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.
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. 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. 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.
TeamStadiumCapacity Boston Breakers Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium 4,000 Chicago Red Stars Toyota Park 20,000 Houston Dash BBVA Compass Stadium 7,000 (22,039) FC Kansas City Swope Soccer Village (primary)Children's Mercy Park (secondary) 3,50018,467 North Carolina Courage Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 Orlando Pride Orlando City Stadium 25,500 Portland Thorns Providence Park 21,144 Seattle Reign FC Memorial Stadium 6,088 (12,000) Sky Blue FC Yurcak Field 5,000 Washington Spirit Maryland SoccerPlex 4,000
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.
Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Boston Breakers Steward Health Care Chicago Red Stars Illinois Bone and Joint Institute Houston Dash Omar Morales (Interim) BBVA Compass FC Kansas City Domino's North Carolina Courage Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina Orlando Pride Orlando Health Portland Thorns Providence Health & Services Seattle Reign FC Jess Fishlock Lauren Barnes Microsoft Sky Blue FC Vacant Meridian Health Washington Spirit ProChain Solutions, Inc.
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of appointmentRef. North Carolina Courage Franchise relocation January 30, 2017 Houston Dash Mutual separation May 29, 2017 (interim) May 29, 2017 Sky Blue FC Mutual separation August 16, 2017
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
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, 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.
→ Team ↓ North Carolina Courage 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 Portland Thorns 3 4 3 2 3 5 5 3 4 2 Orlando Pride 10 10 10 10 9 8 8 7 6 7 3 Chicago Red Stars 9 6 8 4 6 3 2 2 2 2 4 Seattle Reign FC 5 2 5 6 2 4 4 5 5 5 5 Sky Blue FC 6 8 6 8 4 2 6 FC Kansas City 2 3 7 7 8 7 6 6 7 6 9 10 7 Houston Dash 1 7 4 5 7 9 9 9 10 9 8 8 Boston Breakers 8 5 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 Washington Spirit 7 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 8 8 10 10 10 10 9 10
Washington Spirit and Boston Breakers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 18 on August 26, 2017 after losing their respective games. FC Kansas City and Houston Dash were both eliminated in Week 20 on September 9, after the Chicago Red Stars gained one more point in a tie against FC Kansas City. Sky Blue FC was eliminated later that weekend after a loss against the Washington Spirit. Seattle Reign was the last team to lose a playoff spot after a defeat in Week 21.
In Week 19, North Carolina Courage was the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Later that week, Portland Thorns clinched the second playoff spot. Both Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride clinched the remaining two spots in Week 21.
Attendance
Average home attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Team Portland Thorns FC 12211,83021,144 14,471 17,653 Orlando Pride 12 74,233 14,452 4,273 6,186 Houston Dash 12 54,938 6,707 4,578 North Carolina Courage 12 52,672 7,020 2,383 4,389 Seattle Reign FC 12 48,449 6,041 2,727 4,037 Washington Spirit 12 41,891 5,200 2,365 3,491 Chicago Red Stars 12 38,379 4,934 1,827 3,198 Boston Breakers 12 34,754 4,321 2,276 2,896 Sky Blue FC 12 31,355 3,451 2,008 2,613 FC Kansas City 12 21,456 3,340 1,788 Total 120 609,957 21,144 428 5,083 Updated to games played on October 1, 2017.
Highest attendances Regular season Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium1Portland Thorns FC3–1Chicago Red Stars21,144Providence Park2Portland Thorns FC2–0Houston Dash19,672Providence Park3Portland Thorns FC4–0Washington Spirit19,141Providence Park4Portland Thorns FC2–0Boston Breakers18,637Providence Park5Portland Thorns FC2–1Washington Spirit18,478Providence Park6Portland Thorns FC2–1Houston Dash18,243Providence Park7Portland Thorns FC4–1Orlando Pride18,193Providence Park8Portland Thorns FC1–0North Carolina Courage16,804Providence Park9Portland Thorns FC1–3Sky Blue FC16,736Providence Park10Portland Thorns FC3–0FC Kansas City16,199Providence Park Updated to games played on October 7, 2017.
Statistical leaders
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC 172 Marta Orlando Pride133 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC124 Christen Press Chicago Red Stars115 Alex Morgan Orlando Pride9 Lynn Williams North Carolina Courage7 Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns FC88 Natasha Dowie Boston Breakers7 Jessica Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Ashley Hatch North Carolina Courage Updated: October 1, 2017
Top assists RankPlayerClubAssists1 Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign FC92 Shea Groom FC Kansas City6 Meghan Klingenberg Portland Thorns FC Adriana Leon Boston Breakers Marta Orlando Pride6 Daphne Corboz Sky Blue FC5 Taylor Lytle Sky Blue FC Camila Orlando Pride Lynn Williams North Carolina Courage Updated: October 1, 2017
NWSL Playoffs
The top four teams from the regular season competed for the NWSL Championship. In one semifinal, the North Carolina Courage defeated the Chicago Red Stars 1–0 on a dramatic 89th-minute goal. In the other, Portland Thorns FC defeated the Orlando Pride 4–1. One week later, in the final on October 14, Portland defeated North Carolina 1–0 to claim the NWSL Championship.
