2013 National Women's Soccer League season
The 2013 National Women's Soccer League season was the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer and the Women's United Soccer Association, this was the seventh overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league was operated by the United States Soccer Federation and received major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing was provided by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation. All three national federations paid the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.
The league started on April 13 with FC Kansas City hosting Portland Thorns FC. The last regular season matches were played on August 18, with the Western New York Flash topping the standings to win the NWSL Shield. This was followed by postseason playoffs, which culminated in a final on August 31. In the final, Portland Thorns FC defeated the Western New York Flash 2–0 to win the inaugural NWSL Championship.
Teams, stadiums, and personnel
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams used Nike as kit manufacturer.| Team | Head coach | Captain | Shirt sponsor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Breakers |  sortname|Lisa|ColePlayer AcquisitionPlayers were acquired through the 2013 Allocation of national team players announced on January 11, the 2013 NWSL College Draft on January 18, and the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft on February 7, along with free agency, trading and loans.The Portland Thorns received an allocation with a notably strong offensive record including Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, the 2012 U.S. and Canadian Players of the Year and leading scorers for their national teams respectively, as well as a U.S. allocation that accounted for 1/3 of their national team's assists in 2012. Competition formatThe regular season began on April 13 and ended on August 18. Each team played a total of 22 games: 11 at home and 11 away. Each team played
Results table''Scores listed as home-away''NWSL ChampionshipThe top four teams from the regular season qualified for the championship playoffs. In the semifinals, the regular season winner hosted the fourth-placed team and the regular season runner-up hosted the third-placed team. The highest-seeded semifinal winner then hosted the championship final. All match-ups were one-game series.AttendanceAverage home attendances
Highest Attendance: 17,619 Lowest Attendance: 688 Total Attendance: 375,846 League Average: 4,271 Playoff attendanceSemifinal 1, Portland at FC Kansas City: 4,016Semifinal 2, Sky Blue at Western New York: 7,316 Championship, Portland at Western New York: 9,129 Statistical leadersTop scorers
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