2024 National Women's Soccer League season explained
Season: | 2024 |
Competition: | National Women's Soccer League |
Winners: | TBD |
Shieldtitle: | NWSL Shield |
Shield: | TBD |
Continentalcup1: | Challenge Cup |
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | San Diego Wave FC (1st cup) |
Continentalcup2: | Summer Cup |
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | TBD |
Continentalcup3: | CONCACAF W Champions Cup |
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers: | TBD |
Matches: | 112 |
Total Goals: | 296 |
League Topscorer: | Barbra Banda Temwa Chawinga (12 goals) |
Biggest Home Win: | 6 goals ORL 6–0 UTA (Jun 21) |
Biggest Away Win: | 3 goals POR 1–4 KC (Jun 23) SD 0–3 CHI (Jun 28) LA 0–3 ORL (Jun 30) |
Highest Scoring: | 9 goals KC 5–4 POR (Mar 16) |
Longest Wins: | 8 wins Orlando Pride (April 12 – June 7) |
Longest Unbeaten: | 16 matches Orlando Pride (Mar 16 – present) |
Longest Winless: | 10 matches Utah Royals (Mar 31 – Jun 16) |
Longest Losses: | 6 losses Utah Royals (May 3 – Jun 16) |
Highest Attendance: | 35,038 CHI 1–2 BAY (June 8) |
Lowest Attendance: | 2,999 CHI 2–4 WAS (May 1) |
Attendance: | 1,256,106 |
Average Attendance: | 11,215 |
Prevseason: | 2023 |
Nextseason: | 2025 |
Updated: | July 10, 2024 |
The 2024 National Women's Soccer League season is the twelfth 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 is the 18th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league has 14 teams following the addition of expansion teams Bay FC and Utah Royals—the latter being the revival of a team that had played in the league from 2018 to 2020.
The season began with the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup, a supercup match between the reigning playoff champion (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and NWSL Shield winner San Diego Wave FC, on March 15, 2024. The regular season began the following day and will run until November 3;[1] it will pause for a month between July 8 and August 18 for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Each team will play 26 matches, an increase of four from the 2023 season. The playoffs will comprise the top eight teams and run from November 9 to November 23.[2] [3] The 2024 season is the first under a new broadcast agreement with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports; a total of 118 matches will be televised or streamed.[2]
In addition to league play, 2024 marks the debut of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, an international competition between clubs from the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil of Mexico. It is scheduled to be played from July to October.[4]
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 |
Bay FC | PayPal Park | 18,000 |
Chicago Red Stars | SeatGeek Stadium | 20,000 |
Houston Dash | Shell Energy Stadium | 7,000 |
Kansas City Current | CPKC Stadium | 11,500 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | Red Bull Arena | 25,000 |
North Carolina Courage | Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park | 10,000 |
Orlando Pride | Inter&Co Stadium | 25,500 |
Portland Thorns FC | Providence Park | 25,218 |
Racing Louisville FC | Lynn Family Stadium | 11,700 |
San Diego Wave FC | Snapdragon Stadium | 32,000 |
Seattle Reign FC | Lumen Field | 10,000 |
Utah Royals | America First Field | 20,213 |
Washington Spirit | Audi Field | 20,000 | |
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]
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment | |
---|
Utah Royals | | | | Preseason | | April 19, 2023 | [12] |
Bay FC | | | | Preseason | | September 27, 2023 | [13] |
Chicago Red Stars | (interim) | End of interim period | October 16, 2023 | Preseason | | December 20, 2023 | [14] |
Houston Dash | (interim) | End of interim period | October 16, 2023 | Preseason | | December 22, 2023 | [15] |
Kansas City Current | (interim) | End of interim period | October 16, 2023 | Preseason | | October 23, 2023 | [16] |
Washington Spirit | | Fired | October 17, 2023 | Preseason | (interim) | January 23, 2024 | [17] [18] |
Angel City FC | (interim) | End of interim period | October 21, 2023 | Preseason | | November 2, 2023 | [19] |
Racing Louisville FC | | Mutual separation | October 27, 2023 | Preseason | | November 30, 2023 | [20] [21] |
Portland Thorns FC | | Promoted to technical director | April 16, 2024 | 14th | (interim) | April 16, 2024 | [22] |
San Diego Wave FC | | Fired | June 24, 2024 | 9th | (interim) | June 24, 2024 | [23] |
Utah Royals | | Fired | June 30, 2024 | 14th | (interim) | June 30, 2024 | [24] |
Washington Spirit | (interim) | End of interim period | July 7, 2024 | 3rd | | January 9, 2024 | [25] |
Portland Thorns FC | (interim) | End of interim period | July 19, 2024 | 5th | | July 19, 2024 | [26] | |
Regular season
Standings
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.[27]
- Greater goal difference across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
- Most total wins across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
- Most goals scored across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
- Head-to-head results (total points) between the tied teams.
