2022 National Women's Soccer League season
Tenth season of the National Women's Soccer League From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2022 National Women's Soccer League season was the tenth 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 16th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams competed in the league, including two expansion teams, San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC.
Season | 2022 |
---|---|
Dates | April 29–October 29 |
Champions | Portland Thorns FC (3rd title) |
NWSL Shield | OL Reign (3rd shield) |
Challenge Cup | North Carolina Courage (1st cup) |
Matches played | 132 |
Goals scored | 367 (2.78 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Alex Morgan (15 goals) |
Best goalkeeper | Bella Bixby, Phallon Tullis-Joyce (9 clean sheets) |
Biggest home win | POR 6–0 ORL (June 19) |
Biggest away win | LOU 0–4 CHI (August 27) HOU 0–4 POR (June 12) |
Highest scoring | NC 3–4 HOU (June 19) NC 3–4 KC (August 13) WAS 4–3 SD (September 10) |
Longest winning run | 3 games SD (May 1 – May 18) KC (July 1 – July 31) HOU (July 16 – August 12) |
Longest unbeaten run | 13 games KC (May 30 – Sept 14) |
Longest winless run | 16 games WAS (May 15 – September 10) |
Longest losing run | 12 games NJY (July 16 – October 1) |
Highest attendance | 32,000 SD vs. LA (Sept 17) |
Lowest attendance | 1,961 WAS vs. CHI (June 1) |
Total attendance | 1,045,095 |
Average attendance | 7,917 |
← 2021 2023 → |
The NWSL regular season, comprising 22 games for each team, began on April 29 and ended on October 2, 2022. OL Reign topped the standing with 40 points and thus won the NWSL Shield. The championship playoffs were held from October 16–29 and were won by Portland Thorns FC, who defeated the Kansas City Current 2-0 in the final and thus became the NWSL champions. The year also included the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, which was played from March 18 to May 7 and overlapped with the start of the regular season. It was won by the North Carolina Courage, who defeated the Washington Spirit 2-1 in the final.
This season was the first in which the total attendance exceeded one million.[1]
Teams, stadiums, and personnel
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Perspective
Team names
On October 21, 2020, the Los Angeles expansion team announced its name as Angel City FC.[2]
On October 30, 2021, the NWSL franchise in Kansas City announced its new name as Kansas City Current.[3]
On November 9, 2021, the San Diego expansion team announced its name as San Diego Wave FC.[4]
Stadiums and locations
Capacities listed here are full capacities, and do not reflect COVID-19 restrictions.
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Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer as part of a league-wide sponsorship agreement renewed in November 2021.[12]
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington Spirit | Re-assigned[a] | August 10, 2021 | 7th in 2021 | December 20, 2021 | [30] | ||
San Diego Wave FC | Preseason | July 14, 2021 | [31] | ||||
Angel City FC | Preseason | August 23, 2021 | [32] | ||||
Orlando Pride | End of interim period | October 30, 2021 | Preseason | December 7, 2021 | [33][34] | ||
Racing Louisville FC | End of interim period | November 1, 2021 | Preseason | December 9, 2021 | [35][36] | ||
North Carolina Courage | End of interim period | November 8, 2021 | Preseason | December 1, 2021 | [37][38] | ||
Portland Thorns FC | Resigned | November 15, 2021 | Preseason | November 29, 2021 | [39][40] | ||
Kansas City Current | Re-assigned | November 18, 2021 | Preseason | January 11, 2022 | [41][42] | ||
Chicago Red Stars | Resigned | November 22, 2021 | Preseason | February 18, 2022 | [43][44] | ||
Houston Dash | Suspended | April 26, 2022 | Preseason | April 29, 2022 | [45][46] | ||
Orlando Pride | Placed on administrative leave[b] | June 7, 2022 | 9th | June 7, 2022 | [48] | ||
Houston Dash | End of acting period | July 12, 2022[c] | 6th | June 15, 2022 | [50] | ||
NJ/NY Gotham FC | Mutual separation | August 11, 2022 | 11th | August 14, 2022 | [51][52] | ||
NJ/NY Gotham FC | End of acting period[d] | August 15, 2022 | 11th | August 13, 2022 | [54] | ||
Washington Spirit | Fired | August 22, 2022 | 11th | August 27, 2022 | [57] | ||
Washington Spirit | End of acting period[e] | August 28, 2022 | 11th | September 2, 2022 | [58] |
- The league terminated Cromwell's employment on October 10, 2022, after an investigation found that she "engaged in retaliation and attempted retaliation against [certain] Pride players."[47]
- Although the Dash appointed Amorós on June 15, 2022, Lowdon remained the acting head coach until Amorós's arrival on July 12, 2022.[49]
- Although Gotham FC appointed Menzies on August 13, 2022, he did not join the team in time and Goebel Yanez acted as de facto head coach for one game on August 14, 2022.[53]
Regular season
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Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | OL Reign | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 40 | NWSL Shield, Playoffs – semi-finals |
2 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 49 | 24 | +25 | 39 | Playoffs – semi-finals |
3 | San Diego Wave FC | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 36 | Playoffs – first round |
4 | Houston Dash | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 36 | |
5 | Kansas City Current | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 36 | |
6 | Chicago Red Stars | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 28 | +6 | 33 | |
7 | North Carolina Courage | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 32 | |
8 | Angel City FC | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 29 | |
9 | Racing Louisville FC | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 35 | −12 | 23 | |
10 | Orlando Pride | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 45 | −23 | 22 | |
11 | Washington Spirit | 22 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 33 | −7 | 19 | |
12 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 16 | 46 | −30 | 13 |
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,[59] going down the list until all teams are ranked.
