Biggest away win SEA 0–3 SBFC (May 19) Dates 13 Apr 2013 – 31 Aug 2013 Goals scored 238 | Location United States of America Matches played 88 | |
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Biggest home win NJ 5–1 BOS (June 1)WNY 4–0 DC (June 28) Highest scoring 7 goals:DC 2–5 BOS (July 27) People also search for 2016 National Women's Soccer League season | ||
The 2013 National Women's Soccer League season was the inaugural 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), this is the seventh 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 and the Mexican Football Federation. All three national federations are paying the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.
Contents
- Personnel and sponsorship
- Player Acquisition
- Competition format
- NWSL Championship
- Average home attendances
- Playoff attendance
- References
The league started on April 13 with FC Kansas City hosting Portland Thorns FC. The last regular season matches were played on August 18, followed by postseason playoffs which culminated with a one-game final on August 31. In the final, Portland Thorns FC defeated the Western New York Flash 2–0 to win the inaugural NWSL Championship.
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Nike as kit manufacturer.
Player Acquisition
Players were acquired through the 2013 Allocation of national team players announced on January 11, the 2013 NWSL College Draft on January 18, and the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft on February 7, along with free agency, trading and loans.
The Portland Thorns received an allocation with a notably strong offensive record including Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, the 2012 U.S. and Canadian Players of the Year and leading scorers for their national teams respectively, as well as a U.S. allocation (Morgan, Tobin Heath, and Rachel Buehler) that accounted for 1/3 of their national team's assists in 2012.
Competition format
The regular season began on April 13 and ended on August 18. Each team played a total of 22 games: 11 at home and 11 away. Each team played:
The four teams at the end of the season with the most points qualified for the playoffs. Two semifinal games were played on August 24, with the winners advancing to the league final to be played on August 31.
Scores listed as home-away
NWSL Championship
The top four teams from the regular season qualified for the championship playoffs. In the semifinals, the regular season premiers hosted the fourth-placed team and the regular season runners-up hosted the third-placed team. The highest-seeded semifinal winner then hosted the championship final. All match-ups were one-game series (as opposed to home-and-away series).
Average home attendances
Highest Attendance: 17,619 (August 4, Kansas City at Portland)
Lowest Attendance: 688 (May 8, Chicago at Sky Blue)
Total Attendance: 375,846 (88 games total)
League Average: 4,271
Playoff attendance
Semifinal 1, Portland at FC Kansas City: 4,016
Semifinal 2, Sky Blue at Western New York: 7,316
Championship, Portland at Western New York: 9,129