2017 NWSL Championship
| Event | NWSL Championship | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | October 14, 2017 | ||||||
| Venue | Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Most Valuable Player | Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC) | ||||||
| Referee | Danielle Chesky[1][2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 8,124 | ||||||
The 2017 NWSL Championship was the fifth edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on October 14, 2017. Portland Thorns FC won 1–0 against the NWSL Shield holders North Carolina Courage, becoming NWSL champions for the second time. The match was played at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[3][4][2]
Road to the final
North Carolina Courage
After winning the 2016 NWSL Championship, the Western New York were sold to Steve Malik; relocated to Cary, North Carolina; and renamed the North Carolina Courage.[5] Unshaken by the move, the Courage won the NWSL Shield in the 2017 season with the best record in the league. Returning NWSL Golden Boot winner and 2016 Most Valuable Player Lynn Williams led the team in scoring, while midfielders Sam Mewis and McCall Zerboni would join defender Abby Dahlkemper in the NWSL Best XI announced after the championship match.[6] Dahlkemper would also be named NWSL Defender of the Year in the days after the championship match.[7]
In the playoff semifinals on October 27, the Courage held off the fourth seed Chicago Red Stars 1–0, with Denise O'Sullivan scoring in the 90th minute, to reach the franchise's second consecutive final.[8]
Portland Thorns FC
After winning the NWSL Shield but losing to Western New York in the 2016 playoff semifinals, Portland Thorns FC placed second in the 2017 regular-season standings. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch led a defense that conceded the fewest goals in the league, and would be named the league's Goalkeeper of the Year days after the championship match.[9]
In the playoff semifinals, the Thorns won 4–1 over the third seed Orlando Pride, with goals scored by Amandine Henry, Emily Sonnett, Hayley Raso, and Christine Sinclair, sending the Thorns to their first final since the inaugural 2013 NWSL Championship.[8][10]
Match
Details
      North Carolina Courage
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   Portland Thorns FC
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NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player:
Assistant referees:
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Match rules
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References
- ^ Hays, Graham (October 14, 2017). "Portland Thorns finally capture another NWSL title the hard way". ESPN.
- ^ a b Lauletta, Dan (October 15, 2017). "Lauletta: Nasty fouls, injuries, lack of cards sucked the life out of 2017 NWSL Championship". The Equalizer. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (October 14, 2017). "Thorns win NWSL Championship, 1-0 over Courage". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (October 14, 2017). "Portland Thorns win 2017 NWSL Championship with 1-0 victory over North Carolina Courage". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ "Defending NWSL champs Flash officially announce North Carolina move". ESPN. January 9, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (October 12, 2017). "2017 Best XI announced". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (October 19, 2017). "Defender of the Year: Abby Dahlkemper, North Carolina Courage". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ a b "Portland Thorns Beat the Courage to Win a 2nd N.W.S.L. Championship". New York Times. October 14, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (October 18, 2017). "Portland Thorns' Adrianna Franch named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ "Thorns advance to NWSL final, await Courage-Red Stars winner". ESPN. October 7, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2025.