2018_National_Women's_Soccer_League_season

2018 National Women's Soccer League season

2018 National Women's Soccer League season

6th season of the National Women's Soccer League

The 2018 National Women's Soccer League season was the sixth 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 twelfth 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 and take the financial burden off individual clubs.

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

The off-season brought significant changes, with FC Kansas City and the Boston Breakers ceasing operations, while new club Utah Royals FC joined the league. The 2018 season began on March 24, and ended on September 8. Teams once again played 24 regular-season games this year, with the top four teams making a single-elimination playoff.[1] The North Carolina Courage won the NWSL Shield with 15 more points than second place Thorns. The NWSL Playoffs began on September 15 with the two semifinal matches, which were won by the Thorns and the Courage. The NWSL Championship Game was held on September 22 at Providence Park in Portland.[2][3] The Courage won 3–0, becoming the first team to win both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in the same season.

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 ...

Coaching changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...

Competition format

  • Each team will play each team 3 times, for a total of 24 games (12 home and 12 away).
  • The four teams at the end of the season with the most points qualify for the playoffs.

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,[9] 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.


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 8, 2018.[10][11]

Highest attendances

Regular season

More information Rank, Home team ...

Updated to games played on November 3, 2018.[10]

Statistical leaders

More information Rank, Player ...

NWSL Playoffs

Further information: NWSL Playoffs

The top four teams from the regular season compete for the NWSL Championship. The North Carolina Courage secured the number one seed on August 5, winning their second straight NWSL Shield.

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 North Carolina Courage 2
4 Chicago Red Stars 0
1 North Carolina Courage 3
2 Portland Thorns FC 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 2
3 Seattle Reign FC 1

Semi-finals

More information Portland Thorns FC, 2–1 ...
Attendance: 14,179
Referee: Ramy Touchan
More information North Carolina Courage, 2–0 ...
Attendance: 4,646
Referee: Tim Ford

*Originally scheduled for September 16 at Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, North Carolina; rescheduled and moved due to Hurricane Florence.[12]

Championship

More information North Carolina Courage, 3–0 ...
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Individual awards

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

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

Team of the Month

See also: NWSL Team of the Month
More information Month, Goalkeeper ...

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

See also: NWSL awards
More information Award, Winner ...
More information NWSL Best XI, Position ...
More information NWSL Championship Game MVP, Player ...

