The 2013 National Women's Soccer League season was the inaugural 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), this was the seventh overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league was (and is) operated by the United States Soccer Federation and received major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing was provided by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation. All three national federations paid the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.
The league started on April 13 with FC Kansas City hosting Portland Thorns FC. The last regular season matches were played on August 18, with the Western New York Flash topping the standings to win the NWSL Shield. This was followed by postseason playoffs, which culminated in a final on August 31. In the final, Portland Thorns FC defeated the Western New York Flash 2–0 to win the inaugural NWSL Championship.
Teams, stadiums, and personnel
Stadiums and locations
TeamStadiumCapacity Boston Breakers Dilboy Stadium 3,500 Chicago Red Stars Village Sports Complex 3,600 FC Kansas City Shawnee Mission District Stadium 6,150 Portland Thorns FC Jeld-Wen Field 20,438 Seattle Reign FC Memorial Stadium 6,000 Sky Blue FC Yurcak Field 5,000 Washington Spirit Maryland SoccerPlex 5,126 Western New York Flash Sahlen's Stadium 13,768
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams used Nike as kit manufacturer.
Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsorBoston Breakers (until August 2) Ocean Spray (after August 2) Chicago Red Stars JimmyBars FC Kansas City Title Boxing Club Portland Thorns Providence Health & Services Seattle Reign FC Moda Health Sky Blue FC 2NDFLOOR Youth HelplineWashington Spirit Mike Jorden (until June 30) ProChain Solutions, Inc. (after June 30) Western New York Flash Sahlen's
Player acquisition
Players were acquired through the 2013 Allocation of national team players announced on January 11, the 2013 NWSL College Draft on January 18, and the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft on February 7, along with free agency, trading and loans.
The Portland Thorns received an allocation with a notably strong offensive record including Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, the 2012 U.S. and Canadian Players of the Year and leading scorers for their national teams respectively, as well as a U.S. allocation (Morgan, Tobin Heath, and Rachel Buehler) that accounted for 1/3 of their national team's assists in 2012.
Competition format
The regular season began on April 13 and ended on August 18. Each team played a total of 22 games: 11 at home and 11 away. Each team played
three other teams (based on an east/west geographical split) four times each: twice at home and twice away two other teams twice each: once at home and once away and the remaining two teams three times each: one twice at home and once away, the other vice versa
The four teams at the end of the season with the most points qualified for the playoffs. Two semifinal games were played on August 24, with the winners advancing to the league final to be played on August 31.
Results table
Abbreviation and Color Key:Boston Breakers – BOS • Chicago Red Stars – CHI • FC Kansas City – KC • Portland Thorns FC – PORSeattle Reign FC – SEA • Sky Blue FC – NJ • Washington Spirit – WAS • Western New York Flash – WNYWin Loss Tie Home GameClubMatch12345678910111213141516171819202122Boston Breakers WAS WNY CHI WAS KC WAS NJ WNY CHI NJ SEA NJ SEA POR NJ POR KC WAS WNY POR KC WNY 1–1 1–2 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–0 5–1 2–2 1–0 2–3 1–2 3–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–2 3–0 2–5 2–2 2–1 1–0 2-1Chicago Red Stars SEA POR BOS NJ POR WNY POR BOS KC KC WNY SEA WNY WAS KC WAS SEA POR SEA WAS NJ KC 1–1 0–2 4-1 1–1 0–2 2-1 0–2 1–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–0 0–2 3–3 1–0 4–1 3–3 3–1 1-0 3–3 1–2FC Kansas City POR SEA SEA WNY BOS NJ POR SEA CHI CHI WAS NJ POR WAS WNY CHI SEA BOS NJ POR BOS CHI 1–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 4–3 0–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–0 3–3 2–0 3–0 0–1 2–3 1-0 1–2Portland Thorns FC KC SEA CHI WAS CHI NJ WAS SEA CHI KC SEA NJ KC BOS WNY BOS CHI NJ KC BOS WNY SEA 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–2 4–3 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 3–3 3–1 2–3 2-1 0–0 1–2Seattle Reign FC CHI POR KC KC NJ WAS NJ POR KC POR WNY BOS CHI BOS WNY WAS KC CHI CHI WNY WAS POR 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 2–4 0–3 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–1 2–0 4–1 3–1 1-0 1-0 1–2Sky Blue FC WNY WAS WNY CHI SEA POR SEA KC BOS WNY BOS POR KC BOS WAS BOS WNY KC POR WAS CHI WAS 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–3 0–1 5–1 0–3 2–3 0–0 2–2 3–2 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 3–3 1–1Washington Spirit BOS WNY NJ POR BOS SEA POR BOS WNY KC WNY KC NJ CHI SEA CHI BOS WNY NJ CHI SEA NJ 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 3–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–5 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1Western New York Flash NJ WAS BOS NJ KC CHI BOS NJ WAS CHI SEA WAS CHI KC SEA POR NJ WAS BOS SEA POR BOS 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–3 0–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 3–0 3–0 2–2 1–0 0–0 2–1
Scores listed as home-away
League standings
NWSL Championship
The top four teams from the regular season qualified for the championship playoffs. In the semifinals, the regular season winner hosted the fourth-placed team and the regular season runner-up hosted the third-placed team. The highest-seeded semifinal winner then hosted the championship final. All match-ups were one-game series (as opposed to home-and-away series).
