2016_NWSL_season

2016 National Women's Soccer League season

2016 National Women's Soccer League season

4th season of the National Women's Soccer League

The 2016 National Women's Soccer League season was the fourth 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 tenth overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league was operated by the United States Soccer Federation and received significant financial backing from that body. Further financial backing was provided by the Canadian Soccer Association. Both national federations paid the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

To accommodate the 2016 Olympics, the league suspended play for most of the month of August. In addition, the league did not schedule games during FIFA windows, leaving the 20-game, 19-week regular season ending in late September for the second year in a row.[2]

In the regular season, the Portland Thorns topped the standings and thus won the NWSL Shield. In the playoffs, the Washington Spirit and Western New York Flash won their opening matches to set up a meeting in the final. They tied 2-2 after extra time, with the Flash winning 3-2 on penalties to take the NWSL Championship.

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

See also: List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums

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.

More information Team, Stadium ...

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.

More information Team, Head coach ...

Competition format

  • Each team will play a total of 20 games, 10 home and 10 away.
  • Each team will play all opponents twice, once home and once away, plus one local rival two extra times, also once home and away.
  • The four teams at the end of the season with the most points will qualify for the playoffs.

Results table

More information Club, Match ...

Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.[1]

Scores listed as home-away

League standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

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,[4] going down the list until all teams are ranked.

  1. Head-to-head win–loss record between the teams (or points-per-game if more than two teams).
  2. Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  3. Greatest total number of goals scored (against all teams).
  4. Apply #1–3 to games played on the road.
  5. Apply #1–3 to games played at home.
  6. 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. The number of games played by the teams are uneven due to a weather postponement in week 7 (rescheduled as the only game between week 15 and 16) and differing schedules between week 10 and 16.

More information Week →, 7R ...

Attendance

See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

More information Team, GP ...

Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.[1]

Highest attendances

Regular season

More information Rank, Home team ...

Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.[1]

Statistical leaders

More information Rank, Player ...
More information Rank, Player ...

NWSL Playoffs

Further information: NWSL Playoffs

The top four teams from the regular season will compete for the NWSL Championship.

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 Portland Thorns FC 3
4 Western New York Flash (a.e.t.) 4
4 Western New York Flash (pen.) 2 (3)
2 Washington Spirit 2 (2)
2 Washington Spirit (a.e.t.) 2
3 Chicago Red Stars 1

Semi-finals

More information Washington Spirit, 2–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Attendance: 4,249
Referee: Danielle Chesky
More information Portland Thorns FC, 3–4 (a.e.t.) ...
Attendance: 20,086
Referee: Marco Vega

Championship

More information Washington Spirit, 2–2 (a.e.t.) ...
Attendance: 8,255
Referee: Matthew Franz

Individual awards

Monthly awards

See also: NWSL Player of the Month
More information Month, Player of the Month ...

Weekly awards

See also: NWSL Player of the Week
See also: NWSL Goal of the Week
See also: NWSL Save of the Week
More information Week, NWSL Player of the Week ...

Annual awards

More information Award, Winner ...
More information NWSL Best XI, Position ...
More information NWSL Championship Game MVP, Player ...

