First awarded 2013 | ||
Awarded for National Women's Soccer League team with the best record in the regular season Presented by National Women's Soccer League Currently held by Portland Thorns FC
(first shield) Most awards Seattle Reign FC
(two shields) | ||
The NWSL Shield is an annual award given to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team with the best regular season record, as determined by the NWSL points system. The NWSL Shield has been annually awarded since 2013, and is recognized as a major trophy by the league.
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Seattle Reign FC, having earned two NWSL Shields since the league's inception in 2013, have won the most shields of any NWSL team as of 2016.
Portland Thorns FC is the current (2016 season) holder of the award.
History
When the NWSL was launched in 2013, the league's format was set up similarly to other contemporary North American leagues. After the regular season, the NWSL Playoffs were held with the top four teams vying for a spot in the postseason championship match. The club with the most regular-season points was awarded the NWSL Shield and earned the top seed in the playoffs.
Point system and tiebreakers
Since the 2013 inaugural season, the system of awarding points in the NWSL is the same as the international standard: three points for a win, one for a draw, and no points for a loss. In the event of an end-of-season tie in total accumulated points, the following tie-breakers are used among all teams with the same number of points:
- Head-to-head record: The most points earned against all other teams that are tied on points.
- Goal differential: Goals-for minus goals-against during the season.
- Goals for: Total goals scored throughout the season.
- Head-to-head road record: The team with the most points earned on the road against all other teams that are tied on points.
- Road goal differential.
- Road goals for.
- Coin toss.
All tiebreakers involving goal counts (goal differential, goals for) include all regular-season games, not just games against tied teams.
Winners
Over the first three years of the NWSL, all NWSL Shield winners have beaten the 4th-place team in the semifinals and then lost to the 2nd- or 3rd-place team in the NWSL Championship game.