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.^[1][2] 16 teams qualified for the league playoffs, which began on July 6.^[3]

USL W League

Season	2023
Dates	May 6 - July 2 (regular season) July 6 - July 22 (playoffs)
Champions	Indy Eleven (1st Title)
Regular Season Champions	Minnesota Aurora FC (2nd Title)
Matches played	375
Goals scored	1,464 (3.9 per match)
Best Player	Nádia Gomes San Francisco Glens SC
Top goalscorer	Baylee DeSmit Christos FC (21 goals)
Best goalkeeper	Bailey Herfurth Tampa Bay United
Biggest home win	IND 16, STC 0 (June 30)
Biggest away win	PFA 0, CHR 9 (May 21)
Highest scoring	IND 16, STC 0 (June 30)
Longest winning run	12 games Minnesota Aurora FC Tampa Bay United
Longest unbeaten run	12 games Minnesota Aurora FC North Carolina Courage U23 Flint City AFC Tampa Bay United
Longest winless run	11 games Patuxent Football Athletics
Longest losing run	11 games Patuxent Football Athletics
← 2022 2024 → All statistics correct as of July 2, 2023.

Team changes

New teams

• Academica SC (Turlock, CA)^[4][5]
• Bavarian United SC (Milwaukee, WI)^[6]
• Birmingham Legion WFC^[7]
• California Storm (Sacramento, CA)^[4][8]
• Capital FC Atletica (Salem, OR)^[9]
• Cleveland Force SC^[10]
• FC Carolinas (Waxhaws, NC)^[11]
• Lane United FC (Eugene, OR)^[9]
• Lexington SC^[12]
• Marin FC Siren (Greenbrae, CA)^[4]
• North Alabama SC (Huntsville, AL)^[13]
• Oakland Soul SC^[4][14]
• Olympic Club SC (San Francisco, CA)^[4]

• Oly Town FC (Olympia, WA)^[9]
• Paisley Athletic FC (Kearny, NJ)^[15]
• Palm City Americanas (Palm City, FL)^[16]
• PDX FC (Portland, OR)^[17]
• Pleasanton RAGE (Pleasanton, CA)^[4]
• RKC Third Coast (Racine & Kenosha, WI)^[18]
• Rochester FC (Rochester, MN)^[19]
• St. Charles FC (St. Charles, MO)^[20]
• San Francisco Glens^[4][21]
• Stockton Cargo SC (Stockton, CA)^[4][22][23]
• Swan City SC (Lakeland, FL)^[24]
• United PDX (Portland, OR)^[25]
• Virginia Marauders FC (Winchester, VA)^[26]

Departing teams

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

Standings

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Qualification
1	Morris Elite SC	12	10	1	1	54	5	+49	31[a]	2.58[a]	Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2	Long Island Rough Riders	12	10	1	1	43	13	+30	31	2.58
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

Source: USL
Notes:

1. Morris Elite SC wins the tiebreaker over Long Island Rough Riders on goal differential.

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos	Team v t e	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
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

Source: USL

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Pos	Team v t e	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

Source: USL

Heartland Division

Pos	Team v t e	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
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[a]	0.82[a]
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

Source: USL
Notes:

1. RKC Third Coast wins the tiebreaker over Green Bay Glory on head-to-head record.

Valley Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Qualification
1	Indy Eleven	10	8	1	1	40	3	+37	25[a]	2.50[a]	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

Source: USL
Notes:

1. Indy Eleven wins the tiebreaker over Racing Louisville FC on head-to-head record.

Southern Conference

South Atlantic Division

Pos	Team v t e	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

Source: USL

South Central Division

Pos	Team v t e	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

Source: USL

Southeast Division

Pos	Team v t e	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
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[a]	0.42[a]
6	Miami AC	12	1	2	9	8	56	−48	5[b]	0.42[b]

Source: USL
Notes:

1. Swan City SC wins the tiebreaker over Miami AC on goal differential.
2. Florida Elite match was forfeited 3–0 in favor of Florida Elite

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Pos	Team v t e	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[a]	0.80[a]
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

Source: USL
Notes:

1. Lane United FC wins the tiebreaker over PDX FC on goal differential.

Nor Cal Division

Pos	Team v t e	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
3	California Storm	12	9	1	2	46	12	+34	28	2.33
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

Source: USL

Playoffs

Bracket

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

Conference semifinals

Minnesota Aurora FC v Chicago City SC

July 6	Minnesota Aurora FC	1–0	Chicago City SC	Atwood Stadium Flint, Michigan
3:00 PM EDT	Del Moral 23' (pen.) Ostrem  67' Rapp  90'	Report	Jamie  76'  78'	Referee: Taylor Heemstra

