to assess where they are organizationally at the position ahead of the 2026 draft, when Cleveland is scheduled to have two first-round picks. Lastly, history is an even bigger barrier to this franchise. Of the 16 previous times the Browns started 0-2 since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only the 1980 “Kardiac Kids” led by MVP Brian Sipe persevered to make the postseason.

9. New York Giants

Despite finishing 3-14 last year, the G-Men, who have several young and talented players on their roster, nevertheless wound up with the league’s hardest schedule (based on opponents’ collective 2024 winning percentage, .574). Unlike the Browns, New York appears to have its quarterback of the future, 2025 first-rounder Jaxson Dart, and might be obliged to look for a spark and start him at some point given how well he played in the preseason. But Russell Wilson, who had a vintage performance in Sunday’s loss to Dallas, just bought himself more playing time, for whatever it’s worth amid this murders’ row of a lineup he and his team must face, including the equally desperate Chiefs in Week 3. And a note for the historians: Since those magical 2007 Giants started 0-2 before ruining the Patriots’ perfect season in Super Bowl 42, Big Blue has lost its first two games in 10 subsequent seasons, including 2025 … and failed to reach postseason in all of them to date.

8. New Orleans Saints

They seem a little high? Fair. But let’s acknowledge that they have established, proud players on the roster, and both of their losses have been by one score. The Saints also – seemingly – play in a more forgiving division than the Giants or Browns. But, yeah, New Orleans also doesn’t have a quarterback in the building who’s ever won an NFL game. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is the 24th time the Saints have started 0-2 in their 59-season history. Perhaps surprisingly, this is the first time it’s happened in the post-Drew Brees era.

7. Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward is a wild card, figuratively and literally given his heretofore daredevil playing style. But is he really going to join the likes of John Elway and Andrew Luck as the only quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall to lead their teams to the playoffs as rookies since the merger? Is a team that’s gone 3-16 under coach Brian Callahan suddenly going to catch fire? Since relocating to Tennessee in 1997, the Titans haven’t successfully rallied from their six previous 0-2 starts. Still, if Ward and Co. can survive the season’s first half, the schedule does look manageable, with a heavy serving of games in Nashville, following a Week 10 bye.

6. New York Jets

They haven’t made the playoffs since 2010 regardless of circumstances − and this is the NYJ’s fifth 0-2 start over the past nine seasons. After an encouraging Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Jets were blown out by Buffalo and lost QB Justin Fields to the concussion protocol. Perhaps veteran QB2 Tyrod Taylor can stabilize the situation. Perhaps rookie coach Aaron Glenn, a Bill Parcells protégé, can spark an unexpected heater … which would be appropriate given Parcells was the last coach to dig this team out of an 0-2 hole, the 1998 squad advancing all the way to the AFC title game. But come on, it’s the Jets.

5. Miami Dolphins

Yes, this spot feels grossly optimistic for these seemingly drowning fish, er, mammals. They sound bad. They look bad. No AFC team has allowed more points (66) or has a worse point differential (-31). No coach in the league appears to be on a hotter seat than Mike McDaniel. But let’s also grant him deserved credit given Miami reached the playoffs in two of his first three seasons and had a top-six offense league-wide in both of those years. And while durability is always a concern with QB Tua Tagovailoa, he’s also an established and efficient Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback operating in a division that only seems to have one imposing team … albeit a Buffalo squad set to host the Fins on Thursday night and threatening to push them into an 0-3 grave.

4. Chicago Bears

This also feels like a glass that’s close to 75% full for a team that clearly seems to remain in hibernation. Second-year QB Caleb Williams continues to struggle to live up to his astronomical pre-draft hype from a year ago. In fairness to him, this is two offensive systems in two years, and rookie coach Ben Johnson’s playbook is far more demanding. Also, with so much scrutiny on Williams, it’s easy to gloss over the fact that the Bears are the only team that’s allowed more points (79) or been outscored by a wider margin (34 points) than Miami. And a 2025 postseason trip was always going to be a high bar given Chicago was the only team in its division that didn’t go to the playoffs last season. Yet hope for positive and sudden growth remains – if Williams starts grasping Johnson’s system, which produced spectacular results in Detroit during the previous three seasons, and if the defense starts clicking under new coordinator Dennis Allen. There’s certainly no shortage of talent on this roster.

3. Carolina Panthers

They showed the same fight in the second half of Sunday’s near-miss loss at Arizona that they displayed during the second half of last season. Both of their defeats have come on the road, and Carolina plays in a division that hasn’t set a high bar for success in recent years. Still, the Panthers must survive a battered offensive line and still suspect defense. Also, history. They’ve now started 0-2 14 times in their 31-season history – nearly half of them – but have surmounted that obstacle into a playoff berth just once.

