Wikiwand AI

2023 National Women's Soccer League season

11th season of the National Women's Soccer League From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023 National Women's Soccer League season was the eleventh season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 17th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams compete in the league.

Season2023
DatesMarch 25 – November 11
ChampionsNJ/NY Gotham FC
(1st title)
NWSL ShieldSan Diego Wave FC
(1st shield)
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
National Women's Soccer League
Season2023
DatesMarch 25 – November 11
ChampionsNJ/NY Gotham FC
(1st title)
NWSL ShieldSan Diego Wave FC
(1st shield)
Challenge CupNorth Carolina Courage
(2nd cup)
CONCACAF W Champions CupNJ/NY Gotham FC
San Diego Wave FC
Portland Thorns FC
Matches132
Goals339 (2.57 per match)
Top goalscorerSophia Smith
(11 goals)
Best goalkeeperCasey Murphy
(7 shutouts)
Biggest home win5 goals
ORL 5–0 CHI
(Aug 20)
Biggest away win5 goals
CHI 0–5 NC
(June 11)
Highest scoring7 goals
RGN 5–2 CHI
(Apr 22)
Longest winning run4 wins
North Carolina Courage
(Jun 10 – Jul 1)
Longest unbeaten run7 matches
Washington Spirit
(Mar 26 – May 13)
Longest winless run6 matches
Racing Louisville FC
(Mar 26 – May 6)
Longest losing run4 losses
Orlando Pride
(Mar 26 – Apr 23)
Kansas City Current
(May 7 – 26)
Highest attendance42,054
RGN 0–2 POR
(Jun 5)
Lowest attendance2,356
CHI 4–2 KC
(Apr 15)
Total attendance1,423,846
Average attendance10,869
← 2022
2024 →
All statistics correct as of October 15, 2023.
Close

The NWSL regular season, comprising 22 games for each team, began on March 25 and ended on October 15, 2023. The playoffs followed from October 22 and ended with the championship match on November 11.[1] For the first time, the NWSL Challenge Cup ran entirely concurrent with the regular season from April to September 9, 2023.[1] NJ/NY Gotham FC won their first league championship by defeating OL Reign in the NWSL Championship at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.[2]

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

See also: List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums
More information Team, Stadium ...
Team Stadium Capacity
Angel City FC BMO Stadium 22,000
Chicago Red Stars SeatGeek Stadium 20,000
Houston Dash Shell Energy Stadium 7,000[a]
Kansas City Current Children's Mercy Park 18,467
NJ/NY Gotham FC Red Bull Arena 25,000
North Carolina Courage WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000
OL Reign Lumen Field 10,000[b]
Orlando Pride Exploria Stadium 25,500
Portland Thorns FC Providence Park 25,218
Racing Louisville FC Lynn Family Stadium 11,700[c]
San Diego Wave FC Snapdragon Stadium 35,000
Washington Spirit Audi Field 20,000
Close
  1. [a]
    Shell Energy Stadium has a capacity of 22,039, but the maximum capacity for Dash games is restricted to 7,000.[citation needed]
  2. [b]
    Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740; standard configuration for Reign games seats 10,000 but can expand based on demand for individual games.[3]
  3. [c]
    Seated capacity; full capacity with standing room is 15,304.[4]
Locations of the National Women's Soccer League teams in 2023.

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer as part of a league-wide sponsorship agreement renewed in November 2021.[5]

More information Team, Head coach ...
Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Angel City FC England Becki Tweed (interim) New Zealand Ali Riley[6] DoorDash[7]
Chicago Red Stars United States Ella Masar (interim) United States Alyssa Naeher[8] CIBC[9]
Houston Dash England Sarah Lowdon (interim) Canada Sophie Schmidt[10][11] MD Anderson Cancer Center[12]
Kansas City Current Finland Caroline Sjöblom (interim) United States Lo'eau LaBonta[13] Saint Luke's Health System[14]
NJ/NY Gotham FC Spain Juan Carlos Amorós United States Ali Krieger[15] Algorand[16]
North Carolina Courage United States Sean Nahas Republic of Ireland Denise O'Sullivan[17] Merz Aesthetics[18]
OL Reign England Laura Harvey United States Lauren Barnes[19] Black Future Co-op Fund[20]
Orlando Pride England Seb Hines Brazil Marta[21] Orlando Health[22]
Portland Thorns FC England Mike Norris Canada Christine Sinclair[23] Providence Health & Services[24]
Racing Louisville FC Sweden Kim Björkegren United States Jaelin Howell[25] GE Appliances[26]
San Diego Wave FC England Casey Stoney United States Alex Morgan[27] Kaiser Permanente[28]
Washington Spirit England Mark Parsons United States Aubrey Kingsbury[29] CVS Health[30]
Close