- Head-to-head most goals scored between the tied teams.
- Fewest disciplinary points accumulated across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
- Coin flip (if two teams are tied) or drawing of lots (if three or more teams are tied).
Positions by week
Considering each week to end when the NWSL releases their weekly standing tweet
Team \ Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
---|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
---|
| 6 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| 9 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| 14 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 4 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| 13 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | |
Legend: Gold = first place; green = playoff position; Red = last place.Attendance
See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance.
Average home attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Regular seasonTeam | | | | | |
---|
| 8 | 155,595 | 22,000 | 16,542 | 19,449 |
| 7 | 133,519 | 32,066 | 10,289 | 19,074 |
| 8 | 150,453 | 21,025 | 16,688 | 18,807 |
| 9 | 126,611 | 18,000 | 10,367 | 14,068 |
| 8 | 107,063 | 19,897 | 8,182 | 13,383 |
| 9 | 103,500 | 11,500 | 11,500 | 11,500 |
| 8 | 82,843 | 20,370 | 7,491 | 10,355 |
| 8 | 67,608 | 11,662 | 6,015 | 8,451 |
| 8 | 63,785 | 35,038 | 2,999 | 7,973 |
| 8 | 63,120 | 10,715 | 5,083 | 7,890 |
| 7 | 51,097 | 11,365 | 6,061 | 7,300 |
| 8 | 57,721 | 9,656 | 4,702 | 7,215 |
| 8 | 48,982 | 8,600 | 4,438 | 6,123 |
| 8 | 44,303 | 8,135 | 4,528 | 5,538 |
Total | 112 | 1,256,200 | 35,038 | 2,999 | 11,216 | |
---|
Highest attendances
Regular season[28] Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Stadium |
---|
1 | | 1–2 | | 35,038 | | Wrigley Field |
2 | | 1–2 | | 32,066 | | Snapdragon Stadium |
3 | | 3–0 | | 24,115 | | Snapdragon Stadium |
4 | | 0–1 | | 22,000 | | BMO Stadium |
| 2–1 | | 22,000 | | BMO Stadium |
| 0-3 | | 22,000 | | BMO Stadium |
7 | | 1–0 | | 21,025 | | Providence Park |
8 | | 0–2 | | 20,370 | | America First Field |
9 | | 4–0 | | 20,229 | | Providence Park |
10 | | 1–4 | | 20,024 | | Providence Park |
|
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
Top assists
Clean sheets
Hat-tricks
See also: List of NWSL hat-tricks.
Challenge Cup
See main article: 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup.
In a change of format, the Challenge Cup will be played as a one-off super cup, contested by the winners of the previous season's NWSL Championship, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and NWSL Shield, San Diego Wave FC.[29]
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
See main article: 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.
