2026 National Women's Soccer League season

National Women's Soccer League
Season2026
DatesMarch 13 – November 1 (regular season)
November 6 – November 21 (playoffs)
Matches8
Goals19 (2.38 per match)
Top goalscorerAshley Sanchez (2)
Biggest home win4 goals
LA 4–0 CHI
(Mar 15)
Biggest away win1 goal
WAS 0–1 POR
(Mar 13)
BOS 0–1 GFC
(Mar 14)
SD 0–1 HOU
(Mar 14)
ORL 1–2 SEA
(Mar 15)
Highest scoring4 goals
LA 4–0 CHI
(Mar 15)
Highest attendance30,207
BOS 0–1 GFC
(Mar 14)
Lowest attendance8,159
NC 2–1 LOU
(Mar 14)
Total attendance129,202
Average attendance16,150
← 2025
2027 →
All statistics correct as of March 15, 2026.

The 2026 season is the 14th season for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), 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 is the 20th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

The league will have 16 teams, with 2 expansion teams Boston Legacy and Denver Summit joining the 14 teams that contested the 2025 NWSL season. All teams will play 30 regular-season matches.[1]

The defending NWSL champion is Gotham FC, and the defending NWSL Shield winner is Kansas City Current.

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Expansion teams

Boston Legacy and Denver Summit will play their inaugural season.

Stadiums and locations

See also: List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Angel City BMO Stadium 22,000
Bay FC PayPal Park 18,000
Boston Legacy Gillette Stadium[2] 20,000[a]
Chicago Stars Martin Stadium[3] 12,023
Denver Summit Centennial Stadium[4] in Centennial, Colorado[5] 12,000
Gotham FC Sports Illustrated Stadium 25,000
Houston Dash Shell Energy Stadium 22,039
Kansas City Current CPKC Stadium 11,500
North Carolina Courage First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000
Orlando Pride Inter&Co Stadium 25,500
Portland Thorns Providence Park 25,218
Racing Louisville Lynn Family Stadium 11,700[b]
San Diego Wave Snapdragon Stadium 35,000
Seattle Reign Lumen Field 10,000[c]
Utah Royals America First Field 20,213
Washington Spirit Audi Field 20,000
  1. ^ Stadium configuration for soccer seats 20,000 but can expand to full capacity of 64,628.
  2. ^ Seated capacity; full capacity with standing room is 15,304.[6]
  3. ^ Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740; standard configuration for Reign games seats 10,000 but can expand based on demand for individual games.[7]
Locations of the National Women's Soccer League teams in 2026.

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer as part of a league-wide sponsorship agreement renewed in November 2021.[8]

Team Head coach Captain(s) Shirt sponsor
Angel City Alexander Straus Sarah Gorden DoorDash
Bay FC Emma Coates Abby Dahlkemper
Tess Boade 		Sutter Health
Boston Legacy Filipa Patão Nichelle Prince TJ Maxx[9]
Chicago Stars Martin Sjögren Alyssa Naeher Wintrust
Denver Summit Nick Cushing Janine Sonis
Gotham FC Juan Carlos Amorós Tierna Davidson
Mandy Freeman 		CarMax
Houston Dash Fabrice Gautrat Jane Campbell MD Anderson Cancer Center
Kansas City Current Chris Armas Lo'eau LaBonta United Way of Greater Kansas City
North Carolina Courage Mak Lind Natalie Jacobs Merz Aesthetics
Orlando Pride Seb Hines Marta Orlando Health
Portland Thorns Robert Vilahamn Sam Hiatt ring
Racing Louisville Bev Yanez Arin Wright GE Appliances
San Diego Wave Jonas Eidevall Kenza Dali Kaiser Permanente
Seattle Reign Laura Harvey Jess Fishlock
Sofia Huerta 		Trupanion
Utah Royals Jimmy Coenraets Paige Cronin America First Credit Union
Washington Spirit Adrián González Aubrey Kingsbury CVS Health

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment Ref.
Boston Legacy Expansion team Preseason Filipa Patão June 25, 2025 [10]
Denver Summit Nick Cushing August 6, 2025 [11]
Bay FC Albertin Montoya Resigned September 8, 2025 Emma Coates December 4, 2025 [12][13]
Kansas City Current Vlatko Andonovski Promoted to global sporting director November 14, 2025 Chris Armas January 7, 2026 [14][15]
Chicago Stars Anders Jacobson (interim) End of interim period November 23, 2025 Martin Sjögren August 13, 2025 [16]
North Carolina Courage Nathan Thackeray (interim) End of interim period November 23, 2025 Mak Lind January 24, 2026 [17]
Portland Thorns Rob Gale Fired November 25, 2025 Sarah Lowdon (interim) November 25, 2025 [18]
Portland Thorns Sarah Lowdon End of interim period March 4, 2026 Robert Vilahamn (interim) March 4, 2026 [19]

Regular season

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Portland Thorns FC 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 6 Playoffs and CONCACAF W Champions Cup
2 Angel City FC 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 3
3 Kansas City Current 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3 Playoffs
4 North Carolina Courage 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
5 Bay FC 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
6 Houston Dash 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
7 Gotham FC 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
8 Seattle Reign FC 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3
9 Racing Louisville FC 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1
10 Orlando Pride 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
11 Denver Summit FC 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
12 Washington Spirit 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
13 Utah Royals 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0
14 San Diego Wave FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
15 Boston Legacy FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
16 Chicago Stars FC 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 0
Updated to match(es) played on March 20, 2026. Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total goal difference; 3) total wins; 4) total goals scored; 5) head-to-head points; 6) head-to-head goal goals scored; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss (if 2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (if ≥3 clubs tied).

