2018 National Women's Soccer League season


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 and the Women's United Soccer Association, 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.
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. 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. 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

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
Chicago Red StarsToyota Park20,000
Houston DashBBVA Compass Stadium7,000 '
North Carolina CourageSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park10,000
Orlando PrideOrlando City Stadium25,500
Portland ThornsProvidence Park21,144
Seattle Reign FCMemorial Stadium6,088 '
Sky Blue FCYurcak Field5,000
Utah Royals FCRio Tinto Stadium20,213
Washington SpiritMaryland SoccerPlex4,000


Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.
TeamHead coachShirt sponsor
Chicago Red Stars Magellan Corporation
Houston Dash BBVA Compass
North Carolina Courage Continental AG
Orlando Pride Orlando Health
Portland Thorns Providence Health & Services
Seattle Reign FC Microsoft
Sky Blue FC Meridian Health
Utah Royals FC Conservice
Washington Spirit Tom Torres ProChain Solutions, Inc.

Coaching changes

Competition format

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.
  1. Head to Head win/loss record between the teams.
  2. Greater goal difference across the entire season.
  3. Greatest total number of goals scored.
  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

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Team
Portland Thorns FC12203,50621,14414,48516,959
Utah Royals FC12113,59319,2037,1379,466
North Carolina Courage1261,5499,5053,0115,129
Orlando Pride1258,0469,0173,1044,837
Chicago Red Stars1248,04813,6782,0274,004
Washington Spirit1246,7047,9762,4333,892
Seattle Reign FC1245,8855,2513,1723,824
Houston Dash1242,8595,8462,3763,572
Sky Blue FC1230,3724,0861,9132,531
Total108650,56221,1441,9136,024

Updated to games played on September 8, 2018.

Highest attendances

Regular season
RankHome teamScoreAway teamAttendanceDateStadium
1Portland Thorns FC3–1Seattle Reign FC21,144Providence Park
1Portland Thorns FC0–3North Carolina Courage21,144Providence Park
3Utah Royals FC0–1Chicago Red Stars19,203Rio Tinto Stadium
4Portland Thorns FC2–2Chicago Red Stars18,631Providence Park
5Portland Thorns FC1–1Sky Blue FC18,237Providence Park
6Portland Thorns FC2–1Sky Blue FC17,986Providence Park
7Portland Thorns FC4–0Utah Royals FC17,930Providence Park
8Portland Thorns FC1–2Orlando Pride17,115Providence Park
9Portland Thorns FC2–1Orlando Pride16,466Providence Park
10Portland Thorns FC2–3Seattle Reign FC16,054Providence Park

Updated to games played on November 3, 2018.

Statistical leaders

Top scorers

Updated: September 8, 2018

Top assists

Updated: September 8, 2018

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

Individual awards

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

Team of the Month

MonthGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsRef
March Jane Campbell, HOU Jaelene Hinkle, NC
Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA
Emily Sonnett, POR
Rachel Daly, HOU		 Lindsey Horan, POR
Debinha, NC
Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, UTA		 Megan Rapinoe, SEA
Mallory Pugh, WAS
Crystal Dunn, NC
April Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS Jaelene Hinkle, NC
Estelle Johnson, WAS
Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA
Emily Sonnett, POR		 Sofia Huerta, CHI
Crystal Dunn, NC
McCall Zerboni, NC		 Francisca Ordega, WAS
Jessica McDonald, NC
Mallory Pugh, WAS
May Abby Smith, UTA Steph Catley, SEA
Abby Erceg, NC
Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA
Ali Krieger, ORL		 Kristie Mewis, HOU
Lindsey Horan, POR
McCall Zerboni, NC		 Rachel Daly, HOU
Christine Sinclair, POR
Crystal Dunn, NC
June Alyssa Naeher, CHI Becca Moros, UTA
Abby Erceg, NC
Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA
Merritt Mathias, NC		 Lindsey Horan, POR
Yuki Nagasato, CHI
McCall Zerboni, NC		 Kealia Ohai, HOU
Christine Sinclair, POR
Crystal Dunn, NC
July Adrianna Franch, POR Katie Naughton, CHI
Abby Erceg, NC
Rachel Corsie, UTA
Theresa Nielsen, SEA		 Lindsey Horan, POR
Yuki Nagasato, CHI
McCall Zerboni, NC		 Megan Rapinoe, SEA
Rachel Daly, HOU
Sam Kerr, CHI
August Lydia Williams, SEA Megan Oyster, SEA
Abby Erceg, NC
Taylor Comeau, HOU
Theresa Nielsen, SEA		 Lindsey Horan, POR
Sofia Huerta, HOU
Vanessa DiBernardo, CHI		 Lynn Williams, NC
Tobin Heath, POR
Sam Kerr, CHI

Weekly awards

Annual awards