The 2022 National Women's Soccer League season was the tenth 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 16th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams competed in the league, including two expansion teams, San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC.
The NWSL regular season, comprising 22 games for each team, began on April 29 and ended on October 2, 2022. OL Reign topped the standing with 40 points and thus won the NWSL Shield. The championship playoffs were held from October 16–29 and were won by Portland Thorns FC, who defeated the Kansas City Current 2-0 in the final and thus became the NWSL champions. The year also included the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, which was played from March 18 to May 7 and overlapped with the start of the regular season. It was won by the North Carolina Courage, who defeated the Washington Spirit 2-1 in the final.
This season was the first in which the total attendance exceeded one million.
Teams, stadiums, and personnel Team names On October 21, 2020, the Los Angeles expansion team announced its name as Angel City FC.
On October 30, 2021, the NWSL franchise in Kansas City announced its new name as Kansas City Current.
On November 9, 2021, the San Diego expansion team announced its name as San Diego Wave FC.
Stadiums and locations
Capacities listed here are full capacities, and do not reflect COVID-19 restrictions.
Team Stadium Capacity Angel City FC Banc of California Stadium 22,000 Titan Stadium 10,000 Chicago Red Stars SeatGeek Stadium 20,000 Houston Dash PNC Stadium 7,000 Kansas City Current Children's Mercy Park 18,467 NJ/NY Gotham FC Red Bull Arena 25,000 North Carolina Courage WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 OL Reign Lumen Field 10,000 Orlando Pride Exploria Stadium 25,500 Portland Thorns FC Providence Park 25,218 Racing Louisville FC Lynn Family Stadium 11,700 San Diego Wave FC Torero Stadium 6,000 Snapdragon Stadium 35,000Washington Spirit Audi Field 20,000 Segra Field 5,000
Personnel and sponsorship Note: All teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer as part of a league-wide sponsorship agreement renewed in November 2021. Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Angel City FC Ali Riley DoorDash Chicago Red Stars CIBC Houston Dash (interim) Jane Campbell Katie Naughton MD Anderson Cancer Center Kansas City Current Sam Mewis Desiree Scott Saint Luke's Health System NJ/NY Gotham FC (interim) Algorand North Carolina Courage Continental AG OL Reign Lauren Barnes Megan Rapinoe Black Future Co-op Fund Orlando Pride (interim) Marta Orlando Health Portland Thorns FC Christine Sinclair Providence Health & Services Racing Louisville FC Gemma Bonner Emily Fox Jessica McDonald Nadia Nadim GE Appliances San Diego Wave FC Alex Morgan Kaiser Permanente Washington Spirit (interim) Tori Huster The Kennedy Center (home)CVS Health (away)
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment Washington Spirit Re-assigned August 10, 2021 7th in 2021 December 20, 2021 San Diego Wave FC Preseason July 14, 2021 Angel City FC Preseason August 23, 2021 Orlando Pride (interim) End of interim period October 30, 2021 Preseason December 7, 2021 Racing Louisville FC (interim) End of interim period November 1, 2021 Preseason December 9, 2021 North Carolina Courage (interim) End of interim period November 8, 2021 Preseason December 1, 2021 Portland Thorns FC Resigned November 15, 2021 Preseason November 29, 2021 Kansas City Current Re-assigned November 18, 2021 Preseason January 11, 2022 Chicago Red Stars Resigned November 22, 2021 Preseason February 18, 2022 Houston Dash Suspended April 26, 2022 Preseason (acting) April 29, 2022 Orlando Pride Placed on administrative leave June 7, 2022 9th (interim) June 7, 2022 Houston Dash (acting) End of acting period July 12, 2022 6th (interim) June 15, 2022 NJ/NY Gotham FC Mutual separation August 11, 2022 11th (acting) August 14, 2022 NJ/NY Gotham FC (acting) End of acting period August 15, 2022 11th (interim) August 13, 2022 Washington Spirit Fired August 22, 2022 11th (acting) August 27, 2022 Washington Spirit (acting) End of acting period August 28, 2022 11th (interim) September 2, 2022
Regular season 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 total points total when determining rank, playoff qualification, and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker criteria, going down the list until all teams are ranked.