Semi-finals
Championship
Individual awards
Monthly awards
Player of the Month
Team of the Month
Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref April Stephanie Labbé, WAS Estelle Johnson, WAS Becky Sauerbrunn, KC Emily Sonnett, POR Julie Ertz, CHI Debinha, NC Rose Lavelle, BOS Jess Fishlock, SEA Sam Mewis, NC Kealia Ohai, HOU Lynn Williams, NC May Kailen Sheridan, NJ Samantha Johnson, CHI Becky Sauerbrunn, KC Casey Short, CHI Danielle Colaprico, CHI Amandine Henry, POR Rose Lavelle, BOS Sarah Killion, NJ Nahomi Kawasumi, SEA Christen Press, CHI Sam Kerr, NJ June Stephanie Labbé, WAS Casey Short, CHI Abby Dahlkemper, NC Ali Krieger, ORL Estelle Johnson, WAS Marta, ORL Sam Mewis, NC Jess Fishlock, SEA Megan Rapinoe, SEA Sam Kerr, NJ Ashley Hatch, NC July Jane Campbell, HOU Amber Brooks, KC Abby Dahlkemper, NC Casey Short, CHI Taylor Smith, NC Andressinha, HOU Julie Ertz, CHI Marta, ORL McCall Zerboni, NC Sam Kerr, NJ Megan Rapinoe, SEA August Katelyn Rowland, NC Steph Catley, ORL Emily Sonnett, POR Ali Krieger, ORL Taylor Smith, NC Marta, ORL Sam Mewis, NC Lindsey Horan, POR Hayley Raso, POR Alex Morgan, ORL Sam Kerr, NJ September Adrianna Franch, POR Emily Menges, POR Kelley O'Hara, NJ Becky Sauerbrunn, KC Casey Short, CHI Alanna Kennedy, ORL Marta, ORL Sam Mewis, NC Shea Groom, KC Christine Sinclair, POR Lynn Williams, NC
Weekly awards
WeekNWSL Player of the WeekNWSL Goal of the WeekNWSL Save of the WeekReference Player Club Player Club Player Club1 Haley Kopmeyer Seattle Reign FC Rachel Daly Houston Dash Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride2 Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Danica Evans Orlando Pride Mônica Orlando Pride 3 Adriana Leon Boston Breakers Camila Orlando Pride Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC 4 Francisca Ordega Washington Spirit Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride5 Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign FC Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars6 Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars Abby Smith Boston Breakers7 Sydney Leroux FC Kansas City Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City Danielle Colaprico Chicago Red Stars8 Lindsey Horan Portland Thorns FC Lindsey Horan Portland Thorns FC Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC9 Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC Camila Orlando Pride Aubrey Bledsoe Orlando Pride10 Poliana Houston Dash Vanessa DiBernardo Chicago Red Stars Steph Catley Orlando Pride11 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC Stephanie Labbé Washington Spirit12 Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC Lindsey Horan Portland Thorns FC Aubrey Bledsoe Orlando Pride13 Andressinha Houston Dash Toni Pressley Orlando Pride Aubrey Bledsoe Orlando Pride14 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars Christen Press Chicago Red Stars15 Arielle Ship Washington Spirit Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC16 Sam Mewis North Carolina Courage Marta Orlando Pride Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC17 Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride18 Hayley Raso Portland Thorns FC Alex Morgan Orlando Pride Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride19 Shea Groom FC Kansas City Julie Ertz Chicago Red Stars Jane Campbell Houston Dash20 Whitney Church Washington Spirit Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns DiDi Haracic Whitney Church Washington Spirit21 Adriana Leon Boston Breakers Rachel Daly Houston Dash Ashlyn Harris Mônica Orlando Pride22 Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign Alanna Kennedy Orlando Pride Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride
Annual awards
AwardWinnerTeamNotesGolden Boot Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC 17 goalsCoach of the Year Paul Riley North Carolina Courage NWSL Shield WinnerRookie of the Year Ashley Hatch North Carolina Courage 7 goals, 1 assist, 1,200 minutesGoalkeeper of the Year Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC 11 shutouts, 80 saves, 0.83 GA/ADefender of the Year Abby Dahlkemper North Carolina Courage Played all 2,160 minutesMost Valuable Player Sam Kerr Sky Blue FC League record 17 goals