PHOTOS: Chicago Red Stars virtually lock up playoff position

With Sunday’s 3-0 win by Gotham over the North Carolina Courage, and the Portland Thorns 1-0 win over the Houston Dash, the Chicago Red Stars are now a virtual lock to make the NWSL playoffs.

FiveThirtyEight now gives Chicago a greater than 99 percent chance to make it.

Portland, OL Reign and the Washington Spirit have already wrapped up spots. The screwball here is that Gotham has three games left to play—one against Kansas City, and two against Louisville. With that schedule, they’re also a virtual lock to make it.

That leaves Houston and North Carolina—both on 32 points—to fight for that sixth and final spot.

With the international break, the Red Stars will have to wait until October 29 to play their final regular season match against the Pride in Orlando.

To help you get through the break, here’s an exclusive photo gallery of Chicago’s 2-1 win over Kansas City last weekend from Hot Time’s Shaina Benhiyoun.

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