Semi-finals
Championship Main article: 2013 NWSL Championship
Attendance
Average home attendances
TeamAverage Attendance Boston Breakers 2,427 Chicago Red Stars 1,713 FC Kansas City 4,626 Portland Thorns FC 13,320 Seattle Reign FC 2,306 Sky Blue FC 1,677 Washington Spirit 3,626 Western New York Flash 4,485
Highest Attendance: 17,619 (August 4, Kansas City at Portland)
Lowest Attendance: 688 (May 8, Chicago at Sky Blue)
Total Attendance: 375,846 (88 games total)
League Average: 4,271
Playoff attendance
Semifinal 1, Portland at FC Kansas City: 4,016
Semifinal 2, Sky Blue at Western New York: 7,316
Championship, Portland at Western New York: 9,129
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
RankPlayerNationClubGoals1 Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City122 Sydney Leroux Boston Breakers11 Abby Wambach Western New York Flash114 Carli Lloyd Western New York Flash8 Diana Matheson Washington Spirit8 Alex Morgan Portland Thorns FC8 Mónica Ocampo Sky Blue FC8 Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns FC89 Sophie Schmidt Sky Blue FC710 Erika Tymrak FC Kansas City6
Source:
Top assists
RankPlayerNationClubAssists1 Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City92 Abby Wambach Western New York Flash83 Lianne Sanderson Boston Breakers74 Katy Freels Sky Blue FC6 Heather O'Reilly Boston Breakers66 Leigh Ann Robinson FC Kansas City5 Christine Nairn Seattle Reign FC5 Alex Morgan Portland Thorns5 Samantha Kerr Western New York Flash510 Lori Chalupny Chicago Red Stars4 Julianne Sitch Chicago Red Stars4 Erika Tymrak FC Kansas City4
Source:
Goalkeeping
(Minimum of 540 Minutes Played)
RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSOGSVSGAGAAW-L-TSHO1 Adrianna Franch Western New York Flash22197811998200.90910–4–872 Brittany Cameron Sky Blue FC1816198365170.9459–4–583 Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City2018008667190.95010–5–5104 Karina LeBlanc Portland Thorns FC21189011492231.09511–5–575 Alyssa Naeher Boston Breakers97654736111.2224–2–226 Taylor Vancil Chicago Red Stars6540312381.3343–2–117 Hope Solo Seattle Reign FC14126010181191.3575–6–208 Erin McLeod Chicago Red Stars1614309264281.7505–6–549 Ashley Phillips Boston Breakers119455132201.8182–5–4110 Ashlyn Harris Washington Spirit18162011885331.8822–11–4111 Michelle Betos Seattle Reign FC76304934142.0000–6–10
Source:
Individual awards
Monthly awards
Weekly awards
WeekPlayer of the WeekClubWeek's Statline Week 1 Brittany Cameron Sky Blue FC 5 SVS, SHO Week 2 Jessica Fishlock Seattle Reign FC 1 G (74') Week 3 Heather O'Reilly Boston Breakers 2 G (16', 83'), GWG Week 4 Sydney Leroux Boston Breakers 3 G (26', 74', 84'), GWG Week 5 Abby Wambach Western New York Flash 2 G (34', 39'), GWG Week 6 Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC 180min, 0 GA Week 7 Lianne Sanderson Boston Breakers 3 A Week 8 Lisa De Vanna Sky Blue FC 2 G (14', 56'), 1 A Week 9 Abby Wambach Western New York Flash 1 G (82'), 1 A Week 10 Lori Chalupny Chicago Red Stars 1 A Week 11 Karina LeBlanc Portland Thorns FC 7 SVS Week 12 Carli Lloyd Western New York Flash 3 G (3', 22', 56') Week 13 Sydney Leroux Boston Breakers 3 G, 2 Games Week 14 Karina LeBlanc Portland Thorns FC 5 SVS Week 15 Erika Tymrak FC Kansas City 1 G (86'), 1 A Week 16 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC 2 G (6', 68'), 1 A Week 17 Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City 2 G (23', 55') Week 18 Diana Matheson Washington Spirit 1 G, 1 A in 2 Games Week 19 Jen Hoy Chicago Red Stars 2 G (45', 92')