- 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.
- Least 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).
Results
Home \ Away | CHI | HOU | KC | LA | LOU | NC | NJY | ORL | POR | RGN | SD | WAS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Red Stars | — | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
Houston Dash | 4–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
Kansas City Current | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
Angel City FC | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
Racing Louisville FC | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | — | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
North Carolina Courage | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 5–1 | — | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–3 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | 0–3 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 |
Orlando Pride | 2–4 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
Portland Thorns FC | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 6–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
OL Reign | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 |
San Diego Wave FC | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 |
Washington Spirit | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–3 | — |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OL Reign | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Portland Thorns FC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
San Diego Wave FC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Houston Dash | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Kansas City Current | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
North Carolina Courage | 7 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
Angel City FC | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Racing Louisville FC | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Orlando Pride | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Washington Spirit | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | 1 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Legend: Gold = first place; green = playoff position; Red = last place.
Attendance
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Average home attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Regular season
Team | GP | Attendance | High | Low | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel City FC | 11 | 210,153 | 22,000 | 16,112 | 19,105 |
Portland Thorns FC | 11 | 170,976 | 19,127 | 9,876 | 15,543 |
San Diego Wave FC | 11 | 96,017 | 32,000 | 4,418 | 8,729 |
Kansas City Current | 11 | 84,223 | 10,395 | 5,695 | 7,657 |
OL Reign | 11 | 75,289 | 10,746 | 3,944 | 6,844 |
Washington Spirit | 11 | 68,441 | 10,177 | 1,961 | 6,222 |
Racing Louisville FC | 11 | 66,529 | 8,729 | 5,107 | 6,048 |
Chicago Red Stars | 11 | 64,588 | 23,951 | 2,135 | 5,872 |
Houston Dash | 11 | 62,085 | 7,798 | 4,637 | 5,644 |
North Carolina Courage | 11 | 49,991 | 6,398 | 3,084 | 4,545 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | 11 | 48,563 | 7,145 | 2,130 | 4,415 |
Orlando Pride | 11 | 48,240 | 7,573 | 3,015 | 4,385 |
Total | 132 | 1,045,095 | 32,000 | 1,961 | 7,917 |
Updated through October 2, 2022
Highest attendances
Regular season
Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance[60] | Date | Stadium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Diego Wave FC | 1–0 | Angel City FC | 32,000 | September 17, 2022 | Snapdragon Stadium |
2 | Chicago Red Stars | 0–1 | San Diego Wave FC | 23,951 | July 30, 2022 | Soldier Field |
3 | Angel City FC | 2–1 | North Carolina Courage | 22,000 | April 29, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium |
Angel City FC | 2–1 | San Diego Wave FC | 22,000 | July 9, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium | |
Angel City FC | 2–3 | OL Reign | 22,000 | July 30, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium | |
Angel City FC | 1–3 | Racing Louisville FC | 22,000 | September 25, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium | |
7 | Angel City FC | 0–1 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 18,784 | May 29, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium |
8 | Portland Thorns FC | 0–2 | San Diego Wave FC | 18,624 | August 27, 2022 | Providence Park |
9 | Angel City FC | 1–0 | Kansas City Current | 18,514 | May 21, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium |
10 | San Diego Wave FC | 0–0 | North Carolina Courage | 18,000 | September 30, 2022 | Snapdragon Stadium |
Updated through October 2, 2022.
