A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Season | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 15–October 14 |
| Champions | Portland Thorns FC |
| NWSL Shield | North Carolina Courage |
| Matches played | 120 |
| Goals scored | 344 (2.87 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Sam Kerr (17 goals) |
| Biggest home win | ORL 5–0 SKY (Aug 12) |
| Biggest away win | HOU 0–4 NC (Sep 27) |
| Highest scoring | SEA 5–4 SKY (Jul 22) SKY 5–4 SEA (Aug 19) |
| Longest winning run | 5 games North Carolina Courage (Aug 5 – Aug 30) Orlando Pride (Aug 8 – Sep 2) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 9 games Orlando Pride (Aug 8 – Sep 30) |
| Longest winless run | 10 games Boston Breakers (Jul 7 – Sep 10) |
| Longest losing run | 6 games Houston Dash (May 6 – Jun 17) |
| Highest attendance | 21,144 POR 3–1 CHI (Sep 30) |
| Lowest attendance | 428 KC 2–1 POR (Aug 16) |
| Total attendance | 609,957 |
| Average attendance | 5,083 |
← 2016 2018 →
All statistics correct as of October 1, 2017. | |
The 2017 National Women's Soccer League season was the fifth 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 eleventh overall season of FIFA- and USSF-sanctioned top-division women's soccer in the United States. The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and receives major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing is provided by the Canadian Soccer Association; both national federations pay the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.
The reigning champions Western New York Flash did not play under that name; the franchise was sold, relocated to Cary, North Carolina and rebranded as the North Carolina Courage.[1]
After schedule disruptions in the previous two years caused by the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, NWSL teams in 2017 once again played 24 games, a schedule last played during the 2014 season.[2] The Courage won the NWSL Shield (the regular season), topping the Portland Thorns by two points.
The NWSL Playoff semifinals were held October 7–8, 2017, and were won by the Thorns and the Courage. The NWSL Championship Game was held on October 14, 2017 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[3] The Thorns won 1–0, becoming NWSL Champions, their second championship.
Teams, stadiums, and personnel
Stadiums and locations
Two teams, the Dash and Reign, do not make their stadiums' entire capacity available for home games, instead restricting ticket sales at a lower level. The full capacities of their venues are included in parentheses and italics.
|
|
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Breakers |  Matt Beard
|
 Julie King Natasha Dowie
|
Steward Health Care |
| Chicago Red Stars | Rory Dames
|
Christen Press
|
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute |
| Houston Dash | Omar Morales (Interim)
|
Kealia Ohai Amber Brooks
|
BBVA Compass |
| FC Kansas City |  Vlatko Andonovski
|
Becky Sauerbrunn
|
Domino's |
| North Carolina Courage | Paul Riley
|
 Abby Erceg
|
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina |
| Orlando Pride |  Tom Sermanni
|
Ashlyn Harris Ali Krieger
|
Orlando Health |
| Portland Thorns | Mark Parsons
|
 Christine Sinclair Tobin Heath
|
Providence Health & Services |
| Seattle Reign FC | Laura Harvey
|
 Jess Fishlock Lauren Barnes
|
Microsoft |
| Sky Blue FC | Vacant | Christie Pearce
|
Meridian Health |
| Washington Spirit | Jim Gabarra
|
Shelina Zadorsky
|
ProChain Solutions, Inc. |
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Courage | Franchise relocation | Paul Riley
|
January 30, 2017 | [5] | ||
| Houston Dash | Randy Waldrum
|
Mutual separation | May 29, 2017 | Omar Morales (interim)
|
May 29, 2017 | [6] |
| Sky Blue FC |  Christy Holly
|
Mutual separation | August 16, 2017 | [7] |
Competition format
- Each team played a total of 24 games, 12 home and 12 away.
- The four teams at the end of the season with the most points qualified for the playoffs.
League standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Courage | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 49 | NWSL Shield |
| 2 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 47 | NWSL Playoffs |
| 3 | Orlando Pride | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 31 | +14 | 40 | |
| 4 | Chicago Red Stars | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 39 | |
| 5 | Seattle Reign FC | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 43 | 37 | +6 | 34 | |
| 6 | Sky Blue FC | 24 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 42 | 51 | −9 | 33 | |
| 7 | FC Kansas City | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 31 | |
| 8 | Houston Dash | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 39 | −16 | 24 | |
| 9 | Boston Breakers | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 35 | −11 | 19 | |
| 10 | Washington Spirit | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 30 | 48 | −18 | 19 |
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 point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules,[8] going down the list until all teams are ranked.
- Head-to-head win–loss record between the teams (or points-per-game if more than two teams).
- Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
- Greatest total number of goals scored (against all teams).
- Apply #1–3 to games played on the road.
- Apply #1–3 to games played at home.
- If teams are still equal, ranking will be determined by a coin toss.
NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.
Weekly live standings
Considering each week to end on a Sunday.