NWSL News & Analysis 2026
Dudley, Lavelle Lead Gotham FC to 2-0 Win Over Chicago Stars
Jordynn Dudley and Rosemary Lavelle scored early as Gotham FC beat Chicago Stars 2-0 at SeatGeek Stadium. Gotham controlled possession with 58%.
Apr 30, 2026
Moyer-Rodman Goal Secures 1-0 Spirit Win Over Racing Louisville
Trinity Moyer-Rodman's 15th-minute strike earned Washington Spirit a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Racing Louisville at Audi Field, dominating possession.
Apr 29, 2026
Legacy 2-2 Courage: Sanchez Snags Late Equalizer
Ashley Sanchez's 76th-minute equalizer sealed a 2-2 draw for North Carolina Courage against Boston Legacy at Gillette Stadium. Legacy had taken an early 2-0 lead.
Apr 29, 2026
NWSL Matchweek 5: Stars Return, Records Fall, and San Diego Keeps Rolling!
Matchweek 5 delivered exactly what NWSL fans were waiting for after the break, big moments, standout performances, and major statements…
Apr 29, 2026
Royals Rout Reign 3-0 in Stunning Road Performance
Utah Royals stunned Seattle Reign with a dominant 3-0 victory at Lumen Field, featuring early goals from Monaghan and Miura and a clinical Lacasse finish before halftime.
Apr 27, 2026
Thorns Snatch 2-1 Win Over Angel City
Sophia Wilson's 90+5' goal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Portland Thorns over Angel City at BMO Stadium, despite Angel City outshooting them 19-10.
Apr 26, 2026
Wave Stun Summit 3-2 After Dramatic Comeback
San Diego Wave defeated Denver Summit 3-2 after a stunning second-half comeback, with Carson Pickett's own goal sealing the win. Lia Godfrey and Kennedy Wesley also scored for the Wave.
Apr 26, 2026
Houston Dash 0-1 Courage: Sanchez's Goal Sinks Dash
Ashley Sanchez scored in the 42nd minute as North Carolina Courage beat Houston Dash 1-0 in a tense NWSL clash. Courage held on with 10 players after a 77' red card.
Apr 26, 2026
Chicago Stars 2-0 Boston Legacy: Efficiency Wins
Jordyn Huitema and Nádia Coelho scored as Chicago Stars beat Boston Legacy 2-0 despite Boston's 27 shots. A clinical display at SeatGeek Stadium.
Apr 25, 2026
Gotham FC 3-0 Bay FC: Rodríguez Penalty Seals Dominant Win
Esther Rodríguez, Rosemary Lavelle, and a Karlie Lema own goal secured Gotham FC a 3-0 victory over Bay FC, with the hosts registering 25 shots.
Apr 25, 2026
Spirit Blitz Current 4-0 with Herrera Brace
Leicy Herrera scored twice as Washington Spirit dominated Kansas City Current 4-0 at Audi Field, registering 17 shots to the visitors' 8.
Apr 25, 2026
Racing Louisville Edges Orlando Pride 3-2 in Thriller
Racing Louisville beat Orlando Pride 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium with Lauren Stopforth scoring twice, despite Orlando having 61% possession and 27 shots.
Apr 24, 2026National Women's Soccer League 2026
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top-tier professional women's soccer league in the United States and one of the most competitive women's football leagues in the world. Founded in 2013, the NWSL is the premier women's soccer league in North America, featuring 16 teams across the United States competing in a 30-match regular season from March through November, followed by the NWSL Playoffs and the NWSL Championship final. The NWSL was established as the successor to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS, 2009-2012) and the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA, 2001-2003), making it the third attempt at a sustainable professional women's soccer league in the United States. What sets the NWSL apart from its predecessors is its partnership model with national federations, which initially subsidized player salaries, and its gradual growth into a fully independent, commercially viable league. Today, NWSL teams regularly sell out stadiums, attract global broadcasting deals, and command franchise valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The 2026 NWSL season features 16 teams, including two new expansion clubs: Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC. Denver Summit shattered the NWSL all-time attendance record with 63,004 fans at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, 2026, demonstrating the explosive growth in popularity of women's professional soccer in America. The NWSL has expanded from eight original teams in 2013 to 16 in 2026, with expansion fees rising from nothing to $110 million (Denver Summit), reflecting the league's surging value. NWSL games are broadcast across a wide range of platforms, including ESPN, ABC, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, Ion Television, and NWSL+, ensuring fans can watch women's soccer USA matches throughout the season. The league's media deals, running through 2027, represent a massive leap in visibility for women's professional football in the United States.
