The 2015 National Women's Soccer League season was the third 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 ninth 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.
In January, Jeff Plush was named NWSL commissioner, replacing Cheryl Bailey.
To accommodate the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the league announced it would take a two-week break from June 7–19, reduce the season to 20 games, and extend the playing calendar into September.
For the second straight season, FC Kansas City defeated the NWSL Shield winners Seattle Reign FC 1–0 to win the NWSL championship.
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 Boston Breakers Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium 4,500 Chicago Red Stars Village Sports Complex 3,600 Houston Dash BBVA Compass Stadium 7,000 (22,039) FC Kansas City Swope Soccer Village 4,000 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 of the teams use Nike as their 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 Brittany Taylor Sahlen's
Player acquisition
Players were acquired through the 2015 Allocation of national team players on January 14 and the 2015 NWSL College Draft on January 16, as well as free agency and trades.
Notable acquisitions and losses
Carli Lloyd, the scoring and assist leader for the US women's national team in 2014, was traded from the Western New York Flash to the Houston Dash on October 16, 2014. Heather O'Reilly, the scoring and assist leader for the Boston Breakers in 2014, was traded from Boston to FC Kansas City on October 27, 2014. Samantha Kerr, the leading scorer for the Western New York Flash in 2014, was traded from Western New York to Sky Blue FC on November 24, 2014. Sophie Schmidt, a veteran Allocated Player for the Canadian women's national team, announced in January 2015 she would not play for either Sky Blue FC or the NWSL in order to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Morgan Brian, the two-time Hermann Trophy winner, was chosen No. 1 overall by the Houston Dash in the College Draft on January 16, 2015. Jessica McDonald, the leading scorer for the Portland Thorns in 2014, was traded from Portland to the Houston Dash during the draft on January 16, 2015. Jodie Taylor, the leading scorer for the Washington Spirit in 2014, was traded from Washington to the Portland Thorns during the draft on January 16, 2015. Abby Wambach, the scoring and assist leader for the Western New York Flash in 2013, announced on March 18, 2015, she would not play for either Western New York or the NWSL in order to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her rights were subsequently traded to the Seattle Reign in exchange for Sydney Leroux.
Competition format
Each team will play a total of 20 games, 10 home and 10 away. Each team will play all opponents twice, once home and once away, plus four opponents an extra time, split two opponents at home and two away. The four teams at the end of the season with the most points will qualify for the playoffs.
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 GameClubMatch1234567891011121314151617181920Boston Breakers POR HOU WNY CHI POR NJ KC WAS SEA WNY KC CHI CHI NJ SEA POR WAS KC SEA HOU4–1 3–2 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–3 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 5–2 2–1 3–0 1–3 0–1Chicago Red Stars SEA POR NJ BOS HOU KC SEA WNY NJ HOU BOS BOS WAS KC POR NJ WAS WNY WNY HOU3–2 2–2 1–0 3–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 3–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–2 1–1Houston Dash WAS NJ BOS KC CHI POR NJ POR WNY WAS CHI KC WNY KC WAS NJ SEA SEA BOS CHI2–0 1–1 3–2 0–2 2–2 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 3–2 3–1 0–2 1–2 0–3 1–0 1–1FC Kansas City NJ WAS SEA HOU WNY WNY CHI BOS POR SEA WAS BOS HOU HOU CHI WNY POR BOS WAS NJ0–1 3–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–0 2–3 1–1 3–2 2–2 4–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–3Portland Thorns FC BOS WNY CHI WAS BOS HOU WAS HOU KC NJ NJ SEA SEA WNY BOS CHI KC NJ WAS WNY4–1 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 3–0 0–2 5–2 2–1 3–0 1–0 3–3 2–3Seattle Reign FC WNY CHI KC WAS NJ CHI NJ BOS KC WNY WNY WAS POR POR BOS HOU HOU BOS NJ WAS5–1 3–2 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 3–0 2–3 2–1 1–1 4–2 3–0 0–1 3–0 1–2 2–1 0–3 3–1 1–1 1–2Sky Blue FC KC HOU WAS CHI SEA WAS BOS HOU SEA CHI POR POR WNY BOS WNY HOU CHI POR SEA KC0–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–0 3–3 3–1 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–3Washington Spirit HOU KC NJ SEA POR NJ WNY POR BOS HOU KC SEA CHI HOU BOS WNY CHI KC POR SEA2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–0 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 3–3 1–2Western New York Flash SEA POR BOS KC KC WAS CHI HOU BOS SEA SEA NJ HOU POR NJ KC WAS CHI CHI POR5–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 4–2 3–3 0–1 0–2 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 3–2
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).
