Quick Answer: The National Women's Soccer League is a women's professional soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. The league comprises 16 teams. It is owned by the teams and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. The NWSL is headquartered in New York City. The NWSL was established in 2012 as the successor to Women's Professional Soccer, which was itself the successor to the Women's United Soccer Association. The league began play in 2013 with eight teams, four of which were former members of WPS. Through the 2024 season, seven teams have been crowned NWSL Champions, awarded to the playoff winner, and six teams have claimed the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team in first place at the end of the regular season. The current NWSL champions are Gotham FC. The current NWSL Shield winners are the Kansas City Current.