NWSL Teams 2026
The 2026 NWSL season features 16 teams spread across the United States, from coast to coast. The National Women's Soccer League teams represent major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Orlando, Kansas City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The 16 NWSL soccer teams for 2026 are: Angel City FC (Los Angeles), Bay FC (San Jose), Boston Legacy FC (Foxborough), Chicago Stars FC (Evanston), Denver Summit FC (Denver), Houston Dash (Houston), Kansas City Current (Kansas City), NJ/NY Gotham FC (Harrison, NJ), North Carolina Courage (Cary, NC), Orlando Pride (Orlando), Portland Thorns FC (Portland), Racing Louisville FC (Louisville), San Diego Wave FC (San Diego), Seattle Reign FC (Seattle), Utah Royals FC (Sandy, UT), and Washington Spirit (Washington, D.C.). Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC are expansion teams debuting in 2026. Utah Royals FC returned to the league in 2024 after a three-year hiatus. Chicago Stars FC (formerly the Chicago Red Stars) rebranded in 2025 under new ownership.NWSL Championship History
The NWSL Championship is the league's title match, held annually since the inaugural 2013 season. The NWSL Championship final is a single match that determines the season's champion, with the top eight teams qualifying for the single-elimination NWSL Playoffs. Portland Thorns FC are the most successful club in NWSL Championship history with three titles (2013, 2017, 2022). NJ/NY Gotham FC are the reigning champions, having won in 2023 and 2025. Orlando Pride won their first NWSL Championship in 2024, while Washington Spirit claimed the title in 2021 and North Carolina Courage won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. The NWSL Playoffs typically begin in early November after the regular season concludes. The playoff bracket features quarterfinals, semifinals, and the Championship final. The NWSL Shield is awarded to the team with the best regular-season record — Kansas City Current won the 2025 Shield with a record 21-point margin.NWSL Players and Salaries
The NWSL features some of the best women's soccer players in the world, including members of the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) and top international stars from across the globe. NWSL players compete at the highest level of women's professional soccer, with the league attracting increasing talent from European clubs and global markets. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), signed in 2024 and running through 2030, the 2026 NWSL salary cap is $3.5 million per team with a minimum player salary of approximately $48,500. The salary cap is scheduled to rise to $5.1 million by 2030. Trinity Rodman of Washington Spirit holds the record for the highest individual contract in NWSL history, signing a deal worth over $2 million per year in January 2026. Catarina Macario signed with San Diego Wave FC from Chelsea for a reported $8 million total, the largest transfer in NWSL history. The NWSL eliminated all player drafts under the 2024 CBA. Since 2025, college players and other newcomers enter the league as free agents, free to sign with any NWSL team — making the league unique among major North American professional sports leagues. Temwa Chawinga of Kansas City Current won back-to-back NWSL MVP awards in 2024 and 2025.How to Watch NWSL
NWSL games are broadcast across multiple platforms in the United States. ESPN and ABC carry 33 regular-season matches plus the NWSL Playoffs. Amazon Prime Video broadcasts Friday night games and select playoff matches. CBS and Paramount+ cover 25 matches, while Ion Television airs Saturday night doubleheaders. Remaining NWSL games stream free on NWSL+. The current broadcast deals run through 2027 and represent the most comprehensive media coverage in women's professional soccer history in the United States. For international viewers, OneSoccer carries NWSL games in Canada starting from the 2026 season.NWSL Stadiums and Attendance
NWSL teams play in a diverse range of venues across the United States, from purpose-built soccer stadiums to major NFL venues. The most significant development in NWSL stadium history is CPKC Stadium in Kansas City — the first stadium in the world purpose-built exclusively for a professional women's sports team, which opened in 2024 at a cost of $117 million. The NWSL all-time attendance record stands at 63,004, set by Denver Summit FC at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, 2026. Other major NWSL venues include Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego (35,000 seats), Providence Park in Portland (25,218), Lumen Field in Seattle (69,000 capacity, configured for NWSL), and Audi Field in Washington, D.C. (20,000). NWSL attendance has grown dramatically year over year, with average attendance increasing each season as the league expands and fan engagement deepens. Portland Thorns FC have historically led the league in average attendance, while expansion teams like Denver Summit and Bay FC have set new benchmarks for single-game crowds.NWSL teams (16)
How to watch NWSL
Primary broadcasters this season — full international coverage and free streaming options on the dedicated How to Watch NWSL guide.
Free options: NWSL+ streams remaining matches not picked up by ESPN, CBS, Amazon, or Ion for free.