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2023 National Women's Soccer League season

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(Redirected from 2023 NWSL season) 11th season of the National Women's Soccer League

Football league season
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
Matches played132
Goals scored339 (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.

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.

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. For the first time, the NWSL Challenge Cup ran entirely concurrent with the regular season from April to September 9, 2023. NJ/NY Gotham FC won their first league championship by defeating OL Reign in the NWSL Championship at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

See also: List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Angel City FC BMO Stadium 22,000
Chicago Red Stars SeatGeek Stadium 20,000
Houston Dash Shell Energy Stadium 7,000
Kansas City Current Children's Mercy Park 18,467
NJ/NY Gotham FC Red Bull Arena 25,000
North Carolina Courage Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000
OL Reign Lumen Field 10,000
Orlando Pride Exploria Stadium 25,500
Portland Thorns FC Providence Park 25,218
Racing Louisville FC Lynn Family Stadium 11,700
San Diego Wave FC Snapdragon Stadium 35,000
Washington Spirit Audi Field 20,000
  1. Shell Energy Stadium has a capacity of 22,039, but the maximum capacity for Dash games is restricted to 7,000.
  2. 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. Seated capacity; full capacity with standing room is 15,304.
2023 National Women's Soccer League season is located in the United StatesAngel CityAngel CityRed StarsRed StarsDashDashCurrentCurrentGothamGothamCourageCourageReignReignPridePrideThornsThornsRacingRacingWaveWaveSpiritSpiritclass=notpageimage| 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.

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

Coaching changes

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
Orlando Pride England Seb Hines (interim) End of interim period October 2, 2022 Preseason England Seb Hines November 11, 2022
Washington Spirit United States Albertin Montoya (interim) End of interim period October 2, 2022 Preseason England Mark Parsons November 21, 2022
Houston Dash Spain Juan Carlos Amorós (interim) Resigned October 28, 2022 Preseason England Sam Laity December 21, 2022
Portland Thorns FC Canada Rhian Wilkinson Resigned December 2, 2022 Preseason England Mike Norris January 9, 2023
Kansas City Current England Matt Potter Fired April 19, 2023 11th Finland Caroline Sjöblom (interim) April 19, 2023
Angel City FC England Freya Coombe Fired June 15, 2023 11th England Becki Tweed (interim) June 15, 2023
Houston Dash England Sam Laity Fired September 6, 2023 10th England Sarah Lowdon (interim) September 8, 2023
Chicago Red Stars United States Chris Petrucelli Fired October 10, 2023 12th United States Ella Masar (interim) October 10, 2023

Regular season

Standings

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 Playoff semifinals and W Champions Cup
2 Portland Thorns FC 22 10 5 7 42 32 +10 35
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
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions; (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.

  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

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 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
Source: NWSL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Match abandoned at the 52nd minute due to severe thunderstorms in the area.

Attendance

See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Regular season
Team GP Attendance High Low Average
San Diego Wave FC 11 227,893 30,854 14,362 20,718
Angel City FC 11 217,313 22,000 16,682 19,756
Portland Thorns FC 11 208,094 25,218 14,972 18,918
OL Reign 11 149,704 42,054 6,132 13,609
Kansas City Current 11 124,878 15,671 9,409 11,353
Washington Spirit 11 119,748 15,479 7,073 10,886
Orlando Pride 11 69,878 8,504 4,290 6,353
NJ/NY Gotham FC 11 69,223 15,058 3,200 6,293
Racing Louisville FC 11 65,989 10,214 4,143 5,999
Houston Dash 10 58,569 9,175 4,536 5,857
North Carolina Courage 11 59,225 10,434 4,000 5,384
Chicago Red Stars 11 53,332 8,961 2,356 4,848
Total 131 1,423,846 42,054 2,356 10,869

Updated through 2023 Season

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

Highest attendances

Regular season
Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium
1 OL Reign 0–2 Portland Thorns FC 42,054 June 3, 2023 (2023-06-03) Lumen Field
2 OL Reign 0–0 Washington Spirit 34,130 October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06) Lumen Field
3 San Diego Wave FC 3–2 Chicago Red Stars 30,854 March 25, 2023 (2023-03-25) Snapdragon Stadium
4 San Diego Wave FC 2–0 Racing Louisville FC 30,312 October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15) Snapdragon Stadium
5 San Diego Wave FC 1–2 Angel City FC 25,515 June 17, 2023 (2023-06-17) Snapdragon Stadium
6 Portland Thorns FC 2–0 OL Reign 25,218 September 16, 2023 (2023-09-16) Providence Park
7 San Diego Wave FC 1–0 Houston Dash 24,936 September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03) Snapdragon Stadium
8 San Diego Wave FC 1–2 OL Reign 22,682 June 24, 2023 (2023-06-24) Snapdragon Stadium
9 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage 22,107 August 20, 2023 (2023-08-20) Providence Park
10 Angel City FC 1–2 NJ/NY Gotham FC 22,000 March 26, 2023 (2023-03-26) BMO Stadium

Updated through 2023 Season

  1. 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.

Statistical leaders

As of October 14, 2023.