References

  1. [1]
    "2016 Statistics". NWSL. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. [2]
    "NWSL ANNOUNCES FULL 2016 SCHEDULE". February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  3. [3]
    "FC Kansas City to play at Swope Soccer Village in 2015". January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  4. [4]
    "2016 Competition Rules and Regulations – National Womens Soccer League". Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  5. [5]
    "Portland Thorns midfielder Tobin Heath named NWSL Player of the Month". OregonLive.com. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  6. [6]
    "THORNS FC'S TOBIN HEATH VOTED PLAYER OF THE MONTH Heath's three assists in two games helped lead Portland to a 1-0-1 record during April". May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Red Stars G Alyssa Naeher named player of the month for May". ESPN. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Christine Sinclair named NWSL Player of the Month for June". StumptownFooty.com. July 1, 2016.
  9. [9]
    "Washington Spirit Midfielder Estefania Banini Voted NWSL Player Of The Month". National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  10. [10]
    "PORTLAND THORNS FC FORWARD CHRISTINE SINCLAIR VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE OLYMPICS". NWSL. August 26, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  11. [11]
    "Portland Thorns midfielder Allie Long wins NWSL Player of the Month". September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  12. [12]
    "WNY FLASH FORWARD LYNN WILLIAMS WINS 2016 NWSL GOLDEN BOOT". Nwslsoccer.com. September 26, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  13. [13]
    "SKY BLUE FC'S RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ VOTED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". Nwslsoccer.com. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  14. [14]
    "ORLANDO PRIDE'S ASHLYN HARRIS VOTED GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR". Nwslsoccer.com. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  15. [15]
    "SEATTLE REIGN FC'S LAUREN BARNES VOTED DEFENDER OF THE YEAR". Nwslsoccer.com. October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  16. [16]
    "PORTLAND THORNS FC'S MARK PARSONS VOTED COACH OF THE YEAR". Nwslsoccer.com. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  17. [17]
    "WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH FORWARD LYNN WILLIAMS VOTED NWSL MVP". Nwslsoccer.com. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  18. [18]
    "NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2016 BEST XI". Nwslsoccer.com. October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
Individual weekly awards
  1. [a 1]
    "Dash Forward Rachel Daly Voted Player of the Week". Nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  2. [a 2]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @stephcatley on her goal being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 1!". Twitter.com. NWSL. April 22, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  3. [a 3]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC's @MichelleBetos on her save being selected by fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 1!". Twitter.com. NWSL. April 22, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  4. [a 4]
    "Reign FC Midfielder Kim Little Voted Player of the Week". Nwslsoccer.com. April 26, 2016. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  5. [a 5]
    "Congrats to @WashSpirit's @alikrieger on her goal being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 2!". Twitter.com. NWSL. April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  6. [a 6]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on her save being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week –Week 2!". Twitter.com. NWSL. April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  7. [a 7]
    Blakely, Chris (May 4, 2016). "Kim Little named NWSL Player of the Week for second straight week". Vavel. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  8. [a 8]
    "Congrats to @chicagoredstars's @ChristenPress on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 3!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  9. [a 9]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Christen Press – Week 3". youtube.com. NWSL. May 4, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  10. [A 10]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 3!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  11. [A 11]
    "HOUSTON DASH'S CHIOMA UBOGAGU VOTED PLAYER OF THE WEEK". NWSL. May 10, 2016. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  12. [A 12]
    "Congrats to @chicagoredstars' @ChristenPress on her goal being selected by the fans as Goal of the Week – Week 4!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  13. [A 13]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Christen Press – Week 4". youtube.com. NWSL. May 11, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  14. [A 14]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on her save being selected by the fans as #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 4!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  15. [A 15]
    "CHICAGO RED STARS GOALKEEPER ALYSSA NAEHER VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  16. [A 16]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @alexmorgan13 on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 5!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  17. [A 17]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Alex Morgan – Week 5". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. May 18, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  18. [A 18]
    "Congrats to @HoustonDash's @lydsaussie on her save being selected by the fans as #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 5!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  19. [A 19]
    "Portland Thorns midfielder Tobin Heath wins NWSL Player of the Week". OregonLive.com. May 24, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  20. [A 20]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC midfielder @TobinHeath on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 6!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  21. [A 21]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Tohin Heath – Week 6". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. May 25, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  22. [A 22]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on her save being selected by the fans as #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 6!". Twitter.com. NWSL. May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  23. [A 23]
    "WNY FLASH FORWARD LYNN WILLIAMS VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". NWSL. May 31, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  24. [A 24]
    "Congrats to @FCKansasCity midfielder @eTYMrak on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 7!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  25. [A 25]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC defender @KReynolds16 on being selected by the fans as #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 7!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  26. [A 26]