Coaching changes

More information Team, Outgoing coach ...
Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment Ref.
NJ/NY Gotham FC England Hue Menzies (interim) End of interim period October 2, 2022 Preseason Spain Juan Carlos Amorós November 1, 2022 [31]
Orlando Pride England Seb Hines (interim) End of interim period October 2, 2022 Preseason England Seb Hines November 11, 2022 [32]
Washington Spirit United States Albertin Montoya (interim) End of interim period October 2, 2022 Preseason England Mark Parsons November 21, 2022 [33]
Houston Dash Spain Juan Carlos Amorós (interim) Resigned October 28, 2022 Preseason England Sam Laity December 21, 2022 [34][35]
Portland Thorns FC Canada Rhian Wilkinson Resigned December 2, 2022 Preseason England Mike Norris January 9, 2023 [36][37]
Kansas City Current England Matt Potter Fired April 19, 2023 11th Finland Caroline Sjöblom (interim) April 19, 2023 [38]
Angel City FC England Freya Coombe Fired June 15, 2023 11th England Becki Tweed (interim) June 15, 2023 [39]
Houston Dash England Sam Laity Fired September 6, 2023 10th England Sarah Lowdon (interim) September 8, 2023 [40][41]
Chicago Red Stars United States Chris Petrucelli Fired October 10, 2023 12th United States Ella Masar (interim) October 10, 2023 [42]
Close

Regular season

Standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Diego Wave FC (S) 22 11 4 7 31 22 +9 37 NWSL Shield, Playoff semifinals, and CONCACAF W Champions Cup
2 Portland Thorns FC 22 10 5 7 42 32 +10 35 Playoff semifinals and W Champions Cup
3 North Carolina Courage 22 9 6 7 29 22 +7 33 Playoff quarterfinals
4 OL Reign 22 9 5 8 29 24 +5 32
5 Angel City FC 22 8 7 7 31 30 +1 31
6 NJ/NY Gotham FC (C) 22 8 7 7 25 24 +1 31
7 Orlando Pride 22 10 1 11 27 28 −1 31
8 Washington Spirit 22 7 9 6 26 29 −3 30
9 Racing Louisville FC 22 6 9 7 25 24 +1 27
10 Houston Dash 22 6 8 8 16 18 −2 26
11 Kansas City Current 22 8 2 12 30 36 −6 26
12 Chicago Red Stars 22 7 3 12 28 50 −22 24
Close
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions and W Champions Cup; (S) NWSL Shield

Tiebreakers

The initial determining factor for a team's position in the standings is most points earned, with three points earned for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. If two or more teams tie in total points total when determining rank, playoff qualification, and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker criteria, going down the list until all teams are ranked.[43]

  1. Greater goal difference across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  2. Most total wins across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  3. Most goals scored across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  4. Head-to-head results (total points) between the tied teams.
  5. Head-to-head most goals scored between the tied teams.
  6. Fewest disciplinary points accumulated across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  7. Coin flip (if two teams are tied) or drawing of lots (if three or more teams are tied).

Results

More information Home \ Away, CHI ...
Home \ Away CHI HOU KC LA LOU NC NJY ORL POR RGN SD WAS
Chicago Red Stars — 1–2 4–2 2–2 1–0 0–5 1–2 1–0 2–3 0–3 1–0 1–1
Houston Dash 0–1 — 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–1[a] 1–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–3 1–1
Kansas City Current 6–3 0–2 — 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–0 0–2 2–3
Angel City FC 1–2 0–0 3–2 — 2–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 5–1 2–1 0–2 0–1
Racing Louisville FC 3–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 — 1–2 2–0 3–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 2–2
North Carolina Courage 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 — 3–3 3–0 3–3 1–0 0–0 1–2
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2–1 0–2 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 — 0–0 2–1 0–2 0–1 2–0
Orlando Pride 5–0 1–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 0–2 — 3–1 1–0 1–2 2–1
Portland Thorns FC 4–0 1–1 0–1 3–3 2–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 — 2–0 0–2 4–2
OL Reign 5–2 2–0 2–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 1–4 1–0 0–2 — 1–0 0–0
San Diego Wave FC 3–2 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–3 1–1 1–2 — 2–2
Washington Spirit 0–3 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–0 3–1 —
Close
Source: NWSL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Match abandoned at the 52nd minute due to severe thunderstorms in the area.[44]

