NWSL Top Goal Scorers of All Time: Leading Goal Scorers in NWSL

The National Women’s Soccer League, commonly called NWSL, is a professional women’s soccer league in the United States.

It is the top division of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. NWSL is one of the most popular women’s soccer leagues in the world. The NWSL was founded in 2012 as the successor to the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league, which folded in 2012 after three seasons. The NWSL currently has 12 teams:

• Angel City FC
• Chicago Red Stars
• Houston Dash
• Kansas City Current
• North Carolina Courage
• Orlando Pride
• Portland Thorns FC
• Racing Louisville FC
• San Diego Wave FC
• Seattle Reign FC
• Spirit FC
• Washington Spirit

The NWSL season runs from March to September, with the playoffs in October. The team with the most points at the end of the regular season wins the NWSL Shield. The NWSL Championship is a single-elimination tournament, with the top four teams in the regular season competing for the title.

The NWSL has been growing steadily in popularity since its inception. In 2022, the league had more than 1 million fans attend matches, and its television viewership has also increased. The NWSL is committed to growing the game of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada, and it is well-positioned to become a major force in women’s sports.

Sam Kerr is the all-time leading goal scorer in NWSL history.  Christine Sinclair, Lynn Williams, Alex Morgan, and Jessica McDonald follow her.

It is worth noting that this list is subject to change, as players are constantly breaking records and setting new standards. Sam Kerr, for example, is only 29 years old and is still in her prime. She could easily add to her goal tally and become the all-time leading scorer in NWSL history.

NWSL All-Time Leading Goal-scorers

Rank	Player	Goals
1	Sam Kerr	77
2	Christine Sinclair	63
3	Lynn Williams	60
4	Alex Morgan	58
5	Jessica McDonald	54
6	Christen Press	47
7	Megan Rapinoe	47
8	Amy Rodriguez	39
9	Sydney Leroux	39
10	Jess Fishlock	38

Most Goals Scored in a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) by Season

Sam Kerr holds the record for most goals scored in a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season. She scored 18 goals in 21 games for the Chicago Red Stars in 2019, breaking her own single-season record of 17.

NWSL Top goal-Scorers by Season (regular season only)

Year	Player	Goals	Games
2013	Lauren Holiday	12	18
2014	Kim Little	16	23
2015	Crystal Dunn	15	20
2016	Lynn Williams	14	19
2017	Sam Kerr	17	22
2018	Sam Kerr	16	20
2019	Sam Kerr	19	23
2021	Ashley Hatch	11	23
2022	Alex Morgan	16	19
2023	Sophia Smith	11	14

Kerr achieved this despite being absent for part of the season while playing for Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Her goals accounted for 44% of her team’s total for the season. Kerr also scored her first-ever playoff goal as the Red Stars reached the NWSL final, where they lost to North Carolina Courage.