The San Diego Wave finished the 2025 NWSL regular season in sixth place with 37 points to make the playoffs.

San Diego will now begin the first round of the postseason with an away game against the Portland Thorns.

The Wave will face the Thorns this Sunday, November 9 (12:00 p.m. PST) at Providence Park for this quarterfinal clash.

San Diego and Portland tied both of their regular-season encounters in what were very hard-fought affairs. SD Wave controlled possession in both of those games, but were outshot heavily by the Thorns.

a proper SD send off 🌊 pic.twitter.com/dW7ZrKxWy7

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) November 8, 2025

Delphine Cascarino and Kenza Dali were the leading forces in Jonas Eidevall’s attack and will be key in this stage. Cascarino and Dali were the joint top scorers for San Diego with five goals each, along with Dudinha.

Cascarino also led the Wave in assists with six on the season and was one of the top playmakers in the league this season.

Portland’s midfield is by far the strongest component of its team, with Olivia Moultrie, Samantha Coffey, and Jessie Fleming. Moultrie and Fleming combined for 16 goal contributions this season, while Coffey was essential to the stability and order of this team.

Kenza Dali will have an important responsibility in this match to command the Wave’s midfield against this rigid Portland side.

There was not much to separate these teams in the regular season, and another strenuous game is expected for these sides. San Diego was the third-best team on the road in NWSL this season and will try to obtain another positive result away from home.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.