It is scheduled to be played from July to October.[4]
Individual awards
Monthly awards
Player of the Month
Rookie of the Month
Team of the Month
Weekly awards
Notes and References
- NWSL Announces 2024 Regular Season Schedule . National Women's Soccer League. January 25, 2024.
- News: Hernandez . Victoria . December 7, 2023 . 2024 NWSL schedule includes expanded playoffs, break for Paris Olympics . . December 8, 2023.
- Web site: December 7, 2023 . 2024 Competition Calendar . National Women's Soccer League . December 8, 2023.
- News: Odom . Joel . March 20, 2024 . NWSL, Liga MX Femenil teams to compete in Summer Cup tournament . . March 20, 2024.
- News: NWSL's Nike extension is league's 'most substantial' sponsorship deal to date . November 22, 2021 . August 23, 2022 . SportsPro . Sam . Carp.
- Web site: Bay FC Announces Historic Sponsorship with Sutter Healthas First Founding Partner, Front-of-Kit Partner and Official Medical Provider. December 13, 2023. Bay FC.
- Web site: Chicago Red Stars, Wintrust Announce Partnership for Significant Community Investment. Emmanuel. Salazar. February 27, 2024.
- Kansas City Current Announces Multi-Year Front-of-Kit Partnership with United Way of Greater Kansas City . Kansas City Current . January 9, 2024 . January 17, 2024.
- Web site: Gotham FC Announces CarMax as Jersey-Front and Marquee Partner. February 27, 2024. GlobeNewswire News Room.
- Web site: The Utah Royals have chosen their captain. The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Web site: URFC Unveil Vibrant Nike 'Ascent' Gold and 'Mountain Heir' Blue Kits | Real Salt Lake. rsl.
- Web site: Utah appoint ex-USWNT star Rodriguez as coach. April 19, 2023. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Bay FC Names Albertin Montoya the Club's First Head Coach. September 27, 2023. Bay FC.
- Web site: Chicago Red Stars Appoint Lorne Donaldson as Head Coach. Emmanuel. Salazar. December 20, 2023.
- Web site: Fran Alonso to lead Houston Dash as next head coach | Houston Dynamo. Houston Dynamo. FC. Houston Dynamo FC.
- Web site: KC Current Announce Vlatko Andonovski as Head Coach and Sporting Director - Kansas City Current. October 23, 2023. www.kansascitycurrent.com.
- Web site: Head Coach Mark Parsons Will Not Return to Washington Spirit for 2024 Season. Washington. Spirit. October 17, 2023. Washington Spirit.
- Web site: Adrián González Appointed Washington Spirit Assistant Coach. Washington. Spirit. January 23, 2024. Washington Spirit.
- Web site: Angel City Names Becki Tweed Head Coach. Angel City.
- Web site: Björkegren departs Racing; club opens search for next head coach.
- Web site: Racing Louisville appoints Bev Yanez as new head coach.
- Web site: Portland Thorns FC reorganize soccer operations department. Portland Thorns. FC. Portland Thorns FC.
- Web site: San Diego Wave FC Parts Ways with Head Coach Casey Stoney. Tyler. Emerick. June 24, 2024.
- Web site: Utah Royals FC Announce Reorganization | Utah Royals. rsl.
- Web site: Washington Spirit Names FC Barcelona Femení’s Jonatan Giráldez Costas New Head Coach. Washington. Spirit. January 9, 2024. Washington Spirit.
- Web site: Portland Thorns FC name Rob Gale as Head Coach - Portland Thorns. www.thorns.com.
- Web site: 2023 Competition Rules & Regulations . . April 17, 2023.
- Web site: NWSL Schedule. National Women's Soccer League. April 19, 2024.
- Web site: Reigning NWSL Champion NJ/NY Gotham FC, Shield-Winning San Diego Wave FC to Raise Curtain on 2024 Season With NWSL Challenge Cup . . January 19, 2024 . January 31, 2024.
- Kansas City Current Forward Bia Zaneratto Named March/April Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports . . May 7, 2024 . May 7, 2024.
