The 2014 National Women's Soccer League season was the second 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 eighth 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 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 regular season began the weekend of April 12–13 and ended August 20, with the championship game played on August 30. FC Kansas City defeated the NWSL Shield winners Seattle Reign FC 2–1 to win the NWSL title.
The league had announced it would not expand for the 2014 season and was not expected to contract. However, after a push from the Houston Dynamo, the league approved the expansion of the Houston Dash.
Teams, stadia, and personnel
Stadia and locations
See also List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums
Two teams, the Dash and Reign, do not make their stadia's 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. The Boston Breakers,
FC Kansas City,
and Seattle Reign FC
moved to new stadia for 2014, while the Houston Dash was an expansion franchise.
TeamStadiumCapacity Boston Breakers Harvard Stadium 30,323 Chicago Red Stars Village Sports Complex 3,600 Houston Dash BBVA Compass Stadium 7,000 (22,039) FC Kansas City Verizon Field 3,200 Portland Thorns Providence Park 20,438 Seattle Reign FC Memorial Stadium 6,000 (12,000) 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 use Nike as kit manufacturer.
Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Boston Breakers Tom Durkin Steward Health Care Chicago Red Stars CJ Wilson Mazda Houston Dash BBVA Compass FC Kansas City Research Medical Center Portland Thorns Providence Health & Services Seattle Reign FC Moda Health Sky Blue FC Meridian Health Washington Spirit ProChain Solutions, Inc. Western New York Flash Sahlen's
Player Acquisition
Players were acquired through the 2014 Allocation of national team players announced on January 3, the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft (for expansion team Houston) on January 10, and the 2014 NWSL College Draft on January 17, as well as free agency, trading, and loans.
Notable acquisitions
Christen Press, top scorer of the 2013 Damallsvenskan in Sweden, was allocated to Chicago. Nahomi Kawasumi, named Best Player of the 2013 L. League in Japan, was loaned to Seattle from INAC Kobe Leonessa. Beverly Goebel, top scorer of the 2013 L. League in Japan, was loaned to Seattle from INAC Kobe Leonessa. Kim Little, PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year for 2012–13 and top scorer of the 2012 FA WSL in England, was signed as a free agent by Seattle. Verónica Boquete, Player of the Year of the 2011 WPS in the U.S., was signed as a free agent by Portland, arriving June 7.
Competition format
Each team will play a total of 24 games, 12 home and 12 away. Each teams will play four opponents twice at home and once away, and will play the other four opponents once at home and twice away. The four teams at the end of the season with the most points will qualify for the playoffs. The two semi-final games will be played on the weekend of August 23–24, and the final will be played on August 30.
Results table
Abbreviation and Color Key:Boston Breakers – BOS • Chicago Red Stars – CHI • Houston Dash – HOU • 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 GameClubMatch123456789101112131415161718192021222324Boston Breakers SEA HOU NJ NJ CHI CHI KC POR WAS KC WAS SEA NJ WNY WAS SEA HOU POR WNY WNY KC POR CHI HOU3–0 2–3 3–2 1–0 1–3 1–4 0–2 4–1 2–3 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–1 3–3 3–2 2–1 6–3 2–4 3–4 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–0Chicago Red Stars WNY WAS KC NJ HOU BOS BOS HOU NJ WAS SEA NJ WNY KC POR POR SEA POR SEA HOU WAS KC BOS WNY1–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–4 1–3 0–2 0–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 3–3Houston Dash POR BOS SEA KC CHI POR KC CHI WAS WNY NJ WNY KC WAS WNY BOS WAS CHI SEA POR SEA NJ BOS NJ0–1 2–3 2–0 0–4 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–3 3–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 1–2 0–1 1–4 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–4 1–0 4–1 1–3 1–0 1–0FC Kansas City NJ WAS POR CHI HOU WNY WAS SEA HOU SEA BOS WNY BOS HOU CHI POR NJ POR WNY NJ WAS SEA BOS CHI1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0 0–4 2–1 2–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–5 7–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1Portland Thorns FC HOU NJ KC WNY SEA HOU WNY NJ BOS WNY WAS WAS NJ KC CHI CHI KC CHI BOS WAS SEA HOU BOS SEA0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 4–1 0–5 2–0 1–6 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 7–1 1–1 6–3 1–1 5–0 1–0 2–0 1–0Seattle Reign FC BOS WAS HOU NJ WAS POR KC KC WNY NJ CHI BOS WNY NJ WNY BOS CHI CHI POR HOU KC HOU WAS POR3–0 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–2 0–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–1 5–0 1–4 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–0Sky Blue FC KC POR BOS SEA BOS CHI WNY WAS POR CHI SEA HOU CHI BOS POR SEA KC WAS KC WNY HOU WNY WAS HOU1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 0–1 0–2 1–3 0–3 2–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 0–5 4–2 2–1 1–0 1–3 2–3 0–1 1–0Washington Spirit WNY KC SEA CHI SEA KC WNY NJ HOU BOS CHI BOS POR POR HOU BOS WNY HOU NJ POR KC CHI SEA NJ1–3 3–1 3–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 3–2 3–3 3–2 2–3 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–6 0–1 3–3 0–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–1Western New York Flash WAS CHI POR KC NJ WAS POR SEA HOU KC POR HOU CHI SEA BOS SEA HOU WAS KC BOS NJ BOS NJ CHI1–3 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–2 2–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 0–5 2–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–4 0–1 1–1 2–4 1–0 3–4 2–3 3–3
Scores listed as home-away
League standings
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.