Statistical leaders
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Perspective
Clean sheets
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Hat-tricks
4 Player scored 4 goals |
Playoffs
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The top six teams from the regular season qualified for the NWSL Championship playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye. On August 23, 2022, the league announced that the championship match would be held on October 29, 2022, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with domestic broadcast on CBS and a prime-time kickoff at 8 p.m. EDT.[63][64]
First round | Semi-finals | Championship | ||||||||||||
1 | OL Reign | 0 | ||||||||||||
4 | Houston Dash | 1 | 5 | Kansas City Current | 2 | |||||||||
5 | Kansas City Current | 2 | 5 | Kansas City Current | 0 | |||||||||
2 | Portland Thorns FC | 2 | ||||||||||||
2 | Portland Thorns FC | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | San Diego Wave FC (a.e.t.) | 2 | 3 | San Diego Wave FC | 1 | |||||||||
6 | Chicago Red Stars | 1 |
First round
San Diego Wave FC | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Chicago Red Stars |
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Report |
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Semi-finals
Championship
Before the championship game, the NWSL recognized the 21 players who had been in the league for all 10 years of its existence.
Championship Game MVP: Sophia Smith (POR)
Challenge Cup
Championship
Individual awards
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Perspective
- As of October 27, 2022
Annual awards
Award | Winner | Nominees | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Boot | San Diego Wave FC | N/A | [65] | |
Most Valuable Player | Portland Thorns FC | [66] | ||
Defender of the Year | San Diego Wave FC | [67] | ||
Goalkeeper of the Year | San Diego Wave FC | [68] | ||
Rookie of the Year | San Diego Wave FC | [67] | ||
Coach of the Year | San Diego Wave FC | [69] |
Teams of the Year
Announced October 25, 2022[70]
Best XI
Position | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | San Diego Wave FC | |
Defender | OL Reign | |
San Diego Wave FC | ||
OL Reign | ||
North Carolina Courage | ||
Midfielder/Forward | Portland Thorns FC | |
Kansas City Current | ||
San Diego Wave FC | ||
North Carolina Courage | ||
Chicago Red Stars | ||
Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
Position | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Kansas City Current | |
Defender | Portland Thorns FC | |
Kansas City Current | ||
Chicago Red Stars | ||
Portland Thorns FC | ||
Midfielder/Forward | North Carolina Courage | |
OL Reign | ||
OL Reign | ||
North Carolina Courage | ||
OL Reign | ||
Houston Dash |
Monthly Awards
Player of the Month
Month | Player | Club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
May | San Diego Wave FC | [71] | |
June | Portland Thorns FC | [72] | |
July | Houston Dash | [73] | |
August | OL Reign | [74] | |
September/October | North Carolina Courage | [75] |
Rookie of the Month
Month | Player | Club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
May | San Diego Wave FC | [76] | |
June | Portland Thorns FC | [77] | |
July | Racing Louisville FC | [78] | |
August | North Carolina Courage | [79] | |
September/October | San Diego Wave FC | [80] |
Team of the Month
Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May | [81] | ||||
June | [82] | ||||
July | [83] | ||||
August | [84] | ||||
September/October | [85] |
Weekly awards
Week | Player of the Week | Save of the Week | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Club | Player | Club | ||
1 | Angel City FC | Angel City FC | [86][87] | ||
2 | San Diego Wave FC | OL Reign | [88][89] | ||
3 | Angel City FC | OL Reign | [90][91] | ||
4 | Chicago Red Stars | Angel City FC | [92][93] | ||
5 | OL Reign | NJ/NY Gotham FC | [94][95] | ||
6 | Houston Dash | Angel City FC | [96][97] | ||
7 | San Diego Wave FC | Houston Dash | [98][99] | ||
8 | San Diego Wave FC | Portland Thorns FC | [100][101] | ||
9 | OL Reign | Portland Thorns FC | [102][103] | ||
10 | Kansas City Current | Kansas City Current | [104][105] | ||
11 | Houston Dash | Kansas City Current | [106][107] | ||
12 | OL Reign | San Diego Wave FC | [108][109] | ||
13 | Portland Thorns FC | Racing Louisville FC | [110][111] | ||
14 | Kansas City Current | NJ/NY Gotham FC | [112][113] | ||
15 | San Diego Wave FC | NJ/NY Gotham FC | [114][115] | ||
16 | OL Reign | Portland Thorns FC | [116][117] | ||
17 | Washington Spirit | NJ/NY Gotham FC | [118][119] | ||
18 | San Diego Wave FC | San Diego Wave FC | [120][121] | ||
19 | North Carolina Courage | Portland Thorns FC | [122][123] |
References
External links
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