NWSL Season Explorer

Remaining schedule difficulty

Schedule overview

Toughest remaining schedule

Utah Royals FC

1.65 Venue- and load-adjusted opponent PPG (+0.24 vs 1.41 baseline)

3 remaining · 2 home · 1 away

Easiest remaining schedule

Houston Dash

1.10 Venue- and load-adjusted opponent PPG (-0.32 vs 1.41 baseline)

3 remaining · 2 home · 1 away

Remaining schedule difficulty starts with each opponent’s current points per game (PPG), adjusts for whether that opponent will play at home or away, and then adjusts for the two teams’ relative fixture load entering that match. Short recovery raises pressure between six and five elapsed days and saturates at five days; a third or later match within nine elapsed days adds accumulated load. A team’s schedule gets harder when it is more loaded than its opponent, easier when its opponent is more loaded, and no load adjustment when both are equally loaded. Higher values mean a harder remaining schedule.

For each fixture, the venue-adjusted opponent PPG is multiplied by exp(team congestion − opponent congestion). Congestion is 0.04 × recovery pressure + 0.075 for a third-or-later match within nine days. These are the same strongly shrunk effects used by the selected Forecast Lab model. The venue adjustment uses 580 completed regular-season matches from this season and up to the two previous seasons: home teams average 1.54 points per game and away teams average 1.25, for a +0.29-point gap.

Venue- and load-adjusted comparison

Sorted hardest to easiest. The vertical marker is the league baseline of 1.41 adjusted opponent PPG.

EasierLeague baselineHarder
Utah Royals FC
1.65+0.24 · Harder
Bay FC
1.64+0.23 · Harder
NJ/NY Gotham FC
1.63+0.22 · Harder
Orlando Pride
1.59+0.18 · Harder
North Carolina Courage
1.56+0.15 · Harder
Kansas City Current
1.52+0.11 · Harder
Boston Legacy FC
1.51+0.09 · Near average
Chicago Stars FC
1.42+0.01 · Near average
Racing Louisville FC
1.42+0.01 · Near average
Washington Spirit
1.38-0.03 · Near average
Denver Summit FC
1.30-0.12 · Easier
Portland Thorns FC
1.27-0.14 · Easier
Seattle Reign FC
1.26-0.16 · Easier
San Diego Wave FC
1.25-0.17 · Easier
Angel City FC
1.10-0.31 · Easier
Houston Dash
1.10-0.32 · Easier
Compare venue-only opponent PPG

This removes the relative fixture-load adjustment but retains the home/away adjustment. Its available-row average is 1.41.

LowerVenue-only averageHigher
Utah Royals FC
1.67venue-only opponent PPG
Bay FC
1.64venue-only opponent PPG
NJ/NY Gotham FC
1.63venue-only opponent PPG
Orlando Pride
1.59venue-only opponent PPG
North Carolina Courage
1.58venue-only opponent PPG
Kansas City Current
1.52venue-only opponent PPG
Boston Legacy FC
1.51venue-only opponent PPG
Chicago Stars FC
1.42venue-only opponent PPG
Racing Louisville FC
1.42venue-only opponent PPG
Washington Spirit
1.38venue-only opponent PPG
Denver Summit FC
1.30venue-only opponent PPG
Portland Thorns FC
1.26venue-only opponent PPG
Seattle Reign FC
1.23venue-only opponent PPG
San Diego Wave FC
1.25venue-only opponent PPG
Angel City FC
1.10venue-only opponent PPG
Houston Dash
1.10venue-only opponent PPG
Compare raw opponent PPG

Raw opponent PPG does not adjust for whether each fixture is home or away. Its available-row average is 1.41; it is shown for comparison.

LowerRaw averageHigher
Utah Royals FC
1.72raw opponent PPG
Bay FC
1.69raw opponent PPG
NJ/NY Gotham FC
1.58raw opponent PPG
Orlando Pride
1.54raw opponent PPG
North Carolina Courage
1.63raw opponent PPG
Kansas City Current
1.47raw opponent PPG
Boston Legacy FC
1.46raw opponent PPG
Chicago Stars FC
1.47raw opponent PPG
Racing Louisville FC
1.37raw opponent PPG
Washington Spirit
1.43raw opponent PPG
Denver Summit FC
1.35raw opponent PPG
Portland Thorns FC
1.21raw opponent PPG
Seattle Reign FC
1.19raw opponent PPG
San Diego Wave FC
1.20raw opponent PPG
Angel City FC
1.15raw opponent PPG
Houston Dash
1.15raw opponent PPG

Team and fixture detail

Expand a team to see every remaining opponent, home/away designation, contribution, and the values behind its average.

Utah Royals FCHarder · 1.65 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.24 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.56; away opponent PPG: 2.04.

Remaining fixtures for Utah Royals FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Kansas City CurrentHome1.631.48No relative load effect1.48
Seattle Reign FCHome1.481.33Opponent more loaded (-3.5%)1.29
NJ/NY Gotham FCAway2.042.18No relative load effect2.18
Bay FCHarder · 1.64 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.23 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.74; away opponent PPG: 1.59.