Tampa Bay United v Tennessee SC

July 6	Tampa Bay United	3–2	Tennessee SC	WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2 Cary, North Carolina
5:00 PM EDT	Nicholson 20' Boeckmann 51' Shackelford 79'	Report	Molenaar 32', 65'	Referee: Nicholas Strednak

Flint City AFC v Indy Eleven

July 6	Flint City AFC	0–3	Indy Eleven	Atwood Stadium Flint, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT		Report	Bahr 14' (pen.) Dewey 42' Schmidt  45' Soderstrom 48' Kugler  79'	Referee: Taylor Heemstra

North Carolina Courage U23 v FC Miami City

July 6	North Carolina Courage U23	3–0	FC Miami City	WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2 Cary, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT	Ansbrow  27' Brown 40' Geigle 67' Oliaro  68' Francher 83'	Report	Murillo  88' Oppelland  90'	Referee: Achal Awasthi

San Francisco Glens SC v Oakland Soul SC

July 7	San Francisco Glens SC	5–1	Oakland Soul SC	Skyline College San Bruno, California
12:30 PM PDT	Gomes 4', 45+1', 80' Lageyre 9' Piper 47'	Report	Geis 87'	Referee: Devlin Creighton

Morris Elite SC v Long Island Rough Riders

July 7	Morris Elite SC	3–2	Long Island Rough Riders	Mountain View Middle School Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
3:00 PM EDT	Manning 10', 75' Denbleyker  15' Cross 90'	Report	Gordon 13'  80' Garziano 35' Moore  84'

Eagle FC v Christos FC

July 7	Eagle FC	2–1	Christos FC	Mountain View Middle School Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT	Christopher 24' Tate 45+1'	Report	Desmit 39'  56'

California Storm v Oly Town FC

July 7	California Storm	1–0	Oly Town FC	Davis Legacy Field Davis, California
7:00 PM PDT	Tillett  30' Smith 63' Villa  78'	Report	Bunnell  90'

Conference Finals

Indy Eleven v Minnesota Aurora FC

July 8	Indy Eleven	1–0	Minnesota Aurora FC	Atwood Stadium Flint, Michigan
3:00 PM EDT	Chatterton  48' Dewey 57'	Report

North Carolina Courage U23 v Tampa Bay United

July 8	North Carolina Courage U23	3–0	Tampa Bay United	WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2 Cary, North Carolina
6:45 PM EDT	Moxely 30' Alvarez 36' Francher 49'	Report

San Francisco Glens SC v California Storm

July 9	San Francisco Glens SC	2–1	California Storm	Skyline College San Bruno, California
12:30 PM PDT	Marcisz 45+1' Bhuta  74' Lageyre 87'	Report	Lancaster 2' Hardeman  42'

Eagle FC v Morris Elite SC

July 9	Eagle FC	6–0	Morris Elite SC	Mountain View Middle School Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
5:30 PM EDT	Butlion 45+3' Descary 48' Tate 54' Christopher 64', 75' Hollenbach 87'	Report

National Semifinals

North Carolina Courage U23 v Eagle FC

July 14	North Carolina Courage U23	4–1	Eagle FC	WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2 Cary, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT	Oliaro 22' Bader 26' Geigle 45+2' Ayscue  76' Moxely 81' (pen.) Smith  90+4'	Report	Christopher 64' Davis  80'

Indy Eleven v San Francisco Glens SC

July 14	Indy Eleven	3–2	San Francisco Glens SC	Grand Park Soccer Complex Westfield, Indiana
7:00 PM EDT	Chester 14'  87' Williams 50' Martin 90+1'	Report	Gomes 40' Immelthun  60' Penn 64'

USL W-League Championship Game

Indy Eleven v North Carolina Courage U23

July 22	Indy Eleven	2–1 (a.e.t.)	North Carolina Courage U23	IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana
2:00 EDT	Williams 64' Martin 99' Ojongmboh  120+2'	Report	Geigle  47' Martinho 75'	Attendance: 5,419 Referee: Itzel Ochoa

Championship MVP: Alia Martin (IND)

Awards

Individual awards

Award	Winner	Team	Reason	Ref.
Golden Boot	Baylee DeSmit	Christos FC	21 goals in 11 games	[27]
Golden Glove	Bailey Herfurth	Tampa Bay United	.096 Goals Against Average; 11 Shutouts	[27]
Defender of the Year	Tianna Harris	Minnesota Aurora FC	4 goals; 2 assists	[28]
Assists Champion	Katie Shea Collins	Tennessee SC	7 assists	[28]
Young (U20) Player of the Year	Mia Oliaro	North Carolina Courage U23	5 goals; 5 assists	[29]
Coach of the Year	Michele Krzisnik	Flint City AFC	undefeated regular season	[29]
Player of the Year	Nádia Gomes	San Francisco Glens SC	16 goals, 8 assists	[30]

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)

^[31]

Divisional Players of the Year[32]
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