playoffs

Championship elimination rounds

The playoffs are the elimination rounds that follow a sports league's regular season, determining a champion.

Teams that qualify based on regular-season performance compete in a series of games until one remains: The team made the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

In North American sports, making the playoffs is often the primary goal, with regular-season success measured by playoff qualification.

structure

bracket

Support or category

seedingsPreliminary competition rankings
roundsAmmunition or bout divisions
stagesDistinct periods or platforms

qualifiers · wildcard · bye · draw · schedule · fixtures · groups · pool · series · quarterfinals

culmination

championship

Competition for top rank

finalsConcluding tests or matches
trophyAward for winning
titleFormal honorific or name

crown · banner · ring · parade · celebration · clincher · coronation · glory · legacy · conquest

elimination

knockout

Incapacitating final blow

eliminatedRemoved from consideration
oustedRemoved from position
upsetDisturb, topple, or shock

exit · defeat · loss · survival · do-or-die · winner-take-all · cutthroat · high-stakes · crunch · pressure

competition

rivalry

Ongoing contest between opponents

contendersThose seeking to win
favoritesMost preferred choices
underdogsCompetitors expected to fail

matchup · clash · showdown · battle · duel · opponents · clinch · berth · chase · race

playoffs

bracket

championship

knockout

rivalry

playoffs

Opposites

Categories

Family