For the fourth time in five seasons, the Wave is headed to the NWSL playoffs. San Diego clinched a postseason berth with a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride on Oct. 2, with three regular season matches still to play.
The club’s 2026 season has already set new records, with the most wins (16) and most points (51) in San Diego Wave FC history.
The team’s success has been built around a mix of experienced leaders and emerging young players, including rookie Lia Godfrey, who has been a key contributor throughout her first professional season.
Godfrey has recorded six goals and five assists for the Wave, giving her the second-most goals among rookies in the NWSL this season. Helping the team secure a postseason berth was especially meaningful for the 23-year-old in her first professional season.
“It’s really exciting for me,” Godfrey said. “I’m super pumped to be in the playoffs. With a few games left there’s a little bit of ease, but we still are fighting for the Shield. We want to win, but to be in the playoffs is really awesome.”
The postseason berth marks the fourth time in the club’s five seasons that the Wave have qualified for the playoffs, making San Diego just the third team in NWSL history to accomplish the feat.
Veteran midfielder Kenza Dali captained the match against Orlando, helping lead the team while continuing a standout season in which she has created more chances (56) than any other player in the NWSL. Reflecting on the moment and the team’s goals from the beginning of the season, Dali was pleased to see the club secure its playoff berth.
“[Earning a spot in the playoffs] has always been the objective since the beginning of the season,” Dali said. “We can control what we can control and it’s really important to keep winning. But I’m really proud of the team and the way we have played. I think we truly deserve this spot.”
Head Coach Jonas Eidevall has led the club to its best season in history, with the Wave recording the most wins and points with three regular season matches remaining. The team has also set a new club record for the most regular season home wins (nine) and has recorded eight road victories, also the most in a single season in club history.
Following the matchup between San Diego and Orlando, 10 Wave players dispersed to join their respective national teams, making the final moments together before the break especially meaningful for Eidevall.
“It was special in the way we [made the playoffs],” Eidevall said. “It was a moment here where we have been playing so well together for quite a long time. Knowing that we could [clinch our spot] here before we split up for the international window, it’s now such a nice feeling knowing that we finished business here and we can look forward to other objectives and targets when we come back again in October.”
Following the FIFA international window, NWSL regular-season play will resume on Saturday, Oct. 17, when San Diego Wave FC travels to face the North Carolina Courage at First Horizon Stadium.
