NWSL records and statistics

The following is a compilation of notable records and statistics for teams and players in the National Women's Soccer League, which started in 2013.[1]

Statistics for the NWSL Challenge Cup, a competition originally created in place of the 2020 season that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are treated separately from regular season statistics.

Champions and shield winners

By season

SeasonPlayoff finalRegular season
ChampionsScoreRunners-upShield winnersPointsRunners-up
2013Portland Thorns FC2–0
Details
Western New York FlashWestern New York Flash38–38
Standings
FC Kansas City
2014FC Kansas City2–1
Details
Seattle Reign FCSeattle Reign FC54–41
Standings
FC Kansas City
2015FC Kansas City1–0
Details
Seattle Reign FCSeattle Reign FC43–33
Standings
Chicago Red Stars
2016Western New York Flash2–2 AET, 3–2 PKs
Details
Washington SpiritPortland Thorns FC41–39
Standings
Washington Spirit
2017Portland Thorns FC1–0
Details
North Carolina CourageNorth Carolina Courage49–47
Standings
Portland Thorns FC
2018North Carolina Courage3–0
Details
Portland Thorns FCNorth Carolina Courage57–42
Standings
Portland Thorns FC
2019North Carolina Courage4–0
Details
Chicago Red StarsNorth Carolina Courage49–44
Standings
Chicago Red Stars
2021Washington Spirit2–1 AET
Details
Chicago Red StarsPortland Thorns FC44–42
Standings
OL Reign
2022Portland Thorns FC2–0
Details
Kansas City CurrentOL Reign40–39
Standings
Portland Thorns FC
2023NJ/NY Gotham FC2–1
Details
OL ReignSan Diego Wave FC37–35
Standings
Portland Thorns FC

Total trophies by team

Italics indicates a defunct team.

TeamSeasons*Playoff appearancesChampionshipsShieldsChallenge CupsTotal
North Carolina Courage752 (2018, 2019)3 (2017, 2018, 2019)2 (2022, 2023)7
Portland Thorns FC1193 (2013, 2017, 2022)2 (2016, 2021)1 (2021)6
OL Reign/Reign FC/Seattle Reign FC1173 (2014, 2015, 2022)3
FC Kansas City532 (2014, 2015)2
Western New York Flash421 (2016)1 (2013)2
San Diego Wave FC321 (2023)1 (2024)2
Washington Spirit1141 (2021)1
NJ/NY Gotham FC/Sky Blue FC1131 (2023)1
Houston Dash1011 (2020*)1
Chicago Red Stars1170
Angel City FC310
Kansas City Current410
Orlando Pride810
Bay FC100
Utah Royals FC300
Racing Louisville FC400
Boston Breakers500

*While there was no 2020 regular season (i.e., it is not included in the second column), 2020 did include the inaugural Challenge Cup, which was won by the Houston Dash. It also included the 2020 Fall Series, in which the "Community Shield" (separate from the NWSL Shield and thus not included here) was won by the Portland Thorns.

Team records

Wins

Losses

Attendance

SeasonOverallHighestLowestPlayoff
mean
TotalMeanMedianClubMeanClubMean
2013375,7434,2703,007Portland Thorns FC13,320Sky Blue FC1,6646,820
2014446,3114,1333,014Portland Thorns FC13,362Sky Blue FC1,6393,763
2015454,1005,0463,367Portland Thorns FC15,639Sky Blue FC2,2686,766
2016555,7755,5583,997Portland Thorns FC16,945Sky Blue FC2,16210,863
2017609,9605,0833,576Portland Thorns FC17,653FC Kansas City1,78812,111
2018650,5626,0244,025Portland Thorns FC16,959Sky Blue FC2,53113,3231
2019792,4097,3375,565Portland Thorns FC20,098Sky Blue FC3,3388,956
20212567,0725,155Portland Thorns FC14,391Chicago Red Stars3,2228,774
20221,042,0637,917Angel City FC19,105Orlando Pride4,38521,730
20231,366,581San Diego Wave20,718North Carolina Courage5,384

1 A semifinal that would have been played in North Carolina was moved to Portland due to Hurricane Florence.
2 Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many teams had reduced capacities for part or all of the season, including some games with zero fans.