    "Congrats to @WNYFlash Britt Eckerstrom on being voted Player of the Week by @NWSLmedia". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  27. [A 27]
    "WNY FLASH GOALKEEPER BRITT ECKERSTROM VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK — Eckerstrom has yet to concede a goal in her professional career". nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  28. [A 28]
    "Congrats to @chicagoredstars forward @ChristenPress on being selected by the fans as #NWSL Goal of the Week–Week 8!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  29. [A 29]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Christen Press – Week 8". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. June 15, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  30. [A 30]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride goalkeeper @Ashlyn_Harris on being selected by the fans as #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 8!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  31. [A 31]
    "Congrats to @chicagoredstars forward Sofia Huerta on being voted Player of the Week by the @NWSLmedia!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  32. [A 32]
    "CHICAGO RED STARS FORWARD SOFIA HUERTA VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK — Huerta had two goals to help the Red Stars earn a 3–0 victory over the Boston Breakers Saturday". nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  33. [A 33]
    "Congrats to @FCKansasCity @beckysauerbrunn on being selected by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 9!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  34. [A 34]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on being selected by fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 9!". Twitter.com. NWSL. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  35. [A 35]
    "WNY FLASH FORWARD JESSICA MCDONALD VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK — McDonald tallied a hat trick and an assist to help the Flash earn a 7–1 victory over the Boston Breakers". nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  36. [A 36]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride forward @Jas_it_Up on being selected by fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 10!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  37. [A 37]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride's @Ashlyn_Harris on being selected by fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 10!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  38. [A 38]
    "Congrats to @SeattleReignFC Nahomi Kawasumi on being voted Player of the Week by @NWSLmedia!". Twitter.com. nwslsoccer.com. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  39. [A 39]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC midfielder @dagnybrynjars on being voted by the fans as the #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 11!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  40. [A 40]
    "Congrats to @FCKansasCity @nbarnhart on her save being voted by the fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 11!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  41. [A 41]
    "ORLANDO PRIDE DEFENDER KRISTEN EDMONDS VOTED PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  42. [A 42]
    "Congrats to @ORLPride Kristen Edmonds on being voted #NWSL Goal of the Week – Week 12 by the fans!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  43. [A 43]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC goalkeeper Michelle Betos on being voted #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 12 by the fans!". Twitter.com. NWSL. July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  44. [A 44]
    "WASHINGTON SPIRIT MIDFIELDER ESTEFANIA BANINI VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  45. [A 45]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Estefania Banini – Week 13". YouTube.com. NWSL. July 20, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  46. [A 46]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Michelle Betos – Week 13". YouTube.com. NWSL. July 20, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  47. [A 47]
    "FC KANSAS CITY GOALKEEPER NICOLE BARNHART VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. July 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  48. [A 48]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Rachel Daly – Week 14". YouTube.com. NWSL. July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  49. [A 49]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Kendall Fletcher – Week 14". YouTube.com. NWSL. July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  50. [A 50]
    "HOUSTON DASH FORWARD KEALIA OHAI VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. August 2, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  51. [A 51]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Rachel Daly – Week 15". YouTube.com. NWSL. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  52. [A 52]
    "Congrats to @ThornsFC goalkeeper @MichelleBetos on being voted by the fans as the #NWSL Save of the Week – Week 15!". Twitter.com. NWSL. August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  53. [A 53]
    "SEATTLE REIGN FC FORWARD MANON MELIS VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. August 31, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  54. [A 54]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Christine Nairn – Week 16". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. August 31, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  55. [A 55]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Alyssa Naeher – Week 16". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. August 31, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  56. [A 56]
    "HOUSTON DASH FORWARD KEALIA OHAI VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. September 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  57. [A 57]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Alex Morgan – Week 17". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  58. [A 58]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Alyssa Naeher – Week 17". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  59. [A 59]
    "SKY BLUE FC FORWARD SAMANTHA KERR VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  60. [A 60]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Christen Press – Week 18". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  61. [A 61]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Ashlyn Harris – Week 18". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  62. [A 62]
    "Thorns' Allie Long named NWSL Player of the Week". September 27, 2016.
  63. [A 63]
    "Goal of the Week Winner: Kealia Ohai – Week 19". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 28, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  64. [A 64]
    "Save of the Week Winner: Lydia Williams – Week 19". youtube.com. NWSLsoccer. September 28, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

Official website
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2016_NWSL_season, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.