- Orlando Pride Forward Barbra Banda Named May Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports . . June 6, 2024 . June 6, 2024.
- Current’s Temwa Chawinga named NWSL Player of the Month, presented by EA Sports . . July 11, 2024 . July 11, 2024.
- Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally . . August 9, 2024 . August 8, 2024.
- Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally . . May 7, 2024 . May 7, 2024.
- Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally . . June 6, 2024 . June 6, 2024.
- Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named June’s NWSL Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally. . July 11, 2024 . July 11, 2024.
- Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally . . August 9, 2024 . August 8, 2024.
- NWSL Announces March/April Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prime. . May 7, 2024 . May 7, 2024.
- NWSL Announces May Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prime. . June 7, 2024 . June 7, 2024.
- NWSL Announces June Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prime. . July 12, 2024 . July 12, 2024.
- NWSL Announces July Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prim. . August 9, 2024 . August 9, 2024.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1770592926936051919 . March 20, 2024 . First Game, First Goal, First Goal of the Week Winner!. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1770559777401368833 . March 20, 2024 . "You have got to be kidding me!". en.
- Seattle Reign FC . Seattle Reign FC . reignfc . 1772730198800437365 . March 26, 2024 . ️ OH YES JI DID! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1772731812680188305 . March 26, 2024 . “WHAT A SAVE” ‼️️. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1775252026026316262 . April 2, 2024 . A 99th minute extra time equalizer from Sam Coffey earns her the Goal of the Week! ⭐️ . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1775275989087772726 . April 2, 2024 . Not just 1 but TWO big saves from Aubrey Kingsbury. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1780332648751128889 . April 16, 2024 . A dream first goal for Alex Loera earns her the Week 4 Goal of the Week! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1780338780035027293 . April 16, 2024 . A goal line save almost as close as the voting for the @DeloitteUS Impact Save of the Week! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1782865685409841337 . April 23, 2024 . The Super Sub with the SUPER Goal . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1782885350144086391 . April 23, 2024 . Two weeks, two goal-line saves . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1785461845085569396 . April 30, 2024 . Red light Green Light GOOOOALLLLLLL from Sophia Smith!! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1785464466324251011 . April 30, 2024 . A goal line save from POINT BLANK range! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1787966495693087210 . A game-winning, back-to-goal header with only 10 players on the field?!? . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1787961613208711586 . Laurel Ivory’s finger tip save was . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1790473674769793178 . One Touch, Shot, GOAL of the Week ‼️ . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1790480258707108274 . Goal Line Clearance ✅ Goal Line Clearance during the Cascadia Rivalry ✅✅. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1793032379117850677 . The precision needed to score from this angle . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1793032580515741739 . A CRUCIAL goal live save from Kiki Pickett helped @wearebayfc secure a 2-1 . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1795909155150328153 . And she’s done it AGAIN! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1795913321062756528 . OH. MY. GOSH… The Defensive Recovery by Lauren Flynn . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1800649841866920381 . The outside of the foot pass The left footed finish . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1800649713869263235 . This incredible save earned Mandy Haught a spot on @sportscenter Top 10. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1803163469849518220 . WHAT CAN’T SHE DO, SHE’S CROIX BETHUNE ‼️. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1803188548918485195 . Kailen Sheridan had cat-like reflexes! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1805727822201434243 . Trinity Rodman’s rocket of a finish wins her Goal of the Week!!! . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1805704731173519434 . This DiDi kick save is ridiculous . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1808251043811414461 . Mallory Swanson is good at Soccer.. en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1808247126284968037 . Even Jaedyn Shaw couldn’t believe how Alyssa Naeher got to this one . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1810803432325853323 . BACK-2-BACK . en.
- National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1810803155980145003 . When you save the play 3 times in a row, you better believe that you won the Week 15 @DeloitteUS Impact Save of the Week! . en.