The 2016 National Women's Soccer League season was the fourth 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 tenth 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 significant financial backing from that body. Further financial backing was provided by the Canadian Soccer Association. Both national federations paid the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.

To accommodate the 2016 Olympics, the league suspended play for most of the month of August. In addition, the league did not schedule games during FIFA windows, leaving the 20-game, 19-week regular season ending in late September for the second year in a row.

In the regular season, the Portland Thorns topped the standings and thus won the NWSL Shield. In the playoffs, the Washington Spirit and Western New York Flash won their opening matches to set up a meeting in the final. They tied 2-2 after extra time, with the Flash winning 3-2 on penalties to take 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 Toyota Park 20,000 Houston Dash BBVA Compass Stadium 7,000 (22,039) FC Kansas City Swope Soccer Village (primary)Children's Mercy Park (secondary) 4,00018,467 Orlando Pride Camping World Stadium 60,219 Portland Thorns Providence Park 21,144 Seattle Reign FC Memorial Stadium 7,000 (12,000) Sky Blue FC Yurcak Field 5,000 Washington Spirit Maryland SoccerPlex 5,126 Western New York Flash Rochester Rhinos 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 Steward Health Care Chicago Red Stars Illinois Bone and Joint Institute Houston Dash BBVA Compass FC Kansas City Domino's Orlando Pride Orlando Health Portland Thorns Providence Health & Services Seattle Reign FC Microsoft Sky Blue FC Meridian Health Washington Spirit ProChain Solutions, Inc. Western New York Flash Sahlen's

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 one local rival two extra times, also once home and 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 • Orlando Pride – ORLPortland Thorns FC – POR • Seattle Reign FC – SEA • Sky Blue FC – NJ • Washington Spirit – WAS • Western New York Flash – WNYWin Loss Tie Home GameClubMatch1234567891011121314151617181920Boston Breakers WAS SEA POR CHI NJ KC WNY WAS CHI WNY SEA ORL NJ ORL KC HOU POR WNY HOU WNY1–0 0–3 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 4–0 1–1 3–0 7–1 2–0 2–1 2–3 1–0 0–2 1–3 5–1 2–2 4–1 0–4Chicago Red Stars HOU WNY ORL BOS KC SEA NJ POR BOS POR WNY WAS ORL HOU KC NJ SEA KC KC WAS3–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–3 2–2 2–3 0–0 3–1Houston Dash CHI ORL NJ KC WAS ORL SEA KC ORL NJ POR CHI WNY WAS WNY BOS ORL POR BOS SEA3–1 3–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 3–3 1–2 2–2 1–3 4–2 3–0 4–1 2–3FC Kansas City WNY POR SEA HOU CHI BOS ORL NJ HOU SEA WAS POR WAS WNY CHI BOS NJ CHI CHI ORL0–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–3 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–3 0–0 1–2Orlando Pride POR HOU CHI SEA WNY HOU KC WNY WAS HOU POR BOS CHI SEA BOS WAS HOU NJ NJ KC2–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–1 5–2 1–0 1–2 4–2 1–1 1–2 1–2Portland Thorns FC ORL KC BOS WAS SEA WAS SEA CHI WNY CHI ORL NJ KC HOU SEA SEA BOS HOU WNY NJ2–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 4–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–0 3–1 5–1 3–0 3–2 1–3Seattle Reign FC NJ BOS KC ORL POR CHI POR HOU NJ KC BOS WNY WNY ORL POR POR CHI WAS WAS HOU1–2 0–3 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 5–2 1–0 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–0 2–3Sky Blue FC SEA WAS HOU WNY BOS WNY CHI KC SEA WAS POR HOU BOS WAS WAS CHI KC ORL ORL POR1–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–0 5–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–3 1–0 3–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–3Washington Spirit BOS NJ WNY POR HOU POR BOS ORL NJ KC CHI KC NJ NJ HOU ORL WNY SEA SEA CHI1–0 1–2 0–3 0–0 1–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–1Western New York Flash KC CHI WAS NJ ORL NJ BOS ORL POR BOS CHI SEA SEA KC HOU HOU WAS BOS POR BOS0–1 1–0 0–3 1–2 1–0 5–2 4–0 1–0 0–2 7–1 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–1 3–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–2 0–4 Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.

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.

Head-to-head win–loss record between the teams (or points-per-game if more than 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. 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.

Weekly live standings

Considering each week to end on a Sunday. The number of games played by the teams are uneven due to a weather postponement in week 7 (rescheduled as the only game between week 15 and 16) and differing schedules between week 10 and 16.