Attendance

See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

More information Team, GP ...
Regular season
Team GP Attendance High Low Average
San Diego Wave FC11227,89330,85414,36220,718
Angel City FC11217,31322,00016,68219,756
Portland Thorns FC11208,09425,21814,97218,918
OL Reign11149,70442,0546,13213,609
Kansas City Current11124,87815,6719,40911,353
Washington Spirit11119,74815,4797,07310,886
Orlando Pride1169,8788,5044,2906,353
NJ/NY Gotham FC1169,22315,0583,2006,293
Racing Louisville FC1165,98910,2144,1435,999
Houston Dash[a]1058,5699,1754,5365,857
North Carolina Courage1159,22510,4344,0005,384
Chicago Red Stars1153,3328,9612,3564,848
Total1311,423,84642,0542,35610,869
Close

Updated through 2023 Season

  1. [a]
    The April 28, 2023, match between HOU and NC was abandoned at the 52nd minute before attendance could be reported.[44]

Highest attendances

More information Rank, Home team ...
Regular season[45]
Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium
1OL Reign0–2Portland Thorns FC42,054[a]June 3, 2023 (2023-06-03)Lumen Field
2OL Reign0–0Washington Spirit34,130October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)Lumen Field
3San Diego Wave FC3–2Chicago Red Stars30,854March 25, 2023 (2023-03-25)Snapdragon Stadium
4San Diego Wave FC2–0Racing Louisville FC30,312October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)Snapdragon Stadium
5San Diego Wave FC1–2Angel City FC25,515June 17, 2023 (2023-06-17)Snapdragon Stadium
6Portland Thorns FC2–0OL Reign25,218September 16, 2023 (2023-09-16)Providence Park
7San Diego Wave FC1–0Houston Dash24,936September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03)Snapdragon Stadium
8San Diego Wave FC1–2OL Reign22,682June 24, 2023 (2023-06-24)Snapdragon Stadium
9Portland Thorns FC2–1North Carolina Courage22,107August 20, 2023 (2023-08-20)Providence Park
10Angel City FC1–2NJ/NY Gotham FC22,000March 26, 2023 (2023-03-26)BMO Stadium
Close

Updated through 2023 Season

  1. [a]
    The June 3 match between OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC was part of a doubleheader with Seattle Sounders FC. The attendance figure reflects the tickets counted for the Sounders match.[46]

Statistical leaders

As of October 14, 2023.[47]
More information Rank, Player ...
Close

Playoffs

Further information: NWSL Playoffs

The top six teams from the regular season will qualify for the NWSL Championship playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a quarterfinal bye. The playoffs begin with the quarterfinals on October 20, with semifinals scheduled for November 5 and the championship finals match on November 11[1] at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.[51][52]

Bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
1 San Diego Wave FC 0
4 OL Reign 1 4 OL Reign 1
5 Angel City FC 0 4 OL Reign 1
6 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2
2 Portland Thorns FC 0
3 North Carolina Courage 0 6 NJ/NY Gotham FC (a.e.t.) 1
6 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2

Quarterfinals

More information OL Reign, 1–0 ...
OL Reign1–0Angel City FC
 Report
Close
Attendance: 12,152
Referee: Brad Jensen
More information North Carolina Courage, 0–2 ...
North Carolina Courage0–2NJ/NY Gotham FC
Report
Close
Attendance: 4,612

Semifinals

More information Portland Thorns FC, 0–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Portland Thorns FC0–1 (a.e.t.)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Report
Close
Attendance: 25,218
Referee: Danielle Chesky
More information San Diego Wave FC, 0–1 ...
San Diego Wave FC0–1OL Reign
Report
Close
Attendance: 32,262
Referee: Natalie Simon

Championship

More information OL Reign, 1–2 ...
OL Reign1–2NJ/NY Gotham FC
 Report
Close
Attendance: 25,011

Championship Game MVP: Midge Purce (NJNY)

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup

Individual awards

As of July 10, 2023

Annual awards

Further information: NWSL awards
More information Award, Winner ...
Award Winner Nominees[53] Ref.
Golden Boot United States Sophia Smith (11 G) Portland Thorns FC N/A [54]
Most Valuable Player Brazil Kerolin North Carolina Courage United States Sam Coffey, POR
Brazil Debinha, KC
United States Naomi Girma, SD
United States Sophia Smith, POR		 [55]
Defender of the Year United States Naomi Girma San Diego Wave FC United States Sarah Gorden, LA
United States Ali Krieger, NJNY
United States Kaleigh Kurtz, NCC
United States Sam Staab, WAS		 [56]
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Jane Campbell Houston Dash United States Katie Lund, LOU
Canada Kailen Sheridan, SD		 [57]
Rookie of the Year United States Jenna Nighswonger NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Messiah Bright, ORL
United States Alyssa Thompson, LA		 [58]
Coach of the Year Spain Juan Carlos Amorós NJ/NY Gotham FC England Casey Stoney, SD
England Becki Tweed, LA		 [59]
Close