Remaining fixtures for Bay FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Portland Thorns FCHome1.591.45No relative load effect1.45
Angel City FCAway1.591.74No relative load effect1.74
San Diego Wave FCHome1.891.74No relative load effect1.74
NJ/NY Gotham FCHarder · 1.63 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.22 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.70; away opponent PPG: 1.52.

Remaining fixtures for NJ/NY Gotham FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Washington SpiritAway1.811.96No relative load effect1.96
Orlando PrideAway1.221.37No relative load effect1.37
Utah Royals FCHome1.701.56No relative load effect1.56
Orlando PrideHarder · 1.59 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.18 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 2.04; away opponent PPG: 1.30.

Remaining fixtures for Orlando Pride
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Houston DashAway1.111.26No relative load effect1.26
NJ/NY Gotham FCHome2.041.89No relative load effect1.89
Seattle Reign FCAway1.481.63No relative load effect1.63
North Carolina CourageHarder · 1.56 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.15 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.65; away opponent PPG: 1.59.

Remaining fixtures for North Carolina Courage
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
San Diego Wave FCHome1.891.74No relative load effect1.74
Portland Thorns FCAway1.591.74Opponent more loaded (-3.1%)1.69
Denver Summit FCHome1.411.26No relative load effect1.26
Kansas City CurrentHarder · 1.52 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.11 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.81; away opponent PPG: 1.30.

Remaining fixtures for Kansas City Current
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Utah Royals FCAway1.701.85No relative load effect1.85
Washington SpiritHome1.811.67No relative load effect1.67
Racing Louisville FCAway0.891.04No relative load effect1.04
Boston Legacy FCNear average · 1.51 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.09 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 0.89; away opponent PPG: 1.74.

Remaining fixtures for Boston Legacy FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Racing Louisville FCHome0.890.74No relative load effect0.74
San Diego Wave FCAway1.892.04No relative load effect2.04
Angel City FCAway1.591.74No relative load effect1.74
Chicago Stars FCNear average · 1.42 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.01 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.30; away opponent PPG: 1.81.

Remaining fixtures for Chicago Stars FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Seattle Reign FCHome1.481.33No relative load effect1.33
Houston DashHome1.110.96Team more loaded (+1.0%)0.97
Washington SpiritAway1.811.96No relative load effect1.96
Racing Louisville FCNear average · 1.42 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · +0.01 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.63; away opponent PPG: 1.24.

Remaining fixtures for Racing Louisville FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Boston Legacy FCAway1.071.22No relative load effect1.22
Denver Summit FCAway1.411.55No relative load effect1.55
Kansas City CurrentHome1.631.48No relative load effect1.48
Washington SpiritNear average · 1.38 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.03 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.33; away opponent PPG: 1.63.

Remaining fixtures for Washington Spirit
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
NJ/NY Gotham FCHome2.041.89No relative load effect1.89
Kansas City CurrentAway1.631.78No relative load effect1.78
Chicago Stars FCHome0.630.48No relative load effect0.48
Denver Summit FCEasier · 1.30 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.12 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.24; away opponent PPG: 1.56.

Remaining fixtures for Denver Summit FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Angel City FCHome1.591.45No relative load effect1.45
Racing Louisville FCHome0.890.74No relative load effect0.74
North Carolina CourageAway1.561.70No relative load effect1.70
Portland Thorns FCEasier · 1.27 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.14 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.56; away opponent PPG: 1.04.

Remaining fixtures for Portland Thorns FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Bay FCAway0.961.11No relative load effect1.11
North Carolina CourageHome1.561.41Team more loaded (+3.2%)1.45
Houston DashAway1.111.26No relative load effect1.26
Seattle Reign FCEasier · 1.26 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.16 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.22; away opponent PPG: 1.17.

Remaining fixtures for Seattle Reign FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Chicago Stars FCAway0.630.78No relative load effect0.78
Utah Royals FCAway1.701.85Team more loaded (+3.6%)1.92
Orlando PrideHome1.221.07No relative load effect1.07
San Diego Wave FCEasier · 1.25 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.17 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 1 home and 2 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.07; away opponent PPG: 1.26.

Remaining fixtures for San Diego Wave FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
North Carolina CourageAway1.561.70No relative load effect1.70
Boston Legacy FCHome1.070.93No relative load effect0.93
Bay FCAway0.961.11No relative load effect1.11
Angel City FCEasier · 1.10 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.31 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.02; away opponent PPG: 1.41.

Remaining fixtures for Angel City FC
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Denver Summit FCAway1.411.55No relative load effect1.55
Bay FCHome0.960.82No relative load effect0.82
Boston Legacy FCHome1.070.93No relative load effect0.93
Houston DashEasier · 1.10 venue- and load-adjusted PPG · -0.32 vs baseline

3 remaining matches: 2 home and 1 away. Home opponent PPG: 1.41; away opponent PPG: 0.63.

Remaining fixtures for Houston Dash
OpponentHome/AwayRaw opponent PPGVenue adjustedRelative loadFinal difficulty
Orlando PrideHome1.221.07No relative load effect1.07
Chicago Stars FCAway0.630.78Opponent more loaded (-1.0%)0.77
Portland Thorns FCHome1.591.45No relative load effect1.45