2021 National Women's Soccer League season

The 2021 National Women's Soccer League season is the ninth 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 will be the 15th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

National Women's Soccer League
Season2021
ChampionsTBD
NWSL ShieldTBD
Challenge CupTBD
← 2020
2022 →

The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) 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 of individual clubs.

On November 18, 2020, the NWSL announced new competition formats for the 2021 season.[1] The Challenge Cup will become an in-season league cup competition set to be played on April 9, 2021, followed by the 24-match regular season beginning in May 15, 2021 and will conclude in October 30, 2021. The playoffs will also expand to include the six teams, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye. Playoffs will start on November 6, 2021 and will conclude with NWSL Championship in November 20, 2021.[2]

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

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

Capacities listed here are full capacities, and do not reflect COVID-19 restrictions.

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.

Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Chicago Red Stars Rory Dames Julie Ertz Meijer
Houston Dash James Clarkson Jane Campbell
Rachel Daly		 MD Anderson Cancer Center
Kansas City NWSL Huw Williams
North Carolina Courage Paul Riley Abby Erceg Continental AG
OL Reign Farid Benstiti Megan Rapinoe
Lauren Barnes
Orlando Pride Marc Skinner Ashlyn Harris Orlando Health
Portland Thorns FC Mark Parsons Christine Sinclair Providence Health & Services
Racing Louisville FC Christy Holly GE Appliances[7]
Sky Blue FC Freya Coombe Hackensack Meridian Health
Washington Spirit Richie Burke Tori Huster[8]
Andi Sullivan		 CVS Health

Coaching changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment Ref.
Racing Louisville FC Christy Holly August 12, 2020 [9]
Kansas City NWSL Huw Williams December 7, 2020 [10]

Regular season
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chicago Red Stars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NWSL Shield
2 Houston Dash 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs – Semi-Finals
3 Kansas City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs – First Round
4 North Carolina Courage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 OL Reign 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Orlando Pride 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Portland Thorns FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Racing Louisville FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Sky Blue FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Washington Spirit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on May 2021. Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

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,[11] 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 tiebreaker 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.

Team GP Attendance High Low Average
Chicago Red Stars00000
Houston Dash00000
Kansas City NWSL00000
North Carolina Courage00000
OL Reign00000
Orlando Pride00000
Portland Thorns FC00000
Racing Louisville FC00000
Sky Blue FC00000
Washington Spirit00000
Total00000

Updated through end of regular season on January 5, 2020.[12]

Highest attendances

Regular season

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium

Statistical leaders
As of October 5, 2019[13]

Playoffs

Further information: NWSL Playoffs

Beginning this season, the top six teams from the regular season compete for the NWSL Championship, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye.[1]

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup

Individual awards

As of October 16, 2019

Annual awards

Further information: NWSL awards

Monthly Awards

Player of the Month

Further information: NWSL Player of the Month
Month Player of the Month Club Month's Stateline

Team of the Month

Further information: NWSL Team of the Month
Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref

Weekly awards

Week Player of the Week Goal of the Week Save of the Week Reference
Player Club Player Club Player Club

References

  1. "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework". NWSL. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. "NWSL Challenge Cup Set to be Played in Home Markets, Kickoff Scheduled for April 9". NWSL. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. Dornbrook, James (December 8, 2020). "Ownership group scores approval to bring professional women's soccer back to Kansas City". Bizwomen. The Business Journals. Retrieved January 23, 2021. The new team will begin play in 2021 at JustBats Field at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kan., which is being renovated.
  4. See also ticket information on the team's official website.
  5. Godburn, Hailey (January 21, 2021). "Kansas City Monarchs to retake the field in spring 2021". KSHB-TV. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  6. Goff, Steven (November 8, 2019). "Washington Spirit to split home matches among three venues next season". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  7. "GE APPLIANCES EXPANDS PRO SOCCER SUPPORT TO RACING LOUISVILLE FC". Racing Louisville FC. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  8. Martin, Alejandra (30 November 2020). "Spirit Re-Sign Co-Captain Tori Huster to a Multi-Year Deal". Washington Spirit. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  9. "Christy Holly named first head coach in Racing Louisville FC history". NWSL. August 12, 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  10. "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  11. "Rules & Regulations". NWSL.
  12. "Schedule". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. "NWSL Stats". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
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