Teams of the Year

Announced November 6, 2023[60]

Best XI

More information POSITION, PLAYER ...
POSITION PLAYER CLUB
Goalkeeper United States Jane Campbell Houston Dash
Defender United States Naomi Girma San Diego Wave FC
United States Ali Krieger NJ/NY Gotham FC
United States Sarah Gorden Angel City FC
United States Sam Staab Washington Spirit
Midfielder/Forward United States Sam Coffey Portland Thorns FC
Brazil Debinha Kansas City Current
United States Jaedyn Shaw San Diego Wave FC
Brazil Kerolin North Carolina Courage
United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC
United States Lynn Williams NJ/NY Gotham FC
Close

Second XI

More information POSITION, PLAYER ...
POSITION PLAYER CLUB
Goalkeeper Canada Kailen Sheridan San Diego Wave FC
Defender United States Emily Fox North Carolina Courage
United States Kaleigh Kurtz North Carolina Courage
United States Jenna Nighswonger NJ/NY Gotham FC
United States M.A. Vignola Angel City FC
Midfielder/Forward United States Savannah DeMelo Racing Louisville FC
United States Savannah McCaskill Angel City FC
Republic of Ireland Denise O'Sullivan North Carolina Courage
United States Ashley Hatch Washington Spirit
United States Alex Morgan San Diego Wave FC
United States Trinity Rodman Washington Spirit
Close

Most selections

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

Further information: NWSL Player of the Month
More information Month, Player ...
Month Player Team Ref.
March/April United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC [61]
May United States Savannah DeMelo Racing Louisville FC [62]
June United States Sophia Smith (2) Portland Thorns FC [63]
July United States Savannah McCaskill Angel City FC [64]
August United States Messiah Bright Orlando Pride [65]
September/October United States Savannah McCaskill (2) Angel City FC [66]
Close

Rookie of the Month

Further information: NWSL Rookie of the Month
More information Month, Player ...
Month Player Team Ref.
March/April United States Alyssa Thompson Angel City FC [67]
May United States Jenna Nighswonger NJ/NY Gotham FC [68]
June United States Paige Metayer Washington Spirit [69]
July United States Jenna Nighswonger (2) NJ/NY Gotham FC [70]
August United States Messiah Bright Orlando Pride [65]
September/October United States Alexa Spaanstra Kansas City Current [71]
Close

Team of the Month

Further information: NWSL Team of the Month
More information Month, Goalkeeper ...
Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref.
March/April United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce, RGN
[72]
May United States Abby Smith, NJY
[73]
June United States Casey Murphy, NC
[74]
July United States Emily Boyd, CHI
[75]
August United States Adrianna Franch, KC
[76]
September
/ October		 United States Jane Campbell, HOU
[77]
Close

Weekly awards

More information Week, Player of the Week ...
Week Player of the Week Save of the Week Ref.
PlayerClub PlayerClub
1 United States Lynn WilliamsNJ/NY Gotham FC
Not awarded
 [78]
2 United States Sophia SmithPortland Thorns FC [79]
3 United States Phallon Tullis-JoyceOL Reign [80]
4 United States Lynn Williams (2)NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Abby SmithNJ/NY Gotham FC [81][82]
5 Brazil DebinhaKansas City Current United States Abby Smith (2)NJ/NY Gotham FC [83][84]
6 United States Crystal DunnPortland Thorns FC United States Katie LundRacing Louisville FC [85][86]
7 United States Abby SmithNJ/NY Gotham FC United States Abby Smith (3)NJ/NY Gotham FC [87][88]
8 United States Lynn Williams (3)NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Alyssa NaeherChicago Red Stars [89][90]
9 Brazil BruninhaNJ/NY Gotham FC United States Alyssa Naeher (2)Chicago Red Stars [91][92]
10 United States Sydney LerouxAngel City FC Brazil Bruninha
United States Abby Smith (4)		NJ/NY Gotham FC [93][94]
11 Brazil KerolinNorth Carolina Courage United States Phallon Tullis-JoyceOL Reign [95][96]
12 United States Tara McKeownWashington Spirit United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce (2)OL Reign [97][98]
13 United States Sophia Smith (2)Portland Thorns FC United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce (3)OL Reign [99][100]
14 United States Julie DoyleOrlando Pride United States Abby Smith (5)NJ/NY Gotham FC [101][102]
15 United States Messiah BrightOrlando Pride United States Abby Smith (6)NJ/NY Gotham FC [103]
Close

References

External links

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks