Multiple scenarios are in play as we head to the final weekend of the 2025/26 Gainbridge Super League regular season with the Players’ Shield, the No. 2 seed and the final berth in the postseason all up for grabs on Saturday.
Here’s where every team stands in its pursuit of the postseason entering this weekend’s action.
1. Sporting Club Jacksonville
Record: 16-6-5, 53pts
Maximum Points: 56
Magic Number: Clinched
Up Next: at CAR, 5/16
Sporting JAX knows it will clinch both the Players’ Shield and the No. 1 seed in the postseason with a draw on the road against Carolina Ascent FC, but could have clinched both shortly before kickoff with second-place Lexington SC squaring off with Tampa Bay Sun FC earlier in the evening. If Lexington wins and Jacksonville loses, though, it would set up an immediate rematch with Carolina at Hodges Stadium in the postseason Semifinals.
Sporting Club Jacksonville Clinches Players’ Shield IF…
1. Sporting Club Jacksonville wins/draws at Carolina Ascent FC, moves to 56/54pts
OR Lexington SC draws/loses vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 51/50pts
2. Lexington SC
Record: 13-3-11, 50pts
Maximum Points: 53
Magic Number: Clinched
Up Next: vs. TB, 5/16
Lexington remained in contention for the Players’ Shield and the No. 1 seed in the postseason with its victory last Sunday against Brooklyn FC and would ramp up the pressure on Jacksonville if it can repeat that result at home to Tampa Bay Sun FC on Saturday evening. Regardless of Sporting JAX’s result, a win would ensure a home game to start the playoffs next weekend, and a draw would almost certainly be enough as well with LSC holding a 15-goal advantage over Carolina Ascent FC in the first tiebreaker of goal differential.
Lexington SC clinches Players Shield IF…
1. Lexington SC wins vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, moves to 53pts
AND Sporting Club Jacksonville loses vs. Carolina Ascent FC, ends on 53pts
Lexington holds goal differential tiebreaker
Lexington SC clinches Top-Two Finish IF…
1. Lexington SC wins vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 53pts
2. Lexington SC draws vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 51pts
AND Carolina Ascent FC wins by fewer than 15 goals vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville, ends on 51pts
Lexington holds goal differential tiebreaker
3. Lexington SC loses vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 50pts
AND Carolina Ascent FC draws/loses vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville, ends on 49/48pts
3. Carolina Ascent FC
Record: 14-7-6, 48pts
Maximum Points: 51
Magic Number: Clinched
Up Next: vs. JAX, 5/16
Carolina Ascent can still earn a home playoff game thanks to its victory on the road against Fort Lauderdale United FC but will need to take victory and have second-place Lexington SC lose at home to Tampa Bay Sun FC unless they can pull of what would be a 16-goal margin of victory against Sporting JAX to bridge the difference in goal differential between itself and LSC. With Lexington’s game set to conclude just before kickoff at American Legion Memorial Stadium, Carolina will know if the door is open, or if its only role for the night will be spoiler as Jacksonville looks to clinch the Players’ Shield.
Carolina Ascent FC clinches Top-Two Finish IF…
1. Carolina Ascent FC wins by any margin vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville, moves to 51pts
AND Lexington SC loses vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 50pts
2. Carolina Ascent wins by 16-goal margin vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville, moves to 51pts, +27GD
AND Lexington SC draws vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, ends on 51pts, +26GD
4. Dallas Trinity FC
Record: 10-10-7, 37pts
Maximum Points: 40
Magic Number: 3
Up Next: vs. FTL, 5/16
Dallas Trinity ensured it remained in control of its playoff pathway going to the final game of the regular season with its victory at Tampa Bay Sun FC last Saturday, which means a win at home to Fort Lauderdale United FC will send the side to the postseason for a second consecutive campaign. Dallas is likely to know the result of Spokane Zephyr FC’s contest earlier in the day, but should Spokane take victory, Trinity would need to match with Zephyr holding a superior goal differential for the first tiebreaker
Dallas Trinity FC clinches Playoff Spot IF…
1. Dallas Trinity FC wins vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, ends on 40pts
2. Dallas Trinity FC draws vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, ends on 38pts
AND Spokane Zephyr FC draws/loses vs. Brooklyn FC, ends on 37/36pts
3. Dallas Trinity FC loses vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, ends on 37pts
AND Spokane Zephyr FC loses vs. Brooklyn FC, ends on 36pts
5. Spokane Zephyr FC
Record: 9-9-9, 36pts
Maximum Points: 39
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: vs. BKN, 5/16
Spokane Zephyr FC kept its chances of a first trip to the playoffs alive with its nerve-wracking 1-0 win against DC Power FC and has the opportunity to ramp up the pressure on fourth-place Dallas Trinity FC as it plays the first game of the day this Saturday. Spokane can jump into fourth place with a victory against Brooklyn FC, meaning Dallas would need to match it later in the night at home to Fort Lauderdale United FC, while a draw for Zephyr and a loss for Dallas would also send Spokane into the fourth spot on the first tiebreaker of goal differential.
Spokane Zephyr clinches Playoff Spot IF…
1. Spokane Zephyr FC wins vs. Brooklyn FC, ends on 39pts
AND Dallas Trinity FC draws/loses vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, ends on 38/37pts
2. Spokane Zephyr FC draws vs. Brooklyn FC, ends on 37pts
AND Dallas Trinity FC loses vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, ends on 37pts
Spokane holds goal differential tiebreaker
Mathematically Eliminated: DC Power FC, Brooklyn FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Tampa Bay Sun FC