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.[20]

  1. Greater goal difference across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  2. Most total wins across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  3. Most goals scored across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  4. Head-to-head results (total points) between the tied teams.
  5. Head-to-head most goals scored between the tied teams.
  6. Fewest disciplinary points accumulated across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  7. Coin flip (if two teams are tied) or drawing of lots (if three or more teams are tied).

Format

Results

Home \ Away BAY BOS CHI DEN GFC HOU KC LA LOU NC ORL POR SD SEA UTA WAS
Bay FC — May 15 May 24 2–1 Jul 29 Aug 23 Sep 4 Mar 21 Sep 20 Jul 18 Sep 27 Oct 18 Nov 1 Aug 1 May 10 Apr 5
Boston Legacy FC Jul 5 — Jul 10 May 3 0–1 Sep 20 Jul 25 Aug 31 Oct 16 Apr 29 May 12 Aug 9 Apr 3 May 22 Mar 28 Jul 19
Chicago Stars FC Aug 9 Apr 25 — Oct 4 Apr 29 Oct 23 Mar 22 Jul 18 Aug 23 Sep 6 Mar 25 May 3 May 31 Oct 18 Jul 5 Sep 20
Denver Summit FC Sep 16 Aug 2 Aug 29 — Sep 6 Jul 12 Jul 3 Oct 17 Oct 24 Aug 5 May 16 Jul 18 Apr 25 Sep 19 Aug 8 Mar 28
Gotham FC Apr 25 May 9 Sep 25 Mar 25 — May 31 Aug 14 Oct 4 May 3 Mar 22 Mar 29 Aug 28 Aug 7 Jul 18 Nov 1 Jul 15
Houston Dash Jul 24 Mar 21 Aug 19 May 9 Aug 1 — Aug 8 May 23 Apr 3 Apr 25 Oct 18 Nov 1 May 20 May 1 Sep 12 Oct 4
Kansas City Current Oct 3 May 30 May 10 Sep 26 Apr 4 May 15 — Aug 1 Jul 29 Aug 29 Sep 11 May 24 Jul 17 Aug 22 2–1 Oct 25
Angel City FC Oct 24 Nov 1 4–0 Sep 11 Aug 23 Mar 27 May 20 — Jul 26 May 31 Jul 3 Apr 26 May 9 Sep 16 May 2 Aug 16
Racing Louisville FC Jul 10 Aug 15 Aug 1 May 29 Sep 11 Jul 18 Nov 1 Sep 5 — May 23 Apr 24 May 8 Sep 25 Aug 19 Oct 3 Mar 20
North Carolina Courage Mar 28 Aug 22 May 16 Nov 1 Sep 19 Aug 16 May 2 Aug 26 2–1 — Jul 31 Apr 4 Oct 17 Jul 4 Jul 25 Jul 11
Orlando Pride May 29 Jul 15 Jul 24 Mar 20 Oct 25 Sep 6 Jul 10 Apr 3 Aug 7 May 8 — Sep 19 Oct 2 1–2 Aug 29 May 2
Portland Thorns FC May 20 Oct 3 Sep 13 Aug 22 Jul 24 Sep 26 Mar 28 May 17 Jul 5 Oct 23 Aug 15 — Apr 29 Mar 20 May 30 Sep 6
San Diego Wave FC May 3 Oct 25 Mar 28 Aug 14 Jul 4 0–1 Sep 18 Jul 11 Aug 28 Sep 12 May 24 Mar 25 — Jul 26 Aug 21 May 15
Seattle Reign FC Sep 12 Sep 25 Aug 14 Apr 4 May 15 Aug 30 Mar 25 Aug 9 Mar 28 Oct 2 Nov 1 Jul 12 Sep 6 — Apr 26 May 10
Utah Royals Aug 14 Sep 4 Apr 3 May 23 Jul 10 May 6 Oct 17 Sep 20 May 17 Sep 27 Jul 18 Aug 2 Mar 22 Oct 23 — Jul 29
Washington Spirit Aug 30 Sep 13 Nov 1 Jul 26 Oct 17 Jul 3 Apr 24 Sep 26 Apr 29 Aug 8 Aug 23 0–1 Aug 2 May 30 Mar 25 —
Updated to match(es) played on March 15, 2026. Source: NWSL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Attendance

