The 2026 NWSL playoffs kick off on Friday, with single-elimination play that's guaranteed to be a nail-biter. Eight teams made the playoffs, but only one will hoist the championship trophy on November 21. Of course, part of the fun of watching any playoff game is knowing insider-y details about each team.
That includes fan traditions that make a team unique—and that you can join in on, too. Every team has its own special chants and traditions that are uniquely theirs, and knowing what they are before kickoff immediately creates a level of familiarity you wouldn't have otherwise. You may already have "your" NWSL team that you root for, and you're probably familiar with their special traditions.
But there are also likely teams you'll be watching during playoffs that you don't know the ins and outs of. Whether you're looking for another club to root for when yours isn't playing or you just want to brush up on the details, these are the unique and sometimes hilarious fan traditions to know this NWSL postseason. The San Diego Wave fans aren't messing around.
They've formed their own supporters' group called the San Diego Sirens, and they're happy to include everyone in the club. The Sirens have an online breakdown of songs and chants to know ahead of games. They even included helpful clips, so you can learn the melodies ahead of games. (There's a lot of water-themed content in there, making these very on-brand.) The Utah Royals' fandom is called the Throne, and they march into the stadium as a united front before kickoff. (The Throne also says that everyone is welcome to join in.) The Royals also list their go-to chants online, allowing fans new and old to brush up before games.
Cloud 9 is Gotham's supporters club, and they've borrowed a few traditions from the UK's Manchester United. That includes incorporating John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and making it “Gotham Roads,” as a tribute to the team. You can download the club's songs on your phone and take them to the game or to your watch party to follow along.
The Royal Guard is Seattle Reign's fan club, and they've got plenty of traditions to share. The group does a walk toward Lumen Field before kickoff and incorporates a match-day band that might be the largest in NWSL. Check out their chants—with emojis to show when to clap—to get in the spirit.
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