The 10 Best Moments from the 2023 NWSL Season
The 2023 NWSL regular season has ended after an exciting final day. We take a look at some of the best moments from the season ahead of the playoffs.
Decision Day
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For the first time, the NWSL had a Decision Day with every team kicking off at the same time. Going into the final regular season match, eight teams were still fighting for four playoff spots. There was much on the line for each team, and CBS Sports Network aired whip-around coverage so fans could keep up with each game.
It was exactly the scenario that the league could have hoped for when they decided to do a Decision Day, and as a fan, it was fun to watch.
OL Reign Sellout for Rapinoe’s Final Home Game
In July, Megan Rapinoe announced this would be her final soccer season. On October 6, she played her final regular season home match at Lumen Field. The fans in Seattle sent Rapinoe off with a bang as they set the OL Reign attendance record with 34,140 people in attendance. The match also drew 683,000 viewers, making it the most-watched regular season match in league history.
Wave Win Shield
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In just their second season, the San Diego Wave won the NWSL Shield after getting a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville in the season finale. They finished the season with 37 points and an 11-7-4 record. Since coming into the league, the Wave have been a consistently good team, and they proved that again this season. They finished the season with just one loss in their last eight regular season matches.
Angel City Secure First Playoffs
Angel City came into Decision Day needing to pick up a win and get some help around the league to make the playoffs for the first time. They got a big 5-1 win over the Portland Thorns that helped propel them to fifth place based on goal differential. It was an impressive turnaround for this Angel City team that started the season with one loss in their last 12 matches.
Courage Win Second Straight Challenge Cup
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This season, the NWSL Challenge Cup was played throughout the season. The North Carolina Courage captured their second straight Challenge Cup title in front of their home fans at WakeMed Soccer Park with a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville FC. The Challenge Cup title means that the Courage have now won more trophies than any other club in the league.
Chloe Ricketts Becomes Youngest Goalscorer in NWSL
During the Challenge Cup, Chloe Ricketts became the youngest goalscorer in league history when she scored for the Washington Spirit on July 28 against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly Return To The NWSL
Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly were the driving force behind the Yates report that exposed a history of abuse in the league as they told their stories; without their bravery, the league could look a lot different than it does now. After stepping away from the game largely due to the abuse they suffered while playing, they both returned to the field this season for NJ/NY Gotham FC. Seeing them return and play the game again was a highlight of the season.
Lauren Barnes and McCall Zerboni Reach 200 Appearances
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In June, Lauren Barnes became the first player in NWSL history to reach 200 career appearances, and she did it all with OL Reign. A month later, McCall Zerboni would also make her 200th appearance in the league.
Michelle Cooper Scores The Fastest Goal In League History
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On June 18, Michelle Cooper scored the opening goal for the Kansas City Current against the Washington Spirit, and she did it in just 22 seconds. It became the fastest goal in league history, beating the previous record by two seconds.
New Attendance Record
For the second straight season, the NWSL surpassed a million fans in attendance for the season. The North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Kansas City Current, Racing Louisville, and NJ/NY Gotham FC all set single-game attendance records during the season as well. It’s an exciting time for the league as new fans are showing up to support.
Featured image via @olreign on Instagram
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