Weekly live standings
Considering each week to end on a Sunday
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
RankPlayerNationClubGoals 1 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit152 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC10 Allie Long Portland Thorns FC Christen Press Chicago Red Stars5 Beverly Yanez Seattle Reign FC96 Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC87 Jessica McDonald Houston Dash78 Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars6 Samantha Kerr Sky Blue FC Kristie Mewis Boston Breakers Nadia Nadim Sky Blue FC Amy Rodriguez FC Kansas City
Top assists
RankPlayerNationClubAssists 1 Kim Little Seattle Reign72 Vanessa DiBernardo Chicago Red Stars5 Kealia Ohai Houston Dash Kelley O'Hara Sky Blue FC Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC6 Jen Hoy Chicago Red Stars4 Allie Long Portland Thorns FC Sam Mewis Western New York Flash Christine Nairn Washington Spirit Amy Rodriguez FC Kansas City Meleana Shim Portland Thorns FC Lynn Williams Western New York Flash
Goalkeeping
(Minimum of 900 minutes played)
RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSOGSVSGAGAAW-L-TSHO1 Michele Dalton Chicago Red Stars1210805847110.9176–1–552 Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City1715307054160.9418–6–383 Haley Kopmeyer Seattle Reign FC119905241111.0007–1–344 Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC1412606345181.2865–7–225 Brittany Cameron Sky Blue FC20179211487271.3575–8–746 Erin McLeod Houston Dash119327460151.3643–4–327 Kelsey Wys Washington Spirit119905135161.4555–4–238 Chantel Jones Western New York Flash1311558160211.6154–4–529 Alyssa Naeher Boston Breakers1210809565302.5002–9–10
NWSL Playoffs
The top four teams from the regular season will compete for the NWSL Championship.
Semi-finals
Championship
Individual awards
Monthly awards
Weekly awards
WeekPlayer of the Week Club Week's Statline Week 1 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC 3G, 1A Week 2 Christen Press Chicago Red Stars 2G, 1A Week 3 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 2G Week 4 Becky Edwards Western New York Flash 1G, 1A Week 5 Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars 2G, 1A Week 6 Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars 2G Week 7 Bianca Henninger Houston Dash 8 saves Week 8 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 1G (GWG) Week 9 Jessica Fishlock Seattle Reign 1G, 1A Week 10 Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 4 saves, 1G (GTG) Week 11 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 1G (GWG) Week 12 Sinead Farrelly Portland Thorns FC 1G (GWG) Week 13 Shea Groom FC Kansas City 1G (GWG), 2A Week 14 Michelle Heyman Western New York Flash 1G Week 15 Beverly Yanez Seattle Reign FC 2G Week 16 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 3G (GWG) Week 17 Alyssa Naeher Boston Breakers 12 saves in August 8 Spirit game Week 18 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 1G (GWG) Week 19 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC 3G (GWG) Week 20 Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 2G 1A Week 21 Karina LeBlanc Chicago Red Stars 19 Shots/10 SOG/9 Saves vs Houston
Annual awards
AwardWinnerGolden Boot Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 15 goalsRookie of the Year Danielle Colaprico Chicago Red Stars Played in all 20 gamesGoalkeeper of the Year Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 1.286 GAA, 45 savesDefender of the Year Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City 990 minutesCoach of the Year Laura Harvey Seattle Reign 13–3–4 regular seasonMost Valuable Player Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 15 goals, 3 assists
NWSL Best XI PositionFirst teamSecond team Goalkeeper Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 45 saves Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City 8 shutouts Defender Lauren Barnes Seattle Reign FC 1,800 minutes Stephanie Cox Seattle Reign FC 1,800 minutes Defender Julie Johnston Chicago Red Stars 1.10 team GAA Kendall Fletcher Seattle Reign FC 2 goals, 2 assists Defender Amy LePeilbet FC Kansas City 1,800 minutes Arin Gilliland Chicago Red Stars 1.10 team GAA Defender Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City 1.00 team GAA Leigh Ann Robinson FC Kansas City 1,800 minutes Midfielder Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC 8 goals, 2 assists Danielle Colaprico Chicago Red Stars 1,776 minutes Midfielder Kim Little Seattle Reign FC 10 goals, 7 assists Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City 2 goals, 2 assists Midfielder Allie Long Portland Thorns FC 10 goals, 4 assists Carli Lloyd Houston Dash 4 goals FW // MF Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit 15 goals, 3 assists Keelin Winters Seattle Reign FC 1,654 minutes Forward Christen Press Chicago Red Stars 10 goals, 2 assists Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars 6 goals, 3 assists Forward Beverly Yanez Seattle Reign FC 9 goals Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign FC 5 goals, 5 assists
NWSL Championship Game MVPPlayerClubRecord Amy Rodriguez FC Kansas City Scored the game-winning goal
References
External links