Season | 2017 |
---|---|
Dates | April 15–October 14 |
Champions | Portland Thorns FC |
NWSL Shield | North Carolina Courage |
Matches played | 120 |
Goals scored | 344 (2.87 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Sam Kerr (17 goals) |
Biggest home win | ORL 5–0 SKY (Aug 12) |
Biggest away win | HOU 0–4 NC (Sep 27) |
Highest scoring | SEA 5–4 SKY (Jul 22) SKY 5–4 SEA (Aug 19) |
Longest winning run | 5 games North Carolina Courage (Aug 5 – Aug 30) Orlando Pride (Aug 8 – Sep 2) |
Longest unbeaten run | 9 games Orlando Pride (Aug 8 – Sep 30) |
Longest winless run | 10 games Boston Breakers (Jul 7 – Sep 10) |
Longest losing run | 6 games Houston Dash (May 6 – Jun 17) |
Highest attendance | 21,144 POR 3–1 CHI (Sep 30) |
Lowest attendance | 428 KC 2–1 POR (Aug 16) |
Total attendance | 609,957 |
Average attendance | 5,083 |
← 2016 2018 →
All statistics correct as of October 1, 2017. |
The 2017 National Women's Soccer League season was the fifth 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 eleventh overall season of FIFA- and USSF-sanctioned top-division women's soccer in the United States. The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and receives major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing is provided by the Canadian Soccer Association; both national federations pay the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.
The reigning champions Western New York Flash did not play under that name; the franchise was sold, relocated to Cary, North Carolina and rebranded as the North Carolina Courage.[1]
After schedule disruptions in the previous two years caused by the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, NWSL teams in 2017 once again played 24 games, a schedule last played during the 2014 season.[2] The Courage won the NWSL Shield (the regular season), topping the Portland Thorns by two points.
The NWSL Playoff semifinals were held October 7–8, 2017, and were won by the Thorns and the Courage. The NWSL Championship Game was held on October 14, 2017 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[3] The Thorns won 1–0, becoming NWSL Champions, their second championship.