# 2023 USL W League season

The 2023 USL W League season is the 2nd season for the league. The regular season began on May 6 and ended on July 2. 16 teams qualified for the league playoffs, which began on July 6.

## Team changes
### New teams

* Academica SC (Turlock, CA)
* Bavarian United SC (Milwaukee, WI)
* Birmingham Legion WFC
* California Storm (Sacramento, CA)
* Capital FC Atletica (Salem, OR)
* Cleveland Force SC
* FC Carolinas (Waxhaws, NC)
* Lane United FC (Eugene, OR)
* Lexington SC
* Marin FC Siren (Greenbrae, CA)
* North Alabama SC (Huntsville, AL)
* Oakland Soul SC
* Olympic Club SC (San Francisco, CA)
* Oly Town FC (Olympia, WA)
* Paisley Athletic FC (Kearny, NJ)
* Palm City Americanas (Palm City, FL)
* PDX FC (Portland, OR)
* Pleasanton RAGE (Pleasanton, CA)
* RKC Third Coast (Racine & Kenosha, WI)
* Rochester FC (Rochester, MN)
* St. Charles FC (St. Charles, MO)
* San Francisco Glens
* Stockton Cargo SC (Stockton, CA)
* Swan City SC (Lakeland, FL)
* United PDX (Portland, OR)
* Virginia Marauders FC (Winchester, VA)

### Departing teams

* Caledonia SC
* Kaw Valley FC
* Peachtree City MOBA
* Queensboro FC
* St. Louis Lions

## Standings
### Eastern Conference
#### Metropolitan Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Morris Elite SC | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 5 | +49 | 31 | 2.58 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 13 | +30 | 31 | 2.58 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 3 | Cedar Stars | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 26 | 2.17 | |
| 4 | F.A. Euro | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 17 | 1.55 | |
| 5 | Manhattan SC | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 25 | −12 | 11 | 1.00 | |
| 6 | Paisley Athletic FC | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 28 | −17 | 8 | 0.67 | |
| 7 | Westchester Flames | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 45 | −38 | 6 | 0.50 | |
| 8 | AC Connecticut | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 38 | −29 | 4 | 0.33 | |
* 1 2 Morris Elite SC wins the tiebreaker over Long Island Rough Riders on goal differential.

#### Mid Atlantic Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Eagle FC | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 10 | +30 | 33 | 2.75 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Christos FC | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 17 | +25 | 27 | 2.25 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 3 | Northern Virginia FC | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 24 | −3 | 18 | 1.64 | |
| 4 | McLean Soccer | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 42 | 16 | +26 | 15 | 1.36 | |
| 5 | Virginia Marauders FC | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 31 | −20 | 9 | 0.82 | |
| 6 | Patuxent Football Athletics | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 65 | −58 | 0 | 0.00 | |

### Central Conference
#### Great Lakes Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Flint City AFC | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 14 | +24 | 30 | 2.50 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Kalamazoo FC | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 19 | 1.58 | |
| 3 | Detroit City FC | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 18 | 1.50 | |
| 4 | Midwest United FC | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 17 | 1.42 | |
| 5 | AFC Ann Arbor | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 31 | −17 | 14 | 1.17 | |
| 6 | Cleveland Force SC | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 19 | −12 | 3 | 0.25 | |

#### Heartland Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Minnesota Aurora FC | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 4 | +56 | 36 | 3.00 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Chicago City SC | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 16 | +10 | 25 | 2.08 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 3 | Chicago Dutch Lions | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 21 | 1.91 | |
| 4 | Bavarian United SC | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 16 | 1.45 | |
| 5 | RKC Third Coast | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 43 | −33 | 9 | 0.82 | |
| 6 | Green Bay Glory | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 27 | −15 | 9 | 0.82 | |
| 7 | Rochester FC | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 31 | −25 | 3 | 0.25 | |
* 1 2 RKC Third Coast wins the tiebreaker over Green Bay Glory on head-to-head record.

