Brief History

The acronym NWSL stands for the National Women's Soccer League and is widely recognized as America's biggest premier women’s soccer league. Its inception dates back to 2012 when it was established as a successor to the Women's Professional Soccer League, which operated between 2007 and 2012. The WPS itself followed the legacy of the Women's United Soccer Association, active from 2001 through until 2003.

Eight teams formed part of NWSL in its opening season, conducted in 2013. The first NWSL match kicked off on April 13th at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, where Portland Thorns competed against FC Kansas City; captivating an audience of 6,784 cheering fans. Remarkably, Portland Thorns FC emerged as the triumphant champions in this inaugural NWSL season.

What is the format of NWSL?

Commencing in 2024, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has experienced substantial transformations in its format. As part of the regular season, each team engages in a tally of 26 matches, incorporating home and away games against every other team in the NWSL. The top eight performing teams on the leaderboard receive an opportunity to compete for glory in the prestigious NWSL Playoffs.

Unlike before, the playoffs consist of 8 quarterfinal matches without any byes to the semifinals. The team that successfully progresses and emerges victorious in the final is awarded the NWSL Championship trophy. Additionally, there is the NWSL Challenge Cup, which has also been restructured. The Cup is a single contest that draws together last season’s NWSL Shield winner against the current reigning NWSL champions.

The leadership team of NWSL

The NWSL Leadership team comprises seven individuals, namely:

1. Jessica Berman, who holds the position of Commissioner.

2. Tatjana Haenni, serving as the Chief Sporting Director.

3. Lauren Lopez, responsible for the role of Chief People and Culture Officer.

4. Mitch Poll, who assumes the position of EVP and Partner Strategy.

5. Julie Haddon, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer.

6. Carlin Hudson, holding the position of Director of Strategy.

7. Bill Ordower, who serves as both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer.

How many NWSL teams are there?

As of the 2024 season, there are 14 teams in the NWSL. Each team represents a different a different region or city in America.

1. North Carolina Courage – Cary, North Carolina

2. Orlando Pride – Orlando, Florida

3. Racing Louisville FC – Louisville, Kentucky

4. Washington Spirit – Leesburg, Virginia

5. NJ/NY Gotham FC – New York City, New York

6. Seattle Reign FC– Tacoma, Washington

7. Portland Thorns FC – Portland, Oregon

8. San Diego Wave FC – San Diego, California

9. Angel City FC – Los Angeles, California

10. Bay FC - San Francisco, California

11. Chicago Red Stars – Bridgeview, Illinois

12. Kansas City Current – Kansas City, Missouri

13. Houston Dash – Houston, Texas

14. Utah Royals FC - Salt Lake City, Utah

All about the NWSL Team Expansion

Inaugurated in 2012, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) established itself with an initial eight-team lineup. The first expansion occurred two years later, in 2014 when Houston Dash was incorporated as the league's ninth team. The following season saw the addition of two more teams, namely Orlando Pride and the Boston Breakers. This development continued into 2016 when Western New York Flash - since rebranded as North Carolina Courage - joined them on board.

Unfortunately, in 2018, the Boston Breakers ceased operations. However, Racing Louisville FC brought up their numbers again in 2020. Unrelenting growth followed suit into the next year as Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC took their places among NWSL ranks. Later, in 2024, Bay FC and Utah Royals FC joined the league. The NWSL has also expressed its desire to further expand and has announced plans to reach a total of 16 teams by 2026.

Popular players of the NWSL

1. Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns FC-

Sophia Smith has significantly impacted her club, securing their first-ever Golden Boot by scoring an impressive 11 goals in 17 matches. Notably, she is only the third player in NWSL history to achieve two hat tricks in a single season.

2. Debinha, Kansas City Current-

Debinha made her debut for Kansas City Current in 2023 and showcased her prowess by netting nine goals. Additionally, she received recognition for her outstanding performances, earning three monthly Best XI selections in the same year.

3. Naomi Girma, San Diego Wave FC-

Naomi Girma burst onto the NWSL scene in 2022, immediately making a name for herself as the Defender of the Year and NWSL Rookie of the Year. Her remarkable contributions, including 152 possessions won and 52 blocks, were pivotal in leading San Diego Wave FC to their first-ever NWSL Shield triumph in 2023.

How much do NWSL players make?

Compensation within the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is contingent on a player's capabilities. In 2023, the minimum salary for an NWSL player stood at $36,400. On the other hand, the average salary for NWSL players was reported to be approximately $65,000. However, in 2024, the salary cap for NWSL teams experienced an increase. Previously set at $1.375 million, it was raised to $2.75 million in 2024.

Who won the NWSL Championship 2023?

NJ/NY Gotham FC. The 2023 NWSL Championship took place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, United States, featuring a thrilling match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign. Ultimately, it was Gotham FC who claimed victory, defeating OL Reign with a scoreline of 2-1.

All about the 2024 NWSL

Notably, the NWSL 2024 season commences at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16th. The inaugural match features Kansas City Current versus Portland Thorns FC. The regular season will take a break from July 8th to August 18th to accommodate the 2024 Summer Olympics and conclude on November 3rd.

A total of 20 matches will be televised live on ABC and ESPN. Additionally, fans can catch the regular season matches on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+. Furthermore, Weekly Friday night matches will be available on Prime Video, while weekly Saturday night double-headers can be enjoyed on the Scripps-owned ION network. Moreover, all matches can be accessed for free on NWSL+.

2024 NWSL Challenge Cup

The NWSL Challenge Cup is scheduled to unfold on March 15, 2024. This prestigious face-off will stand witness to New Jersey/New York Gotham FC vs San Diego Wave FC. The match will take place in the Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ), and the kick-off commences at 8 p.m. ET. The broadcast of this event will be readily available for viewing exclusively via Prime Video.

2024 NWSL Championship

The NWSL playoffs for the year 2024 will begin on November 9th. The NWSL Championship match is scheduled to take place on November 23rd. Fans can catch the thrilling game on the CBS Television Network and also stream it on Paramount+.

Highlights of the 2024 NWSL season

1. Saturday, May 11: Portland Thorns FC vs. Seattle Reign FC (Cascadia Rivalry)

2. Thursday, May 23: Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave FC (SoCal Showdown )

3. Sunday, June 16: Bay FC vs. Utah Royals FC (Battle of the Expansion Sides)

4. Sunday, June 30: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign FC (2023 NWSL Championship Rematch)