2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer season

The 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer season was the 42nd season of NCAA championship women's college soccer.

The season began on August 17, 2023, and concluded in November 2023. It will culminate with the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, with the College Cup being held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

UCLA were the defending NCAA Champions. The Bruins were unable to defend their title as they were defeated in the first round of 2023 tournament by UC Irvine 1–0. Florida State faced off against Stanford in the final. Florida State prevailed 5–1 and won their fourth overall title, all of which have come since 2014. Stanford's 36 game streak of allowing one or fewer goals was snapped and this was the first match where the Cardinal allowed five or more goals in a game since 1996. This was the first national championship match between two undefeated teams and Florida State became the first undefeated champion since Stanford in 2011.

Changes from 2022

Coaching changes

There were 33 coaching changes during the 2022–23 offseason.

Conference realignment

The 2023 season was the last for at least 18 teams in their current conferences.

Other headlines

• August 12, 2022 – The Indiana University and Purdue University systems announced that Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis will be dissolved in 2024 and replaced by separate IU- and Purdue-affiliated institutions. The current athletic program, the IUPUI Jaguars, will transfer to the new IU Indianapolis.
• October 14, 2022 – Conference USA announced that ASUN Conference member Kennesaw State would join C-USA in 2024.
• July 20, 2023 – The Colonial Athletic Association announced a name change to Coastal Athletic Association.
• October 4, 2023 – The Division I Council approved changes to the transfer window for all sports. In fall sports other than football, including men's and women's soccer, the transfer portal now opens for a total of 45 days. A 30-day fall window opens 7 days after championship selections are made, followed by a spring window from May 1–15.
• October 23 – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced that Merrimack and Sacred Heart would join from the Northeast Conference in July 2024.

Rankings

Preseason polls

Regular season

Major upsets

In this list, a "major upset" is defined as a game won by a team ranked 10 or more spots lower or an unranked team that defeats a team ranked No. 15 or higher.

All rankings are from the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Conference standings

Conference winners and tournaments

Postseason

NCAA Tournament

Final rankings

Award winners

All-America teams

Major player of the year awards

• Hermann Trophy: Onyi Echegini – Florida State
• TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Year Award: Lexi Missimo – Texas

Other major awards

• United Soccer Coaches College Coach of the Year: Brian Pensky – Florida State
• Bill Jeffrey Award: Becky Burleigh
• Jerry Yeagley Award: Rob Stone
• Mike Berticelli Award: Rob Herringer
• NCAA Tournament MVP: Offensive: Jordynn Dudley Defensive: Lauren Flynn

See also

• College soccer
• List of NCAA Division I women's soccer programs
• 2023 in American soccer
• 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament
• 2023 NCAA Division I men's soccer season

References