#### Valley Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Indy Eleven | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 3 | +37 | 25 | 2.50 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Racing Louisville FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 4 | +38 | 25 | 2.50 | |
| 3 | Lexington SC | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 17 | −7 | 10 | 1.00 | |
| 4 | Kings Hammer FC | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 25 | −20 | 7 | 0.70 | |
| 5 | St. Charles FC | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 53 | −48 | 5 | 0.50 | |
* 1 2 Indy Eleven wins the tiebreaker over Racing Louisville FC on head-to-head record.

### Southern Conference
#### South Atlantic Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | North Carolina Courage U23 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 7 | +39 | 34 | 2.83 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Asheville City SC | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 22 | 1.83 | |
| 3 | Wake FC | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 20 | 1.67 | |
| 4 | North Carolina Fusion | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 31 | −13 | 16 | 1.33 | |
| 5 | Charlotte Independence | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 13 | 1.08 | |
| 6 | Greenville Liberty SC | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 9 | 0.75 | |
| 7 | FC Carolinas | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 24 | −19 | 9 | 0.75 | |

#### South Central Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Tennessee SC | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 8 | +22 | 26 | 2.17 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 8 | +18 | 25 | 2.08 | |
| 3 | Tormenta FC | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 21 | 1.75 | |
| 4 | Birmingham Legion WFC | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 20 | +3 | 18 | 1.50 | |
| 5 | Southern Soccer Academy | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 14 | 1.17 | |
| 6 | South Carolina United FC | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 11 | 0.92 | |
| 7 | North Alabama SC | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 57 | −52 | 4 | 0.33 | |

#### Southeast Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Tampa Bay United | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 1 | +42 | 36 | 3.00 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | FC Miami City | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 10 | +18 | 28 | 2.33 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 3 | Florida Elite SA | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 19 | 1.58 | |
| 4 | Palm City Americanas | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 11 | 0.92 | |
| 5 | Swan City SC | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 44 | −20 | 5 | 0.42 | |
| 6 | Miami AC | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 56 | −48 | 5 | 0.42 | |
* 1 2 Swan City SC wins the tiebreaker over Miami AC on goal differential.
* 1 2 Florida Elite match was forfeited 3–0 in favor of Florida Elite

### Western Conference
#### Northwest Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | Oly Town FC | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 6 | +28 | 26 | 2.60 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | United PDX | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 9 | +27 | 23 | 2.30 | |
| 3 | Lane United FC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 23 | −12 | 8 | 0.80 | |
| 4 | PDX FC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 39 | −25 | 8 | 0.80 | |
| 5 | Capital FC Atletica | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 27 | −18 | 5 | 0.50 | |
* 1 2 Lane United FC wins the tiebreaker over PDX FC on goal differential.

#### Nor Cal Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | San Francisco Glens | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 12 | +32 | 31 | 2.58 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 2 | Oakland Soul SC | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 13 | +24 | 30 | 2.50 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 3 | California Storm | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 12 | +34 | 28 | 2.33 | Advance to USL W League Playoffs |
| 4 | Stockton Cargo SC | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 21 | 1.75 | |
| 5 | Olympic Club SC | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 38 | −29 | 10 | 0.83 | |
| 6 | Pleasanton RAGE | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 32 | −23 | 8 | 0.67 | |
| 7 | Academica SC | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 47 | −32 | 7 | 0.58 | |
| 8 | Marin FC Sirens | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 28 | −12 | 5 | 0.42 | |