2. Houston Texans

After Ryans’ charges started 0-2 two years ago, the Texans won 11 of their next 16 games, including a victory in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Many key players from that group remain, notably QB C.J. Stroud, WR Nico Collins, DE Will Anderson Jr. and CB Derek Stingley Jr. This year’s edition is winless – but the losses came by a combined six points to teams (Rams, Bucs) that were division winners in 2024. Yes, there might be a level of discomfort given how the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts have broken from the starting gate … and maybe more so given this retooled offense has scored a league-low 28 points. But let’s give a squad that’s reached the divisional round of the past two postseasons, features a potentially dominant defense and has a dynamic young HC-QB combo the grace period it’s earned.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Duh. Yep, it’s uncharted territory as it pertains to the past decade, K.C. trying to win its 10th consecutive AFC West crown. Yes, this marks the first time QB Patrick Mahomes has started 0-2 or lost three consecutive NFL games when you factor in the blowout loss to Philly in Super Bowl 59. Yes, TE Travis Kelce continues to look like a declining player, whose admittedly poor route discipline during the Week 1 loss in Brazil is responsible for the shoulder injury that’s limited dynamic WR Xavier Worthy to three snaps this season.

But … these are the dynastic Chiefs. They’ve lost close contests to the Chargers and Eagles, who are shaping up as two of the league’s top teams. Week 3 brings a date with the Giants, the Chiefs favored to win by nearly a touchdown on the road and likely to have Worthy back. Suspended WR Rashee Rice will return next month. Still, the Chiefs aren’t awash in wiggle room, the schedule set to serve up the Ravens, Lions, Commanders and Bills … before the Week 10 bye.

“We played two good football teams and made mistakes in big moments – stuff that we’re not used to doing,” Mahomes said after Sunday’s loss. “But I think we’re coming together as a team, man. I mean, when you deal with adversity it’s about how you deal with it and obviously, this isn’t how we wanted to start. But how are we going to respond? So, I’m excited for the next few weeks to see who wants to be challenged and how we can get back and really get after it.

“Obviously, we’ve never been 0-2, but we’ve had times where we’ve dealt with challenges before and lost games. I think the guys that we have in this locker room will go back to work with that mindset of, ‘We’re going to continue to work even harder,’ so that when we step on that field this next time, we can find a way to win in those big moments, like we haven’t in these first two weeks.”

Plenty of changes are happening at UCLA − but its quarterback remains the same.

Nico Iamlaeava was practicing with the team on Wednesday, Sept. 17, three days after the Bruins fired second-year coach Deshaun Foster.

While it shouldn’t be a total surprise for a team’s starting quarterback to be practicing, it’s a noteworthy because Foster’s departure opened a 30-day transfer portal window for Bruins players. And since the firing happened before the team played four games, players that have not redshirted can retain a year of eligibility if they leave the team.

While Iamaleava has already used his redshirt and wouldn’t be able to join another team until the spring semester, his participation in practice signals he plans to continue play with the Bruins, for now.

Hours after Foster was fired, atheltic director Martin Jarmond told reporters he spoke with the team and no players indiciated they were thinking about transferring. Interim coach Tim Skipper shared a similar sentiment ahead of practice.

‘Had very positive conversations with our guys. There’s nothing to announce or report that way,’ Skipper said. ‘This university, this campus, this coaching staff, has a lot to offer to these guys. You remind them of that, and they see it. They see how our energy is every day, and we’re just going to take it one day at a time and keep on working.’

UCLA plays next at Northwestern on Sept. 27. Iamaleava has until Oct. 14 to enter the portal, allowing him to play in the next three games against Northwestern, Penn State and Michigan State. The Bruins host Maryland on Oct. 18, three days after the window closes.

UCLA part ways with defensive coordinator

While UCLA’s starting quarterback is still with the team, its defensive coordinator is not.

Skipper announced the Bruins parted ways with defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. He did not disclose why the two sides separated.

Malloe joined the staff in December 2022 as a defensive position coach and took was interim defensive coordinator for UCLA’s bowl game in 2023. Afterward, he was officially given the position.

Defense was UCLA’s strongsuit in Malloe’s first full season, ranking sixth in the country in rushing defense (96.2). However, the unit has struggled out of the gate in 2025, ranking near the bottom of several categories including:

Scoring defense: 36 points per game (121st out of 134 teams)
Total defense: 431 yards per game (117th)
Rushing defense: 244 yards per game (132nd)
Defensive passing efficency: 184.7 (132nd)
Defensive third down percentage: 62.2% (133rd)

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their top edge rusher for at least four weeks.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday the team will place Khalil Mack on injured reserve due to an elbow injury.

Mack dislocated his elbow during the first quarter of the Chargers’ 20-9 Week 2 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Mack’s arm bent awkwardly when he attempted to tackle Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker.

The edge rusher clutched his elbow immediately after the play and went into the team’s blue medical tent. He was eventually escorted to the team’s locker room.

Mack was seen on the sideline during the second half with his arm in a sling and had the same arm protected with a sling in the postgame locker room.

Mack’s injury is a big loss for the Chargers, but the silver lining is he won’t miss the remainder of the regular season.

Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree are expected to be Los Angeles’ top two outside linebackers while Mack recovers from his elbow injury. Caleb Murphy and rookie Kyle Kennard, who’s been inactive through two games, could also see more playing time.

The 2-0 Chargers host the 1-1 Denver Broncos in Week 3.

Mack’s compiled 108.5 career sacks, including 32 sacks in 52 career games with the Chargers. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year as a member of the Raiders in 2016. He’s been elected to the Pro Bowl nine times.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.