Greater goal difference across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams). Most total wins across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams). Most goals scored across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams). Head-to-head results (total points) between the tied teams. Head-to-head most goals scored between the tied teams. Least disciplinary points accumulated across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams). Coin flip (if two teams are tied) or drawing of lots (if three or more teams are tied).
Results
Positions by week Considering each week to end when the NWSL releases their weekly standing tweet
Team \ Week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OL Reign 8 10 109 36 6 5 4 46565555521Portland Thorns FC 2 23 7 8 43 2 3 3 2 2 11143412San Diego Wave FC 6 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3212143Houston Dash 10 5 4 4 42 5 4 5 64 332324254Kansas City Current 12 12 11111111 10 10 7 75654431335Chicago Red Stars 4 45 6 7 3 2 3 2 2 3446666676North Carolina Courage 7 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 121098867Angel City FC 3 6 22 2 7 4 6 6 57777777788Racing Louisville FC 9 9 9 3 5 89 98 1010 11 9 99101111109Orlando Pride 11 8 6 5 69 11 11 11 9 8 8888899910Washington Spirit 5 3 7 8 9 10 8 7 9 1111 101010111110101111NJ/NY Gotham FC 1 7 8 10 10 57 8 10 89 9 1111121212121212 Legend: Gold = first place; green = playoff position; Red = last place.
Attendance
Average home attendances Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Regular season Team Angel City FC 11 210,153 22,000 16,112 19,105 Portland Thorns FC 11 170,976 19,127 9,876 15,543 San Diego Wave FC 11 96,017 32,000 4,418 8,729 Kansas City Current 11 84,223 10,395 5,695 7,657 OL Reign 11 75,289 10,746 3,944 6,844 Washington Spirit 11 68,441 10,177 1,961 6,222 Racing Louisville FC 11 66,529 8,729 5,107 6,048 Chicago Red Stars 11 64,588 23,951 2,135 5,872 Houston Dash 11 62,085 7,798 4,637 5,644 North Carolina Courage 11 49,991 6,398 3,084 4,545 NJ/NY Gotham FC 11 48,563 7,145 2,130 4,415 Orlando Pride 11 48,240 7,573 3,015 4,385 Total 132 1,045,095 32,000 1,961 7,917 Updated through October 2, 2022
Highest attendances Regular season Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium 1 San Diego Wave FC 1–0 Angel City FC 32,000 Snapdragon Stadium 2 Chicago Red Stars 0–1 San Diego Wave FC 23,951 Soldier Field 3 Angel City FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage 22,000 Banc of California Stadium Angel City FC 2–1 San Diego Wave FC 22,000 Banc of California Stadium Angel City FC 2–3 OL Reign 22,000 Banc of California Stadium Angel City FC 1–3 Racing Louisville FC 22,000 Banc of California Stadium 7 Angel City FC 0–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC 18,784 Banc of California Stadium 8 Portland Thorns FC 0–2 San Diego Wave FC 18,624 Providence Park 9 Angel City FC 1–0 Kansas City Current 18,514 Banc of California Stadium 10 San Diego Wave FC 0–0 North Carolina Courage 18,000 Snapdragon Stadium
Updated through October 2, 2022.