If two teams tie:
Head-to-head win–loss record between the two teams. Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams). Greatest total number of goals scored (against all teams). Apply #1–3 to games played on the road. Apply #1–3 to games played at home. If teams are still equal, ranking will be determined by a coin toss.
If three or more teams tie, the following rules apply until only two teams remain tied, at which point the two-team tiebreakers listed above are used:
Points per game against all other tied teams (total all points earned in games against tied teams and divide by games played against tied teams). Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
Positions by gameweek
Considering each week to end on a Sunday
Team \ Week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Seattle Reign FC 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1FC Kansas City 4 8 9 3 3 4 3 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Portland Thorns FC 3 1 2 2 4 3 4 5 6 5 4 6 6 4 3 3 4 4 3Washington Spirit 8 5 3 4 6 6 6 3 3 4 5 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 4Chicago Red Stars 6 4 5 7 5 2 2 2 4 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5Sky Blue FC 4 7 8 5 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 7 7 8 7 7 7 7 6Western New York Flash 2 3 4 6 2 5 5 6 5 6 6 4 3 6 6 6 6 6 7Houston Dash 7 6 6 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 9Boston Breakers 9 9 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8
Positions by games played
Team \ Game1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Seattle Reign FC 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1FC Kansas City 5 8 9 6 4 5 5 6 6 6 5 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Portland Thorns FC 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 5 4 4 3 3 4 4 5 3Washington Spirit 8 4 4 4 6 7 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 5 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 4Chicago Red Stars 3 6 5 5 5 3 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5Sky Blue FC 5 7 8 9 7 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 6Western New York Flash 2 3 3 3 2 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7Houston Dash 7 5 6 7 8 8 8 9 9 8 7 7 7 7 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 9Boston Breakers 9 9 7 8 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8
NWSL Playoffs
The top four teams from the regular season qualified for the championship playoffs. The highest-seeded semi-final winner then hosted the championship final.
Semi-finals
Championship
Attendance
Average home attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
TeamAverageTotalNo. of gamesHighLow Portland Thorns FC 13,362 160,341 12 19,123 9,672 Houston Dash 4,650 55,801 12 8,097 3,561 Seattle Reign FC 3,666 43,996 12 5,957 1,754 Washington Spirit 3,335 40,019 12 4,667 2,306 Western New York Flash 3,177 38,125 12 4,339 1,786Chicago Red Stars2,94935,393 1 (Toyota Park) 15,7431,039 11 (Benedictine Stadium) 3,032 Boston Breakers 2,437 29,248 12 4,191 1,263 FC Kansas City 2,018 24,215 12 3,107 1,212 Sky Blue FC 1,640 19,682 12 3,471 582
A new NWSL attendance record of 19,123 was set on August 3 in a game between Portland and Houston at Providence Park in Portland, breaking the previous record of 17,619 set in 2013.
Playoff Attendance
Semi-final No. 1, August 23, Portland at Kansas City: 2,997
Semi-final No. 2, August 24, Washington at Seattle: 4,540
Final, August 31, Kansas City at Seattle: 4,252
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
RankPlayerNationClubGoals1 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC162 Amy Rodriguez FC Kansas City133 Jessica McDonald Portland Thorns FC11 Jodie Taylor Washington Spirit115 Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign FC9 Samantha Kerr Western New York Flash9 Heather O'Reilly Boston Breakers9 Allie Long Portland Thorns FC99 Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City8 Carli Lloyd Western New York Flash8 Diana Matheson Washington Spirit8
Source:
Top assists
RankPlayerNationClubAssists1 Jessica Fishlock Seattle Reign FC82 Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City7 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC74 Verónica Boquete Portland Thorns FC6 Vicky Losada Western New York Flash6 Diana Matheson Washington Spirit67 Carli Lloyd Western New York Flash5 Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign FC5 Kelley O'Hara Sky Blue FC5 Heather O'Reilly Boston Breakers5
Source:
Goalkeeping
(Minimum of 1,080 Minutes Played)
RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSOGSVSGAGAAW-L-TSHO1 Hope Solo Seattle Reign FC2018008365180.90013–2–552 Karina LeBlanc Chicago Red Stars2118909776211.0009–6–663 Lydia Williams Western New York Flash1411836549151.1416–6–124 Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City22193510071291.34911–6–585 Nadine Angerer Portland Thorns FC22191710474301.4088–8–646 Jillian Loyden Sky Blue FC1715309469251.4717–5–547 Ashlyn Harris Washington Spirit1917109766311.63210–5–448 Erin McLeod Houston Dash19175512083351.7504–12–329 Alyssa Naeher Boston Breakers242115159106532.2086–16–23
Source:
Individual awards
Weekly awards