Seattle Reign Clinch Ninth Playoff Berth in Emotional 1-0 Win for Jess Fishlock’s Farewell

Seattle Reign FC clinched their ninth playoff berth in club history by beating the Orlando Pride 1-0 on Decision Day.

Brittany Ratcliffe scored the only goal of the match.

The win secured the final postseason spot over the Denver Summit and the North Carolina Courage.

North Carolina did their part by defeating Denver Summit 1-0 earlier in the day.

But results elsewhere meant the Courage missed out on the playoffs.

Denver, North Carolina and Seattle were battling for the last spot.

It was the Reign who came out on top.

The match carried extra weight because it was Jess Fishlock's final home game for Seattle Reign.

Fishlock, a club icon and one of the most decorated players in NWSL history, played her last regular-season match in front of the home crowd.

Goal.com described the scene this way: "The Reign's playoff clincher felt like something out of a fairy tale, coming in what was the one and only Jess Fishlock's final game in Seattle."

The Orlando Pride entered the match without leading scorer Barbra Banda.

Banda's absence was a significant factor for the Pride, who struggled to generate offense.

Seattle took full advantage of the opportunity.

The Reign's defense held firm, and Ratcliffe's strike proved to be the difference.

With the win, Seattle booked a quarterfinal matchup against Gotham FC.

Gotham FC is the number one seed in the NWSL playoffs.

Gotham clinched their first-ever NWSL Shield with a 2-0 victory over the Utah Royals earlier on Decision Day.

The reigning champions and two-time NWSL title winners are the top-ranked team in the league.

The quarterfinal match will be played in New Jersey at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Gotham FC will host the Seattle Reign on Sunday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. PT.

The game will air nationally on ABC and ESPN Deportes.

It will also stream on the ESPN App for unlimited subscribers.

The NWSL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament.

The winner of each match advances to the next round.

The loser is eliminated and their season ends.

If the score is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played.

If the score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.

Teams are allowed an additional substitute in extra time.

They also get an additional substitution window.

Through the quarterfinals and semifinals, the higher-seeded team hosts the match.

The only exception is if venue availability prevents it.

The semifinal round begins the weekend of November 13.

The winner of the 1 vs. 8 game plays the winner of the 4 vs. 5 game.

The winner of the 2 vs. 7 game plays the winner of the 3 vs. 6 game.

Seattle is the number eight seed.

Gotham is the number one seed.

That means the Reign face the toughest possible path through the bracket.

The NWSL Championship will be held on November 21 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

The championship is presented by Google Pixel.

The playoff field also includes the Washington Spirit, San Diego Wave, Angel City FC, Portland Thorns, Utah Royals and Kansas City Current.

These eight teams will battle for the NWSL title.

Ashley Sanchez of the North Carolina Courage won the Golden Boot with 20 regular-season goals.

Sanchez had reason to celebrate even as her team missed the playoffs.