The 2017 NWSL Championship was the fifth edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on October 14, 2017. Portland Thorns FC won 1–0 against the NWSL Shield holders North Carolina Courage, becoming NWSL champions for the second time. The match was played at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Road to the final North Carolina Courage
After winning the 2016 NWSL Championship, the Western New York were sold to Steve Malik; relocated to Cary, North Carolina; and renamed the North Carolina Courage. Unshaken by the move, the Courage won the NWSL Shield in the 2017 season with the best record in the league. Returning NWSL Golden Boot winner and 2016 Most Valuable Player Lynn Williams led the team in scoring, while midfielders Sam Mewis and McCall Zerboni would join defender Abby Dahlkemper in the NWSL Best XI announced after the championship match. Dahlkemper would also be named NWSL Defender of the Year in the days after the championship match.
In the playoff semifinals on October 27, the Courage held off the fourth seed Chicago Red Stars 1–0, with Denise O'Sullivan scoring in the 90th minute, to reach the franchise's second consecutive final.
Portland Thorns FC
After winning the NWSL Shield but losing to Western New York in the 2016 playoff semifinals, Portland Thorns FC placed second in the 2017 regular-season standings. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch led a defense that conceded the fewest goals in the league, and would be named the league's Goalkeeper of the Year days after the championship match.
In the playoff semifinals, the Thorns won 4–1 over the third seed Orlando Pride, with goals scored by Amandine Henry, Emily Sonnett, Hayley Raso, and Christine Sinclair, sending the Thorns to their first final since the inaugural 2013 NWSL Championship.
Match
Details
GK 99 Katelyn RowlandLB 15 Jaelene HinkleCB 6 Abby Erceg (c)CB 13 Abby DahlkemperRB 11 Taylor Smith MF 8 Denise O'Sullivan MF 7 McCall ZerboniMF 5 Sam MewisMF 23 Kristen Hamilton FW 9 Lynn WilliamsFW 12 Ashley HatchSubstitutes:GK 1 Sabrina D'AngeloDF 2 Nora Holstad BergeMF 3 Makenzy Doniak FW 14 Jessica McDonald FW 22 Stephanie Ochs MF 25 Meredith SpeckDF 26 Sam WittemanManager: Paul Riley GK 24 Adrianna FranchLB 25 Meghan KlingenbergCB 4 Emily MengesCB 16 Emily SonnettLB 2 Katherine ReynoldsMF 7 Lindsey HoranMF 12 Christine Sinclair (c)MF 28 Amandine Henry FW 17 Tobin Heath FW 21 Hayley Raso FW 14 Ashleigh Sykes Substitutes:GK 33 Britt EckerstromFW 9 Nadia Nadim MF 10 Allie Long MF 11 Dagný Brynjarsdóttir FW 26 Mallory WeberFW 30 Celeste BoureilleFW 34 Tyler LussiManager: Mark Parsons
NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player: Lindsey Horan
Assistant referees: Adrienne McDonald (United States) Cory Richardson (United States) Fourth official: Christina Unkel (United States)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Maximum of three substitutions.
References