The NWSL’s 14 teams will play 26 regular season matches, facing each competitor twice — once at home and once away. The regular season runs from now through November, with a mandated break from June 23rd through August 1st to account for the UEFA Women’s EURO, the Copa América Femenina, and other international competitions.

The top team at the end of the regular season will walk away with the NWSL Shield, which may be decided on Decision Day, the final day of the regular season where all 14 teams are in action and battling for the eight spots in the single-elimination NWSL Playoffs. Bring it on.

The 2024 NWSL season was one for the books. For the first time, the NWSL welcomed more than 2M fans to games, while broadcast viewership spiked 285% (!!!) in year one of the league’s historic media rights deal. And the hype didn’t stop in November — this offseason was busy.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the 2025 season:

👋 The 16th NWSL franchise was awarded to Denver in January. The Mile High City will join the league in 2026 alongside a soon-to-be-renamed Boston squad. It’s the right call.

🖊️ NWSL players signed a new CBA back in August, ushering in a new era of player empowerment that eliminated all drafts and increased freedom and flexibility for free agents.

⚖️ The NWSL is establishing a $5M fund to pay current and former players who experienced emotional and sexual misconduct while competing in the league.

😢 Numerous superstars hung up their cleats last season, including the NWSL and USWNT icons Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kelley O’Hara, as well as Portland Thorns and CanWNT legend Christine Sinclair. Still crying.

🌍 The global transfer market was red-hot in the offseason, as upper-echelon players like Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, and Crystal Dunn all left the NWSL for European clubs. Watch this international space.

💒 Here comes the bride! Several of the league’s stars got married in the offseason, including NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Tierna Davidson, Seattle Reign FC’s Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams), and the Portland Thorn’s Sophia Wilson (née Smith), who is also expecting her first child. Happy tears.

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🍊 Orlando Pride: After winning both the Shield and the ’ship and playing near-perfect soccer last season, it’s going to be tough for the Pride to top 2024. But the Pride still boast striker Barbra Banda and the legendary Marta, a dynamic duo that leads one of the most creative offenses in the league. Can Orlando pull off an unprecedented repeat?

🧨 Washington Spirit: If last week’s penalty shootout Challenge Cup win over the Pride is any indication, the Spirit are seeking revenge this season. As the squad eagerly awaits for the return of injured Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune and for forward Trinity Rodman to reach full fitness, keep an eye on Hal Hershfelt, one of the best defensive midfielders in the game.

💧 Kansas City Current: If you’re new to the NWSL and want to cheer on a club that’s changing a city from the inside out, the KC Current is your team. But beyond setting the standard for NWSL investment, the Current are good, boasting Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga and Brazil’s superstar midfielder Debinha. Golazos, loading.

✊ North Carolina Courage: The Courage effectively won the offseason when they snagged USWNT rising star Jaedyn Shaw from the San Diego Wave. Now, this squad is solid from top to bottom, from Shaw through crafty midfielder Ashley Sanchez, all the way to goalkeeper Casey Murphy.

☔ Bay FC: This Northern California club finished their debut season strong, making it to the playoffs and setting a new bar for expansion club performance. Another year of chemistry could prove the difference maker for this talented roster, though the club is also dealing with allegations of a toxic workplace aimed at head coach Albertin Montoya. Hmm.

🫅 Utah Royals FC: Hear us out — yes, the expansion team Royals finished 11th in their inaugural season, but with Japanese scoring machine Mina Tanaka and 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick Ally Sentnor anchoring the midfield, Utah’s sophomore season will be one to watch.

🦇 NJ/NY Gotham FC: The Bats waved goodbye to four major players in the offseason (forward Biyendolo, midfielders Dunn and Yazmeen Ryan, and defender Nighswonger), a shocking development following their postseason semis run. But so long as creative playmaker Rose Lavelle makes a triumphant return from ankle surgery, Gotham is still a contender.

👑 Seattle Reign FC: The aforementioned Biyendolo joins a rebuilding Reign that finished second-to-last in 2024. But if the league’s all-time leading goal scorer can find chemistry with CanWNT captain and midfielder Jordyn Huitema (pronounced HIGH-tema), the throne’s the limit.

🌹 Portland Thorns: Much like their Cascadia rivals, the Thorns are also searching for a new identity journey after beloved captain Sinclair retired last season. Plus, with star forward Wilson likely out for all or most of the season on maternity leave, the Thorns need a new spark, stat.

👼 Angel City FC: The most valuable club in the NWSL is rock-solid from a cultural standpoint, backed by devoted fans and celebs a plenty. What ACFC needs now is a standout season — and with veteran forward Christen Press returning to the pitch and providing crucial leadership for the squad’s young stars, like the Thompson sisters, 2025 could be their year.

🐎 Racing Louisville FC: Always on the outside looking in, Louisville has just missed the playoffs for all four years of its existence, and desperately need a striker to push them over the edge. But midfielder Uchenna Kanu showed glimpses of goal-scoring prowess last season, and may be the answer to Louisville’s forever faulty offense.

⭐ Chicago Stars FC: The Stars face an uphill climb this year, balancing a likely swan song for longtime keeper Alyssa Naeher and forging new club culture under a fresh name. While Chicago relies on forward Mallory Swanson to lead the attack, the USWNT star will miss the start of the season for personal reasons.

🌊 San Diego Wave: To be blunt, the Wave’s 2024 season was tumultuous, from head coach Casey Stoney’s mid-season firing to superstar Morgan’s surprise retirement. Plus, with $1M center back Girma now playing abroad, there’s a massive hole in the Wave’s defense. Can CanWNT goalie Kailen Sheridan and winger Adrianna Leon prove the difference makers for a club in flux?

💨 Houston Dash: There’s nowhere to go but up for the Dash, who finished at the bottom of the 2024 table. Thankfully, a couple of offseason acquisitions, namely midfielder Yazmeen Ryan and forward Messiah Bright, may make Houston’s long-awaited rise possible. Off to the races.

You can catch NWSL games on a variety of platforms this season including Prime Video, CBS Sports, ABC, ESPN, ION, and NWSL+, the league’s own streaming service. Keep up with the madness here.

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“For The Win: NWSL” a four-part docuseries chronicling the league’s 2024 season, available only on Prime Video. Psst — look out for a special GIST shoutout when you watch.

The GIST of It of course. In our latest episode, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz chat with former USWNT star Sam Mewis and hear her spiciest takes on this upcoming season.

Your favorite squad’s new jersey. And yes, it’s totally okay if you choose your team based on their uniform colors.

Many young girls begin their sports career on the soccer pitch. Tell us — did you play soccer growing up?