The National Women’s Soccer League is the top women’s professional soccer league in the United States, and with a sixth season beginning in 2018, it is the first professional women’s league to play more than three seasons. The league began its first season in 2013 with eight teams (Washington Spirit, Sky Blue FC, Portland Thorns FC, FC Kansas City, Seattle Reign FC, Western New York Flash, Boston Breakers, and Chicago Red Stars).
At the end of the 2013 season, the NWSL added its first expansion team with the Houston Dash entering the league. Two years later, the Orlando Pride joined the NWSL.