Goals

Regular season records

Through 2023 season (regular season games only)[2][3]

Pts rank
(prev.
season)
PPG rank
(prev.
season)
ClubSeasons[a]GPWDLGFGAGDPtsPPG1st2nd3rd4th
Finishing positions
1 (2)4 (2)Portland Thorns FC10 (2013–)2261095859374260+1143851.548243
2 (1)3 (1)OL Reign[b]10 (2013–)2261055764337248893721.6463111
3 (6)7 (6)Chicago Red Stars10 (2013–)226956170321296253241.433213
4 (11)10 (11)Washington Spirit10 (2013–)226706096266327-612701.194112
5 (12)13 (12)NJ/NY Gotham FC[c]10 (2013–)2266758101260319-892591.1461
6 (7)1 (7)North Carolina Courage6 (2017–)1407528372481401082531.8071431
7 (4)11 (4)Houston Dash9 (2014–)204654594234289-552401.17541
8 (10)12 (10)Orlando Pride7 (2016–)160513376195256-611861.16251
9 (-)6 (-)FC Kansas City5 (2013–2017)110452736152125271681.52721
10 (-)8 (-)Western New York Flash4 (2013–2016)86332231142118241191.38411
11 (-)16 (-)Boston Breakers5 (2013–2017)110252065132212-80950.864
12 (5)14 (5)Kansas City Current[d]3 (2021–)7221153274101-27781.0833
15 (3)2 (3)San Diego Wave FC2 (2022–)44211013634320731.65911
14 (9)15 (9)Racing Louisville FC3 (2021–)721624286999-30721
12 (-)6 (-)Utah Royals FC2 (2018–2019)481912174748-1691.438
16 (8)9 (8)Angel City FC2 (2022–)441612165457-3601.364

Sort order is points, finishing positions, wins

Playoff records

Through 2022 playoffs

RankClubChampionshipsRunners-upSeasons
qualified
GPWLD[a]Penalty
Wins[a]
GF/90GAGDPPG
1Portland Thorns FC318/91275001.7501917+2
2North Carolina Courage214/5752002.143143+11
3FC Kansas City203/5541002.400104+6
4Washington Spirit114/9742101.85710100
5Western New York Flash112/4421111.75087+1
6Chicago Red Stars027/91037000.900716−9
7OL Reign026/9826000.750914−5
8Kansas City Current011/2321002.00043+1
9San Diego Wave FC001/1211001.500330
10NJ/NY Gotham FC002/9202000.00003−3
11Orlando Pride001/6101000.00014−3
12Houston Dash001/8101000.00012-1
13Angel City FC000/1Have not qualified
14Racing Louisville FC000/2
15Utah Royals FC000/2
16Boston Breakers000/5

Sort order is championships, runners-up, PPG, fraction of seasons qualified

Player records

Most minutes played

NWSL All-Time Minutes Played
Regular Season Only as of December 31, 2023[4]
RankPlayerMinutes PlayedGames
1 Lauren Barnes18,298211
2 McCall Zerboni16,141204
3 Jess Fishlock15,305180
4 Ali Krieger15,026176
5 Abby Erceg14,921169
6 Allie Long14,753172
7 Alyssa Naeher14,580163
8 Christine Sinclair14,426176
9 Sofia Huerta14,286161
10 Becky Sauerbrunn14,071164
11 Merritt Mathias14,020183
12 Kristie Mewis13,987171
13 Emily Menges13,850160
14 Vanessa DiBernardo13,426166
15 Danielle Colaprico13,398165
16 Megan Montefusco13,257155
17 Meghan Klingenberg13,049156
18 Tori Huster13,013159
19 Nicole Barnhart12,674144
20 Jessica McDonald12,593182

Most appearances, regular season only

2013–2023 seasons. 226 total matches for each team.[5]

NWSL Most Appearances
Regular Season Only as of December 31, 2023
RankPlayerGames
1 Lauren Barnes211
2 McCall Zerboni204
3 Merritt Mathias183
4 Jessica McDonald182
5 Jess Fishlock180
6 Christine Sinclair176
Ali Krieger176
8 Allie Long172
Jasmyne Spencer172
10 Kristie Mewis171
11 Erika Tymrak168
12 Vanessa DiBernardo166
Abby Erceg166
14 Danielle Colaprico165
15 Becky Sauerbrunn164
16 Amber Brooks163
Alyssa Naeher163
18 Sofia Huerta161
19 Emily Menges160
20 Tori Huster159

Goals

Top scorers

Goals, regular season only

NWSL All-Time Leading Goalscorers
Up to January 1, 2024[15]
RankPlayerGoals
1 Sam Kerr77
2 Lynn Williams64
3 Christine Sinclair62
4 Alex Morgan60
5 Jessica McDonald54
6 Megan Rapinoe51
7 Christen Press47
8 Ashley Hatch46
9 Debinha44
10 Carli Lloyd43
11 Jess Fishlock42
12 Sydney Leroux41
13 Amy Rodriguez39
14 Crystal Dunn38
Nadia Nadim
16 Rachel Daly37
17 Allie Long36
18 Sofia Huerta35
19 Kealia Watt33
20 Kim Little32
Sophia Smith
Jodie Taylor

