NWSL Women (United States) 2026/27

The National Women's Soccer League stands as the premier professional football competition for women in the United States, operating at the top tier of the national pyramid. Founded in November 2012 and commencing play in 2013, the league replaced the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), which folded the previous year. It was established by club owners in collaboration with the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), which subsidized player salaries for the first three seasons to ensure financial sustainability.

The NWSL functions as a closed league with no promotion or relegation system. New teams enter the competition via a rolling expansion process, requiring ownership groups to pay significant fees, such as the $53 million paid by Bay FC and Boston Legacy for recent entries. This structure contrasts with other models, but the defining feature remains its franchise-based ownership, distinct from the single-entity model used by Major League Soccer (MLS).

The regular season runs from March to November, comprising 26 games per team, though this expands to 30 matches in the 2026 season. The top eight teams advance to a single-elimination playoff tournament, culminating in the NWSL Championship. The Portland Thorns FC hold the record for most titles with three championships, won in 2013, 2017, and 2022. The Orlando Pride entered as reigning champions following the 2024 season.

Financial regulations include a strict salary cap, approximately $3.5 million base in 2026, alongside a High Impact Player rule. The league relies heavily on a college draft for competitive balance, differing from MLS's combination of draft, free agency, and international transfers. The NWSL Shield, awarded to the regular-season winner since 2013, now serves as a qualifier for the CONCACAF W Champions Cup for both the winner and runner-up. CarMax acts as the primary presenting sponsor for broadcasts and the Shield, though the league does not carry a title sponsor in its official name.