The Washington Spirit failed to secure the NWSL Shield late Sunday, sending the race for first place into the final weekend of the regular season.
The Spirit, which had already clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs, dropped a 2-0 decision to the Seattle Reign before 4,574 at Memorial Stadium.
In a rematch of a controversial clash four days earlier at Maryland SoccerPlex, Beverly Yanez scored in the 27th minute and Keelin Winters, in her final home game before retiring, added a goal in the 78th as the Reign (7-6-6) clung to long-shot playoff hopes.
The Spirit (12-4-3) saw its lead slip to one point over the Portland Thorns (11-3-5), who defeated the visiting Western New York Flash, 3-2, before a sellout crowd of 21,144 at Providence Park.