Leading goalscorers in playoffs

NWSL All-Time Playoff Leading Goalscorers
Last updated after 2023 season.
Bold indicates active NWSL player
RankPlayerGoals
1 Amy Rodriguez6
2 Crystal Dunn5
3 Jessica McDonald4
Samantha Mewis
Lynn Williams
5 Debinha3
Tobin Heath
Lindsey Horan
Megan Rapinoe
Christine Sinclair

NWSL top goalscorers by season (regular season only)

YearPlayerGoalsGames
2013 Lauren Holiday1218
2014 Kim Little1623
2015 Crystal Dunn1520
2016 Lynn Williams1119
2017 Sam Kerr1722
2018 Sam Kerr1619
2019 Sam Kerr1821
2021 Ashley Hatch1020
2022 Alex Morgan1517
2023 Sophia Smith1118

Assists

Most assists

Most assists (career)
Regular Season Only as of January 1, 2024[18]
RankPlayerAssists
1 Sofia Huerta31
Jessica McDonald
3 Lynn Williams28
4 Alex Morgan27
5 Nahomi Kawasumi26
Megan Rapinoe
7 Jess Fishlock25
8 Vanessa DiBernardo24
Crystal Dunn
Tobin Heath
Sam Kerr
Yūki Nagasato

Top assists by season

YearPlayerAssistsApps
2013 Lauren Holiday918
2014 Jessica Fishlock822
2015 Kim Little720
2016 Tobin Heath1015
2017 Nahomi Kawasumi924
2018 Jessica McDonald823
2019 Yūki Nagasato824
2021* Trinity Rodman622
Sofia Huerta23
2022* Carson Pickett620
Mallory Swanson16
2023 Sam Coffey822

*Joint record

Goalkeepers

Clean sheets

Most Shutouts (career)
Regular Season Only as of December 31, 2023[18]
#PlayerShutoutsApps
1 Nicole Barnhart52144
2 Alyssa Naeher43163
3 Adrianna Franch42127
4 Casey Murphy3280
5 Kailen Sheridan31117
6 Jane Campbell30103
Aubrey Kingsbury119
8 Bella Bixby2457
9 Ashlyn Harris22135
10 Katelyn Rowland2060

Saves

Most Saves (career)
Regular Season Only as of October 2, 2022[18]
#PlayerSaves
1 Ashlyn Harris518
2 Alyssa Naeher494
3 Nicole Barnhart468
4 Kailen Sheridan401
5 Adrianna Franch395
6 Aubrey Kingsbury362
7 Michelle Betos340
8 Jane Campbell336
9 Erin McLeod288
10 Haley Kopmeyer239

Match records

As of October 2, 2022


Highest scoring
Goals
scored
DateHome teamResultAway team
9Jul 20, 2014Portland Thorns FC6–3Boston Breakers
Jul 22, 2017Seattle Reign FC5–4Sky Blue FC
Aug 19, 2017Sky Blue FC5–4Seattle Reign FC
Oct 7, 2023Kansas City Current6–3Chicago Red Stars
Mar 16, 2024Kansas City Current5–4Portland Thorns FC
8Jul 13, 2014Portland Thorns FC7–1FC Kansas City
Jun 24, 2016Western New York Flash7–1Boston Breakers
May 13, 2017Seattle Reign FC6–2Washington Spirit
Apr 20, 2019Chicago Red Stars4–4Portland Thorns FC
7Jun 6, 2013Portland Thorns FC4–3FC Kansas City
Jul 27, 2013Washington Spirit2–5Boston Breakers
Jun 21, 2014Washington Spirit1–6Portland Thorns FC
Aug 3, 2014Boston Breakers3–4Western New York Flash
Aug 6, 2015Portland Thorns FC5–2Boston Breakers
May 21, 2016Western New York Flash5–2Sky Blue FC
Jul 23, 2016Seattle Reign FC5–2Orlando Pride
May 6, 2017Washington Spirit4–3Sky Blue FC
Sep 30, 2017Boston Breakers3–4Sky Blue FC
May 23, 2018Orlando Pride3–4North Carolina Courage
May 26, 2018Chicago Red Stars2–5Orlando Pride
Aug 25, 2018Houston Dash6–1Sky Blue FC
Jul 5, 2019North Carolina Courage5–2Houston Dash
Jul 6, 2019Orlando Pride4–3Washington Spirit
Jul 14, 2019Portland Thorns FC4–3Orlando Pride
Sep 14, 2019North Carolina Courage6–1Orlando Pride
Jun 19, 2022North Carolina Courage3-4Houston Dash
Jul 10, 2022Washington Spirit4–3San Diego Wave FC
Apr 22, 2023OL Reign5–2Chicago Red Stars

See also

References