References

  1. [1]
    "2018 season to begin weekend of March 24–25; schedule format announced". National Women's Soccer League. January 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  2. [2]
    Ltd, Simplestream. "2018 season to begin weekend of March 24–25; schedule format announced". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  3. [3]
    "Providence Park to host 2018 NWSL Championship". National Women's Soccer League. May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Laura Harvey Steps Down as Head Coach and GM; Vlatko Andonovski Named Head Coach of Reign FC". Seattle Reign FC. November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  5. [5]
    "DENISE REDDY NAMED SKY BLUE FC HEAD COACH". Sky Blue FC. November 15, 2017. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  6. [6]
    "Laura Harvey named inaugural head coach for Utah's NWSL team". Utah Royals FC. November 27, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  7. [7]
    "Houston Dash appoint Vera Pauw as head coach". Houston Dynamo. November 28, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Washington Spirit parts ways with head coach and general manager Jim Gabarra". Washington Spirit. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  9. [9]
    "Rules & Regulations". NWSL.
  10. [10]
    "Schedule". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  11. [11]
    "Taking Attendance 9/9/2018: NWSL Cracks 6k (Thanks, Addition By Subtraction)". Kenn Tomasch. kenn.com. September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  12. [12]
    "NWSL Reschedules North Carolina/Chicago semifinal to Portland, OR". nwslsoccer.com. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  13. [13]
    Balf, Celia (April 4, 2018). "Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe voted March Player of the Month". Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. [14]
    Balf, Celia (May 2, 2018). "Chicago Red Stars midfielder Sofia Huerta voted April Player of the Month". Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  15. [15]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (June 1, 2018). "May Player of the Month: Rachel Daly". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  16. [16]
    Balf, Celia (July 5, 2018). "June Player of the Month: Crystal Dunn". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  17. [17]
    "July Player of the Month: Lindsey Horan". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  18. [18]
    Balf, Celia (August 29, 2018). "August Player of the Month: Sam Kerr". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  19. [19]
    Balf, Celia (April 6, 2018). "March Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  20. [20]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (May 3, 2018). "April Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  21. [21]
    Balf, Celia (June 6, 2018). "May Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  22. [22]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (July 6, 2018). "June Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  23. [23]
    "July Team of the Month". August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  24. [24]
    "August Team of the Month". August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  25. [25]
    "Player of the Week: Megan Rapinoe". NWSL. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  26. [26]
    "Goal of the Week: Gunnhildur Jonsdottir". NWSL. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  27. [27]
    "Save of the Week : Adrianna Franch". NWSL. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  28. [28]
    "Player of the Week: Mallory Pugh: Week 2". NWSLsoccer.com. April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  29. [29]
    "Goal of the Week:Lindsey Horan: NWSL 2018: Week 2". National Women's Soccer League. April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  30. [30]
    "Save of the Week: Jane Campbell: Week 2". National Women's Soccer League. April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  31. [31]
    "McCall Zerboni voted Week 3 Player of the Week". NWSLsoccer.com. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  32. [32]
    "Goal of the Week:Lindsey Horan: NWSL 2018: Week 3". National Women's Soccer League. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  33. [33]
    "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  34. [34]
    "Player of the Week: Sofia Huerta". NWSLsoccer.com. April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  35. [35]
    "Goal of the Week:Merritt Mathias". National Women's Soccer League. April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  36. [36]
    "Save of the Week: Aubrey Bledsoe". National Women's Soccer League. April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  37. [37]
    "Player of the Week: McCall Zerboni". NWSLsoccer.com. May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  38. [38]
    "Goal of the Week: Tobin Heath". National Women's Soccer League. May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  39. [39]
    "Save of the Week: Aubrey Bledsoe". National Women's Soccer League. May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  40. [40]
    "Player of the Week: Alyssa Naeher". NWSLsoccer.com. May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  41. [41]
    "Goal of the Week: Diana Matheson". National Women's Soccer League. May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  42. [42]
    "Save of the Week: Alyssa Naeher". National Women's Soccer League. May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  43. [43]
    Balf, Celia (May 15, 2018). "Player of the Week: Megan Rapinoe". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  44. [44]
    Balf, Celia (May 15, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Christine Nairn". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  45. [45]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (May 15, 2018). "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  46. [46]
    Balf, Celia (May 22, 2018). "Player of the Week: Crystal Dunn". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  47. [47]
    Gabriel, Cassidy (May 22, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Carli Lloyd". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  48. [48]
    Balf, Celia (May 22, 2018). "Safe of the Week: Katelyn Rowland". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  49. [49]
    Balf, Celia (May 29, 2018). "Player of the Week: Rachel Daly". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  50. [50]
    Balf, Celia (May 30, 2018). "Goal of the Week:Sydney Leroux". NWSL. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  51. [51]
    "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". National Women's Soccer League. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  52. [52]
    "Yuki Nagasato Voted NWSL Player of the Week". www.chicagoredstars.com. Chicago Red Stars. June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  53. [53]
    Balf, Celia (June 5, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Katherine Reynolds". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  54. [54]
    Balf, Celia (June 5, 2018). "Save of the Week: Haley Kopmeyer". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  55. [55]
    "Player of the Week: Aubrey Bledsoe". June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  56. [56]
    Balf, Celia (June 19, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Brittany Ratcliffe". NWSL. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  57. [57]
    "Save of the Week: Britt Eckerstrom". National Women's Soccer League. June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  58. [58]
    Balf, Celia (June 26, 2018). "Player of the Week: Crystal Dunn". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  59. [59]
    "Goal of the Week: Alanna Kennedy". National Women's Soccer League. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  60. [60]
    Balf, Celia (June 26, 2018). "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  61. [61]
    "Player of the Week: Adrianna Franch". July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  62. [62]
    "Save of the Week: Adrianna Franch". July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  63. [63]
    "Kealia Ohai Goal of the Week". July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  64. [64]
    "Chicago Red Stars Forward Sam Kerr Voted NWSL Player of the Week". July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  65. [65]
    "Save of the Week: Adrianna Franch". July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  66. [66]
    "Marta Goal of the Week". July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  67. [67]
    "NWSL". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  68. [68]
    "Goal of the Week: Kristen Edmonds". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  69. [69]
    "Save of the Week: Rachel Corsie". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  70. [70]
    "Player of the Week: Jane Campbell". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  71. [71]
    "Goal of the Week: Toni Pressley". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  72. [72]
    "Save of the Week: Rachel Corsie". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  73. [73]
    "Player of the Week: Lynn Williams". August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  74. [74]
    "Goal of the Week: Katie Stengel". August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  75. [75]
    "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  76. [76]
    "Player of the Week: Adrianna Franch". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  77. [77]
    "Goal of the Week: Hayley Raso". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  78. [78]
    "Save of the Week: Adrianna Franch". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  79. [79]
    "Player of the Week: Katie Johnson". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  80. [80]
    "Goal of the Week: Christine Sinclair". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  81. [81]
    "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  82. [82]
    "Player of the Week: Sam Kerr". August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  83. [83]
    "Goal of the Week: Tobin Heath". August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  84. [84]
    "Save of the Week: Ashlyn Harris". August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  85. [85]
    "Player of the Week: Lindsey Horan". September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  86. [86]
    "Goal of the Week: Lindsey Horan". September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  87. [87]
    "Week 24 Save of the Week - Nicole Barnhart, Utah Royals FC - NWSL 2018". September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  88. [88]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (September 8, 2018). "2018 Golden Boot: Sam Kerr". Nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  89. [89]
    Purdy, Jacqueline (September 26, 2018). "Coach of the Year: Paul Riley". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  90. [90]
    Balf, Celia (September 26, 2018). "Rookie of the Year: Imani Dorsey, Sky Blue FC". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  91. [91]
    Balf, Celia (September 27, 2018). "Goalkeeper of the Year: Adrianna Franch, Portland Thorns FC". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  92. [92]
    Balf, Celia (September 27, 2018). "Defender of the Year: Abby Erceg, North Carolina Courage". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  93. [93]
    Balf, Celia (September 21, 2018). "NWSL MVP: Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns FC". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  94. [94]
    "2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
NWSL Statistics
  1. [N 1]
    "NWSL Stats". NWSL. Retrieved September 8, 2018.

Official website
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2018_National_Women's_Soccer_League_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.