The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was founded in 2012 after the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league folded. In its debut season in 2013, the NWSL had eight teams with five of the original teams still playing today.​

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2023 NWSL Calendar:

• January 12: NWSL Draft

  • Held at the United Soccer Coaches Convention​ in Philadelphia, PA

• January 23 - February 6: Teams hold 6-8 week pre-season training camp

• March 25: Regular season begins

  • Each team plays 22 games = 11 at home + 11 away,

  • Each team will play each other once at home, once away

  • Total 132 games in 22 weeks

  • No more mid-week matches

  • Limited games during FIFA Women's World Cup window

• April - September: UKG NWSL Challenge Cup

  • The Challenge Cup will run concurrently with the regular season

• Late October to Early November: Playoffs + Championship

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2023 NWSL Championship​

• 6 teams qualify, top 2 teams receive a first-round bye

• Quarterfinals: October 22​

• Semifinals: November 4

• Final: November 11

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2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup

• First played in 2020 during the pandemic

• First-year with a title sponsor 

• 6-week tournament spread throughout the regular season

• 3 groups of 4 teams playing double round-robin matches

• September 6: Semifinals for 4 teams

• September 9: Final