→ Team ↓ Portland Thorns FC 3 2 2 3 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1Washington Spirit 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2Chicago Red Stars 10 8 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 Western New York Flash 4 7 8 7 8 5 5 2 4 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4Seattle Reign FC 6 3 3 6 7 6 7 6 6 7 5 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 5FC Kansas City 8 9 9 9 9 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 6Sky Blue FC 2 6 6 8 5 8 6 7 7 6 7 6 5 4 5 5 6 6 6 7Houston Dash 1 5 5 4 6 7 7 8 8Orlando Pride 7 4 7 5 4 4 4 5 5 6 5 6 7 7 7 7 9 9 9Boston Breakers 9 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Team Portland Thorns FC 10 169,449 21,144 13,752 16,945 Orlando Pride 10 87,851 23,403 5,842 8,785 Houston Dash 10 56,963 7,440 4,570 5,696 Seattle Reign FC 10 46,018 5,888 3,987 4,602 Western New York Flash 10 38,683 6,449 2,235 3,868 Washington Spirit 10 37,817 5,750 3,036 3,782 Boston Breakers 10 35,704 4,379 1,435 3,570 FC Kansas City 10 31,624 8,022 2,217 3,162 Chicago Red Stars 10 30,045 4,024 2,068 3,005 Sky Blue FC 10 21,621 3,780 1,252 2,162 Total 100 555,775 23,403 1,252 5,558 Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.

Highest attendances Regular season Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium1Orlando Pride3–1Houston Dash23,403Camping World Stadium2Portland Thorns FC3–2Western New York Flash21,144September 11, 2016Providence Park3Portland Thorns FC1–0Seattle Reign19,231July 30, 2016Providence Park4Portland Thorns FC0–0Seattle Reign18,114Providence Park5Portland Thorns FC5–1Boston Breakers17,152Providence Park6Portland Thorns FC1–2FC Kansas City16,942Providence Park7Portland Thorns FC2–0Chicago Red Stars16,931Providence Park8Portland Thorns FC2–1Orlando Pride16,073Providence Park9Portland Thorns FC4–1Washington Spirit15,823Providence Park10Portland Thorns FC2–0Sky Blue14,287Providence Park Updated to games played on September 25, 2016.

Statistical leaders

Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Kealia Ohai Houston Dash11 Lynn Williams Western New York Flash3 Jessica McDonald Western New York Flash104 Nadia Nadim Portland Thorns FC95 Shea Groom FC Kansas City8 Christen Press Chicago Red Stars7 Sofia Huerta Chicago Red Stars7 Manon Melis Seattle Reign FC9 Kristen Edmonds Orlando Pride6 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC Allie Long Portland Thorns FC Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns FC Updated: September 25

Top assists RankPlayerClubAssists1 Tobin HeathPortland Thorns FC102 Jessica McDonaldWestern New York Flash7 Vanessa DiBernardo Chicago Red Stars4 Crystal DunnWashington Spirit5 Lynn WilliamsWestern New York Flash6 Rachel Daly Houston Dash4 Makenzy Doniak Western New York Flash Jessica Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Leah Galton Sky Blue FC Taylor Lytle Sky Blue FC Tiffany McCarty FC Kansas City Kealia Ohai Houston Dash Updated: September 25

Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1 Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City6 Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars3 Stephanie Labbé Washington Spirit5 Hope Solo Seattle Reign FC5 Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC4 Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride7 Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC3 Caroline Stanley Sky Blue FC Haley Kopmeyer Seattle Reign FC Updated: September 25

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

WeekNWSL Player of the WeekNWSL Goal of the WeekNWSL Save of the Week Player Club Player Club Player Club 1 Rachel Daly Houston Dash Steph Catley Orlando Pride Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 2 Kim Little Seattle Reign FC Ali Krieger Washington Spirit Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 3 Kim LittleSeattle Reign FC Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 4 Chioma UbogaguHouston Dash Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 5 Alyssa NaeherChicago Red Stars Alex Morgan Orlando Pride Lydia Williams Houston Dash 6 Tobin Heath Portland Thorns FC Tobin Heath Portland Thorns FC Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 7 Lynn WilliamsWestern New York Flash Erika Tymrak FC Kansas City Katherine Reynolds Portland Thorns FC 8 Britt EckerstromWestern New York Flash Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 9 Sofia HuertaChicago Red Stars Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 10 Jessica McDonaldWestern New York Flash Jasmyne Spencer Orlando Pride Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 11 Nahomi KawasumiSeattle Reign Dagný Brynjarsdóttir Portland Thorns FC Nicole Barnhart FC Kansas City 12 Kristen EdmondsOrlando Pride Kristen Edmonds Orlando Pride Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 13 Estefania BaniniWashington Spirit Estefania Banini Washington Spirit Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 14 Nicole BarnhartFC Kansas City Rachel Daly Houston Dash Kendall Fletcher Seattle Reign FC 15 Kealia OhaiHouston Dash Rachel Daly Houston Dash Michelle Betos Portland Thorns FC 16 Manon MelisSeattle Reign FC Christine Nairn Washington Spirit Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars 17 Kealia OhaiHouston Dash Alex Morgan Orlando Pride Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars 18 Samantha KerrSky Blue FC Christen Press Chicago Red Stars Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 19 Allie LongPortland Thorns FC Kealia Ohai Houston Dash Lydia Williams Houston Dash

Annual awards

AwardWinnerGolden Boot Lynn Williams Western New York Flash 11 goalsRookie of the Year Raquel Rodriguez Sky Blue FC 1,461 minutesGoalkeeper of the Year Ashlyn Harris Orlando Pride 1.33 GAA, 62 savesDefender of the Year Lauren Barnes Seattle Reign FC 531 consecutive SO minutesCoach of the Year Mark Parsons Portland Thorns FC 12–3–5 regular seasonMost Valuable Player Lynn Williams Western New York Flash 11 goals, 5 assists