## Playoffs
### Bracket

| Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final |
| Long Island Rough Riders | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Morris Elite SC | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Morris Elite SC | 3 | Morris Elite SC | 0 | | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Morris Elite SC | 0 | | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eagle FC | 6 | | | | | |
| Eagle FC | 2 | Eagle FC | 6 | | | | | |
| Christos FC | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Christos FC | 1 | | | Eagle FC | 1 | | | |
| | | | | North Carolina Courage U23 | 4 | | | |
| Tampa Bay United | 3 | | | | | North Carolina Courage U23 | 4 | | | |
| Tennessee SC | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Tennessee SC | 2 | Tampa Bay United | 0 | | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Tampa Bay United | 0 | | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | North Carolina Courage U23 | 3 | | | | | |
| North Carolina Courage U23 | 3 | North Carolina Courage U23 | 3 | | | | | |
| FC Miami City | 0 | | | | | | | |
| FC Miami City | 0 | | | | | | North Carolina Courage U23 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | Indy Eleven (a.e.t.) | 2 |
| Minnesota Aurora FC | 1 | | | | | | | | Indy Eleven (a.e.t.) | 2 |
| Chicago City SC | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago City SC | 0 | Minnesota Aurora FC | 0 | | | | | |
| Central Conference | Central Conference | Minnesota Aurora FC | 0 | | | | | |
| Central Conference | Central Conference | Indy Eleven | 1 | | | | | |
| Flint City AFC | 0 | Indy Eleven | 1 | | | | | |
| Indy Eleven | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Indy Eleven | 3 | | | Indy Eleven | 3 | | | |
| | | | | San Francisco Glens SC | 2 | | | |
| San Francisco Glens SC | 5 | | | | | San Francisco Glens SC | 2 | | | |
| Oakland Soul SC | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Oakland Soul SC | 1 | San Francisco Glens SC | 2 | | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | San Francisco Glens SC | 2 | | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | California Storm | 1 | | | | | |
| California Storm | 1 | California Storm | 1 | | | | | |
| Oly Town FC | 0 | | | | | | | |

### USL W-League Championship Game

Championship MVP: Alia Martin (IND)

## Awards
### Individual awards

| Award | Winner | Team | Reason |
| Golden Boot | Baylee DeSmit | Christos FC | 21 goals in 11 games |
| Golden Glove | Bailey Herfurth | Tampa Bay United | .096 Goals Against Average; 11 Shutouts |
| Defender of the Year | Tianna Harris | Minnesota Aurora FC | 4 goals; 2 assists |
| Assists Champion | Katie Shea Collins | Tennessee SC | 7 assists |
| Young (U20) Player of the Year | Mia Oliaro | North Carolina Courage U23 | 5 goals; 5 assists |
| Coach of the Year | Michele Krzisnik | Flint City AFC | undefeated regular season |
| Player of the Year | Nádia Gomes | San Francisco Glens SC | 16 goals, 8 assists |

### All-League Teams
#### First Team

F: Samantha Dewey (IND), Baylee DeSmit (IND), Nádia Gomes (SFG) M: Bella Gaetino (FCA), Mia Oliaro (NCC), Nia Christopher (EFC), Katie Shea Collins (TEN) D: Laurel Ansbrow (NCC), Tianna Harris (MNA), Elle Piper (SFG) G: Bailey Herfurth (TBU)

#### Second Team

F: Claire Manning (MOR), Mariah Lee (OLY), Giana Riley (CAL) M: Hannah Adler (MNA), Kennedy Barschel (CHI), Alia Martin (IND), Lauren Martinho (NCC) D: Madison Cox (TBU), Carly Smith (EFC), Grace Bahr (IND) G: Nona Reason (IND)
Divisional Players of the Year :
| Division | Player | Team |
| Great Lakes | Bailey Korhorn | Kalamazoo FC |
| Heartland | Maya Hansen | Minnesota Aurora FC |
| Metropolitan | Claire Manning | Morris Elite SC |
| Mid Atlantic | Baylee DeSmit | Christos FC |
| NorCal | Nádia Gomes | San Francisco Glens SC |
| Northwest | Mariah Lee | Oly Town FC |
| Southeast | Carissa Boeckmann | Tampa Bay United |
| South Atlantic | Mia Oliaro | North Carolina Courage U23 |
| South Central | Katie Shea Collins | Tennessee SC |
| Valley | Samantha Dewey | Indy Eleven |