What is the NWSL?
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the highest professional women’s soccer league in the United States. The league features the top national team players from around the world.
How many teams are in the NWSL?
As of 2023, the NWSL has 12 teams across the United States. Those teams include the following:
- Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, California
- Chicago Red Stars based in Chicago, Illinois
- Houston Dash based in Houston, Texas
- Kansas City Current based in Kansas City, Missouri
- NJ/NY Gotham FC based in Harrison, New Jersey
- North Carolina Courage based in Cary, North Carolina
- Orlando Pride based in Orlando, Florida
- Portland Thorns FC based in Portland, Oregon
- OL Reign based in Seattle, Washington
- Racing Louisville FC based in Louisville, Kentucky
- San Diego Wave FC based in San Diego, California
- Washington Spirit based in Washington, D.C.
NWSL Competition Format
As of 2023, the NWSL competition format includes:
- Twenty-two (22) regular-season games in a home-and-away, double round-robin format.
- The team with the highest point total at the end of the regular season is awarded the NWSL Shield.
- The six teams with the most points from the regular season qualify for the playoffs.
- The top two teams receive a first-round bye.
- The higher-seeded teams host single knockout matches.
- The semifinal winners advance to the NWSL Championship Final played at a predetermined site.
What is the NWSL Challenge Cup?
As of 2023, the NWSL Challenge Cup format includes:
- A six-week tournament that runs from April to September.
- The 12 NWSL clubs are divided into three groups of four teams.
- The clubs play double round-robin matches for a total of six fixtures.
- After group play, three group winners and the second-place team with the highest point total will compete in the semifinals.
- The semifinal winners will compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup final.
Here’s a full list of NWSL Challenge Cup Winners and MVPs.
What is the NWSL Shield?
The NWSL Shield is an award given to the National Women’s Soccer League club with the best regular season record as determined by the NWSL points system. You can view the point system format on the NWSL website.
The NWSL Shield and NWSL Challenge Cup is not the same as the NWSL Championship.
Key dates for NWSL
As of 2023, here are the key dates for NWSL:
- January 23, 2023 – February 6, 2023: Preseason camps
- March 25, 2023: 2023 NWSL Regular Season begins
- April 2023 (TBD): 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup begins
- September 6, 2023: Challenge Cup semifinals
- September 9, 2023: Challenge Cup Final
- October 22, 2023: NWSL quarterfinals
- November 4, 2023: NWSL semifinals
- November 11, 2023: NWSL Championship