Annual awards
AwardWinnerRunner-upThird placeGolden Boot Lauren HolidayFC Kansas City 12 Goals Abby Wambach Western New York Flash Sydney Leroux Boston BreakersRookie of the Year Erika Tymrak 6 Goals, 4 Assists Adrianna Franch Western New York Flash Sydney Leroux Boston BreakersGoalkeeper of the Year Nicole Barnhart 10 Shutouts Adrianna Franch Western New York Flash Karina LeBlanc Portland ThornsDefender of the Year Becky Sauerbrunn 1710min, 1.00 GAA Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC Leigh Ann Robinson FC Kansas CityCoach of the Year Vlatko Andonovski 11–6–5, 2nd reg. season Jim Gabarra Sky Blue FC Aaran Lines Western New York FlashMost Valuable Player Lauren Holiday 1st in G and A, 4th in S and SOG Abby Wambach Western New York Flash Lori Chalupny Chicago Red Stars
NWSL Best XI PositionFirst teamSecond team Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City 10 shutouts Adrianna Franch Western New York Flash 98 Saves Defense Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC 1.20 GAA Rachel Buehler Portland Thorns FC 1.15 GAA Defense Leigh Ann Robinson FC Kansas City 5 assists Caitlin Foord Sky Blue FC NWSL youngest player Defense Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City 1.0 GAA Ali Krieger Washington Spirit 1 goal Defense Brittany Taylor Western New York Flash 3 goals, 4 assists Lauren Sesselmann FC Kansas City 0.84 GAA Midfield Lori Chalupny Chicago Red Stars 5 goals, 4 assists Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC 5 goals, 1 assist Midfield Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC 4 goals Desiree Scott FC Kansas City 1.00 GAA Midfield Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City 12 goals, 9 assists Erika Tymrak FC Kansas City 6 goals, 4 assists MF // FW Diana Matheson Washington Spirit 8 goals, 3 assists Alex Morgan Portland Thorns FC 8 goals, 5 assists Forward Sydney Leroux Boston Breakers 11 goals, 2 assists Lianne Sanderson Boston Breakers 5 goals, 7 assists Forward Abby Wambach Western New York Flash 11 goals, 8 assists Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns FC 8 goals, 2 assists
NWSL Championship Game MVP PlayerClubRecord Tobin Heath Portland Thorns FC Scored game-winning goal in first league Championship Game
Statistics
Scoring
First goal of the season: Renae Cuellar for FC Kansas City against Portland Thorns FC, 3rd minute (April 13) Earliest goal in a match: 2 minutes CoCo Goodson for Sky Blue FC against Washington Spirit (April 27) Latest goal in a match: 90+6 minutes Lori Chalupny for Chicago Red Stars against FC Kansas City (July 14) Widest winning margin: 4 goals Sky Blue 5–1 Boston Breakers (June 1) Western New York Flash 4–0 Washington Spirit (May 4) Most goals scored in a match: 7 Washington Spirit 2–5 Boston Breakers (July 27) Portland Thorns 4-3 FC Kansas City (June 6) First Own Goal: McCall Zerboni of Western New York Flash for Sky Blue FC (April 14) Average goals per match: 2.705
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Boston Breakers Chicago Red Stars 4–1 Western New York Flash Washington Spirit 4–0
Discipline