NWSL Winners: Championship, Shield & Challenge Cup History

Three of the most prestigious titles in the NWSL are the Championship, the Shield and the Challenge Cup. See the list of historical champions now.

Founded in 2012, the NWSL It is the main women’s professional league in the United States soccer league system. The biggest prize of the NWSL every season is the NWSL Championshipwhich is generally decided at the end of November.

The league also awards the NWSL Shield to the team that finishes first at the end of the regular season. At the beginning of each season, the NWSL Challenge Cupa confrontation between the champions of NWSL Shield from the previous season and the current champions of the NWSL.

Below, a review of the champions, Shield winners and Challenge Cup winners in the history of the league:

NWSL Champions

• 2024: Orlando Pride

• 2023: NJ/NY Gotham FC

• 2022: Portland Thorns FC

• 2021: Washington Spirit

• 2020: Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

• 2019: North Carolina Courage

• 2018: North Carolina Courage

• 2017: Portland Thorns FC

• 2016: Western New York Flash

• 2015: FC Kansas City

• 2014: FC Kansas City

• 2013: Portland Thorns FC

NWSL Shield winners

• 2025: Kansas City Current

• 2024: Orlando Pride

• 2023: San Diego Wave FC

• 2022: OL Reign (changed name back to Seattle Reign FC in January 2024)

• 2021: Portland Thorns FC

• 2020: Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

• 2019: North Carolina Courage

• 2018: North Carolina Courage

• 2017: North Carolina Courage

• 2016: Portland Thorns FC

• 2015: Seattle Reign FC

• 2014: Seattle Reign FC

• 2013: Western New York Flash

NWSL Challenge Cup winners

• 2025: Washington Spirit

• 2024: San Diego Wave FC

• 2023: North Carolina Courage

• 2022: North Carolina Courage

• 2021: Portland Thorns FC

• 2020: Houston Dash