See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Regular season
Rank Team GP Attendance High Low Average
1 Boston Legacy FC 1 30,207 30,207 30,207 30,207
2 Washington Spirit 1 19,215 19,215 19,215 19,215
3 Angel City FC 1 16,813 16,813 16,813 16,813
4 Orlando Pride 1 16,120 16,120 16,120 16,120
5 San Diego Wave FC 1 14,078 14,078 14,078 14,078
6 Bay FC 1 13,110 13,110 13,110 13,110
7 Kansas City Current 1 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500
8 North Carolina Courage 1 8,159 8,159 8,159 8,159
Total 8 129,202 30,207 8,159 16,150

Updated through March 15, 2026

Highest attendances

Regular season[21]
Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium
1 Boston Legacy FC 0–1 Gotham FC 30,207 March 14, 2026 Gillette Stadium
2 Washington Spirit 0–1 Portland Thorns FC 19,215 March 13, 2026 Audi Field
3 Angel City FC 4–0 Chicago Stars FC 16,813 March 15, 2026 BMO Stadium
4 Orlando Pride 1–2 Seattle Reign FC 16,120 March 15, 2026 Inter&Co Stadium
5 San Diego Wave FC 0–1 Houston Dash 14,078 March 14, 2026 Snapdragon Stadium
6 Bay FC 2–1 Denver Summit FC 13,110 March 14, 2026 PayPal Park
7 Kansas City Current 2–1 Utah Royals 11,500 March 14, 2026 CPKC Stadium
8 North Carolina Courage 2–1 Racing Louisville FC 8,157 March 14, 2026 WakeMed Soccer Park

Updated through March 15, 2026

Statistical leaders

As of March 15, 2026.[22]

Playoffs

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup
Kansas City CurrentvGotham FC
Report

Individual awards

As of March 13, 2026

Weekly awards

Week Player of the Week Save of the Week Ref.
Player Club Player Club
1 Ashley Sanchez North Carolina Courage Jordyn Bloomer Racing Louisville FC [23][24]
Week Goal of the Week Assist of the Week Ref.
Player Club Player Club
1 Ashley Sanchez North Carolina Courage Sveindís Jónsdóttir Angel City FC [25][26]

References

  1. ^ "NWSL Announces 2026 Schedule Footprint | News | NWSLsoccer.com". NWSL. July 2, 2025.
  2. ^ "NWSL expansion teams to debut in NFL stadiums". ESPN.com. November 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "In a Transformational Move, Chicago Stars FC Name Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium the Club's Home for the 2026 National Women's Soccer League Season | Chicago Stars FC". September 3, 2025.
  4. ^ NWSL. "Denver Summit | NWSLsoccer.com". NWSL. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  5. ^ "NWSL: Denver details plans for temporary stadium". ESPN.com. March 27, 2025.
  6. ^ Gardner, Hayes (October 14, 2021). "'A world-class city': Next month's NWSL Championship game moves to Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Evans, Jayda (December 15, 2021). "OL Reign to play 2022 home games in Seattle at Lumen Field". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Carp, Sam (November 22, 2021). "NWSL's Nike extension is league's 'most substantial' sponsorship deal to date". SportsPro. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  9. ^ "Boston Legacy Football Club Announces Inaugural Front-of-Kit Partnership with Iconic Retailer TJ Maxx". Boston Legacy FC.
  10. ^ "Boston Legacy FC Names Filipa Patão as First Head Coach". Boston Legacy FC.
  11. ^ "Denver Summit FC Name Nick Cushing Head Coach". Denver Summit FC. August 6, 2025.
  12. ^ "Bay FC Announces Sporting Organization Changes as Club Enters Next Phase". September 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "Bay FC Signs Emma Coates to Lead Club into New Era, Welcomes Gemma Davies as Assistant Coach". December 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Kansas City Current Announces Vlatko Andonovski as Sporting Director, Ryan Dell as General Manager - Kansas City Current".
  15. ^ "KC Current Hire Ex-USMNT Star Chris Armas as Head Coach".
  16. ^ "Chicago Stars FC Name Martin Sjögren as New Head Coach | Chicago Stars FC". August 13, 2025.
  17. ^ "NC COURAGE INTRODUCE MAK LIND AS THIRD HEAD COACH IN CLUB HISTORY". NC Courage. January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  18. ^ "Portland Thorns Announce Departure of Head Coach Rob Gale - Portland Thorns". www.thorns.com.
  19. ^ "Portland Thorns Name Robert Vilahamn as New Head Coach - Portland Thorns". www.thorns.com.
  20. ^ "2023 Competition Rules & Regulations" (PDF). National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "NWSL Schedule". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  22. ^ "NWSL Stats". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  23. ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (March 17, 2026). "Scored 2 goals to help her club secure an opening weekend dub. ⭐️" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  24. ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (March 17, 2026). "Hands. Reflexes. All of it! 😮‍💨" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  25. ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (March 17, 2026). "Bagged a brace but this one hit different 💫" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  26. ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (March 17, 2026). "Threaded it right where it needed to be 🪡" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
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