2023 NWSL Challenge Cup

Players in the four semifinal teams will divide the tournament's $1 million pool of prize money. Sponsor UKG determined a prize pool of that size would draw the tournament's rewards closer to that of the men's MLS is Back tournament, which had a $1.1 million prize pool in 2020. For comparison, the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup prize pool was estimated to be about or less than $500,000.[6]

A team's position in the divisional standings was determined by points, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. If two or more teams in the same group are tied on points at the end of the group stage, the following tiebreaking criteria will be applied to determine the final group standings:[8]

1. Greatest goal difference across all group stage matches.
2. Most goals scored across all group stage matches.
3. Direct head-to-head points record with teams involved in the tie.
4. Direct head-to-head goal difference in matches between teams involved in the tie.
5. Direct head-to-head number of goals scored in matches between teams involved in the tie.
6. Fewest disciplinary points accrued. Points will be awarded as follows, and players can receive only one disciplinary points assessment per match, with the highest taking precedent:
   1. yellow card: 1 point;
   2.   indirect red card (as a result of two yellow cards): 3 points;
   3. direct red card: 4 points;
   4.   yellow card and direct red card: 5 points.
7. If teams still could not be separated using the tiebreaking procedures, the NWSL would decide ranking using the random drawing of lots.

In the case of two or more teams from different divisions being tied on points at the end of the group stage, the competition follows the same procedure except for the use of the head-to-head scenarios by virtue of the fact teams from different divisions would not have played each other during the group stage.[8]

The best second-placed team from the group stage advances to the knockout stage.

There have been 18 goals scored in 9 matches, for an average of 2 goals per match (as of May 2, 2023).

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Statistics do not include penalty-shootout goals.

A player will be automatically suspended for the next match in the tournament for the following offenses:[8]

• Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offenses);
• Receiving two yellow cards in two matches, unless the second yellow card was accumulated in the final match of group play;
• Direct red card suspensions that can't be served during the tournament will be carried over to the NWSL regular season, but suspensions as a result of indirect red cards will not.