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC 11
2 Brazil Kerolin North Carolina Courage 10
3 Brazil Debinha Kansas City Current 9
United States Ashley Hatch Washington Spirit
5 United States Alex Morgan San Diego Wave FC 7
United States Morgan Weaver Portland Thorns FC
United States Lynn Williams NJ/NY Gotham FC
8 United States Bethany Balcer OL Reign 6
United States Messiah Bright Orlando Pride
United States Cece Kizer Kansas City Current
Brazil Adriana Leal da Silva Orlando Pride
United States Tyler Lussi North Carolina Courage
United States Jaedyn Shaw San Diego Wave FC
Japan Hina Sugita Portland Thorns FC


Top assists

Rank Player Club Assists
1 United States Sam Coffey Portland Thorns FC 8
2 Brazil Julia Bianchi Chicago Red Stars 5
Scotland Claire Emslie Angel City FC
United States Alex Morgan San Diego Wave FC
United States Megan Rapinoe OL Reign
United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC
7 Brazil Adriana Leal da Silva Orlando Pride 4
France Clarisse Le Bihan Angel City FC
United States Alex Loera Kansas City Current
Brazil Marta Orlando Pride
Mexico María Sánchez Houston Dash
United States Morgan Weaver Portland Thorns FC
United States Christen Westphal San Diego Wave FC

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 United States Casey Murphy North Carolina Courage 9
Canada Kailen Sheridan San Diego Wave FC
3 United States Jane Campbell Houston Dash 8
4 England Anna Moorhouse Orlando Pride 7
5 United States Bella Bixby Portland Thorns FC 6
United States Katie Lund Racing Louisville FC
7 United States Aubrey Kingsbury Washington Spirit 4
United States Cassie Miller Kansas City Current
United States Abby Smith NJ/NY Gotham FC
United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce OL Reign


Hat-tricks

See also: List of NWSL hat-tricks
Player For Against Score Date Ref.
United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC at Kansas City Current 1–4 April 1, 2023
Brazil Kerolin North Carolina Courage at Chicago Red Stars 0–5 June 10, 2023
United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit 4–2 June 23, 2023

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 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

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

OL Reign1–0Angel City FC
Report
Lumen Field, Seattle, WashingtonAttendance: 12,152Referee: Brad Jensen
North Carolina Courage0–2NJ/NY Gotham FC
Report
WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North CarolinaAttendance: 4,612Referee: Katja Koroleva

Semifinals

Portland Thorns FC0–1 (a.e.t.)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Report
Providence Park, Portland, OregonAttendance: 25,218Referee: Danielle Chesky
San Diego Wave FC0–1OL Reign
Report
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaAttendance: 32,262Referee: Natalie Simon

Championship

OL Reign1–2NJ/NY Gotham FC
Report
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaAttendance: 25,011Referee: Katja Koroleva

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
Award Winner Nominees Ref.
Golden Boot United States Sophia Smith (11 G) Portland Thorns FC N/A
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
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
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Jane Campbell Houston Dash United States Katie Lund, LOU
Canada Kailen Sheridan, SD
Rookie of the Year United States Jenna Nighswonger NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Messiah Bright, ORL
United States Alyssa Thompson, LA
Coach of the Year Spain Juan Carlos Amorós NJ/NY Gotham FC England Casey Stoney, SD
England Becki Tweed, LA

Teams of the Year

Announced November 6, 2023

Best XI

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

Second XI

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

Most selections

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

Further information: NWSL Player of the Month
Month Player Team Ref.
March/April United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC
May United States Savannah DeMelo Racing Louisville FC
June United States Sophia Smith (2) Portland Thorns FC
July United States Savannah McCaskill Angel City FC
August United States Messiah Bright Orlando Pride
September/October United States Savannah McCaskill (2) Angel City FC

Rookie of the Month

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

Team of the Month

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

Weekly awards

Week Player of the Week Save of the Week Ref.
Player Club Player Club
1 United States Lynn Williams NJ/NY Gotham FC Not awarded
2 United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC
3 United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce OL Reign
4 United States Lynn Williams (2) NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Abby Smith NJ/NY Gotham FC
5 Brazil Debinha Kansas City Current United States Abby Smith (2) NJ/NY Gotham FC
6 United States Crystal Dunn Portland Thorns FC United States Katie Lund Racing Louisville FC
7 United States Abby Smith NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Abby Smith (3) NJ/NY Gotham FC
8 United States Lynn Williams (3) NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars
9 Brazil Bruninha NJ/NY Gotham FC United States Alyssa Naeher (2) Chicago Red Stars
10 United States Sydney Leroux Angel City FC Brazil Bruninha
United States Abby Smith (4)
NJ/NY Gotham FC
11 Brazil Kerolin North Carolina Courage United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce OL Reign
12 United States Tara McKeown Washington Spirit United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce (2) OL Reign
13 United States Sophia Smith (2) Portland Thorns FC United States Phallon Tullis-Joyce (3) OL Reign
14 United States Julie Doyle Orlando Pride United States Abby Smith (5) NJ/NY Gotham FC
15 United States Messiah Bright Orlando Pride United States Abby Smith (6) NJ/NY Gotham FC

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