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Alex MorganSan Diego Wave FC152 Sophia SmithPortland Thorns FC143 DebinhaNorth Carolina Courage124 Diana OrdoñezNorth Carolina Courage11 Mallory PughChicago Red Stars6 Ashley HatchWashington Spirit9 Ebony Salmon2 teams8 Bethany BalcerOL Reign7 Cece Kizer2 teams Lo'eau LaBontaKansas City Current Savannah McCaskillAngel City FC Megan RapinoeOL Reign Morgan WeaverPortland Thorns FC
Top assists
RankPlayerClubAssists1 Carson PickettNorth Carolina Courage6 Mallory PughChicago Red Stars3 Yazmeen RyanPortland Thorns FC5 Ashley SanchezWashington Spirit5 DebinhaNorth Carolina Courage4 Shea GroomHouston Dash Sofia HuertaOL Reign KerolinNorth Carolina Courage Lo'eau LaBontaKansas City Current Jessica McDonaldRacing Louisville FC Olivia MoultriePortland Thorns FC Megan RapinoeOL Reign María SánchezHouston Dash Hina SugitaPortland Thorns FC
Clean sheets
RankPlayerClubClean sheets1 Bella BixbyPortland Thorns FC9 Phallon Tullis-JoyceOL Reign3 Kailen SheridanSan Diego Wave FC84 Alyssa NaeherChicago Red Stars75 Jane CampbellHouston Dash6 Katie LundRacing Louisville FC Casey MurphyNorth Carolina Courage8 Adrianna FranchKansas City Current59 DiDi HaračićAngel City FC4 Erin McLeodOrlando Pride
Hat-tricks
+PlayerForAgainstScoreDate Alex Morgan 4San Diego Wave FCNJ/NY Gotham FC4–0May 7 Nichelle Prince Houston DashOrlando Pride5–0June 3 Ebony Salmon Houston DashChicago Red Stars4–1July 16 Debinha North Carolina CourageNJ/NY Gotham FC3–0September 24 4 Player scored 4 goals
Playoffs
The top six teams from the regular season qualified for the NWSL Championship playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye. On August 23, 2022, the league announced that the championship match would be held on October 29, 2022, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with domestic broadcast on CBS and a prime-time kickoff at 8 p.m. EDT.
First round
Semi-finals
Championship
Before the championship game, the NWSL recognized the 21 players who had been in the league for all 10 years of its existence.
Championship Game MVP: Sophia Smith (POR)
Challenge Cup
Championship
Individual awards
Annual awards
AwardWinnerNomineesRef.Golden Boot Alex Morgan (15 G)San Diego Wave FCN/AMost Valuable Player Sophia SmithPortland Thorns FC Debinha, NC Naomi Girma, SD Alex Morgan, SD Mallory Pugh, CHIDefender of the Year Naomi GirmaSan Diego Wave FC Alana Cook, RGN Sofia Huerta, RGN Carson Pickett, NC Becky Sauerbrunn, PORGoalkeeper of the Year Kailen SheridanSan Diego Wave FC Adrianna Franch, KC Phallon Tullis-Joyce, RGNRookie of the Year Naomi Girma San Diego Wave FC Sam Coffey, POR Diana Ordóñez, NCCoach of the Year Casey StoneySan Diego Wave FC Laura Harvey, RGN Matt Potter, KC
Teams of the Year Announced October 25, 2022
Best XI Position Player Club Goalkeeper San Diego Wave FC Defender OL Reign San Diego Wave FC OL Reign North Carolina Courage Midfielder/Forward Portland Thorns FC Kansas City Current San Diego Wave FC North Carolina Courage Chicago Red Stars Portland Thorns FC
Second XI Position Player Club Goalkeeper Kansas City Current Defender Portland Thorns FC Kansas City Current Chicago Red Stars Portland Thorns FC Midfielder/Forward North Carolina Courage OL Reign OL Reign North Carolina Courage OL Reign Houston Dash
Monthly Awards
Player of the Month
Month Player Club Ref. May Alex Morgan San Diego Wave FC June Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC July Ebony Salmon Houston Dash August Megan Rapinoe OL Reign September/October Debinha North Carolina Courage
Rookie of the Month
Month Player Club Ref. May Naomi Girma San Diego Wave FC June Sam Coffey Portland Thorns FC July Savannah DeMelo Racing Louisville FC August Diana Ordoñez North Carolina Courage September/October Naomi Girma (2) San Diego Wave FC
Team of the Month