NWSL Shield

When the NWSL was launched in 2013, the league's format was set up similarly to other contemporary North American leagues. After the regular season, the NWSL playoffs were held, with the top four teams vying for a spot in the postseason championship match. The club with the most regular-season points was awarded the NWSL Shield and earned the top seed in the playoffs.{{cite web|last1=Lauletta|first1=Dan|title=The Lowdown: A look at NWSL rules and tiebreakers|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2013/02/26/the-lowdown-an-early-look-at-nwsl-rules-and-tiebreakers/ |publisher=The Equalizer|access-date=November 8, 2024|date=February 26, 2013}}

A new NWSL Shield trophy, designed by Tiffany & Co., was unveiled by the league in 2024. It includes a depiction of a soccer ball and uses 24-karat gold vermeil and sterling silver.{{cite news |last=Anzidei |first=Melanie |date=October 2, 2024 |title=NWSL, Tiffany & Co. unveil redesigned Shield, MVP awards: 'The most majestic, iconic trophies' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5812830/2024/10/02/nwsl-tiffany-co-shield-mvp-trophy-redesign/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |accessdate=January 1, 2025}}

Since the 2013 inaugural season, the system of awarding points in the NWSL is the same as the international standard: three points for a win, one for a draw, and no points for a loss.{{cite web|title=2016 Competition Rules and Regulations|url=http://nwslsoccer.com/about/2016-competition-rules-and-regulations|publisher=National Women's Soccer League|access-date=May 5, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422180924/http://nwslsoccer.com/about/2016-competition-rules-and-regulations|archive-date=April 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}

Since the 2022 season,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/documents/2022/5/19/2022_Competition_Rules.pdf |title=2022 Competition Rules & Regulations |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |page=6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523161429/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/documents/2022/5/19/2022_Competition_Rules.pdf |archive-date=May 23, 2022}} in the event of an end-of-season tie in total accumulated points, the following tie-breakers are used among all teams with the same number of points:

1. Greater goal difference across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
2. Most total wins across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
3. Most goals scored across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
4. Head-to-head results (total points) between the tied teams.
5. Head-to-head most goals scored between the tied teams.
6. Least disciplinary points accumulated across the entire regular season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
7. Coin flip (if two teams are tied) or drawing of lots (if three or more teams are tied).

All tiebreakers involving goal counts (goal differential, goals for) include all regular-season games, not just games against tied teams.

Prior to the 2022 season, the first tie-breaker was head-to-head record.{{cite web |title=2021 Competition Rules |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/2021-competition-rules |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=October 19, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019193519/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/2021-competition-rules |archive-date=October 19, 2021}}

{{legend|#CFECEC| team also won the NWSL Championship|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

Italics indicates a defunct team.

• List of sports awards honoring women
• NWSL awards
• NWSL playoffs
• NWSL records and statistics
• List of American and Canadian soccer champions

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• {{Official website|https://www.nwslsoccer.com/}}

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Shield

Category:Regular season trophies and awards