The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup was a league cup competition that took place during the 2022 National Women's Soccer League season. It was the third iteration of the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament. In the 2022 championship game, the North Carolina Courage won their first title, defeating the Washington Spirit 2–1.[1]
The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup was a multi-stage tournament. All 12 NWSL teams participated in the Challenge Cup, an increase of two from the previous edition due to the addition of expansion franchises Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC during the offseason. As a result, the competition was split into three regional groups of four teams each; East, Central and West. Each team played a six-game double round-robin in which every team played all others in its division at home and away. The winner from each of the three divisions along with the highest-ranked group stage runner-up progressed to the knockout stage, which consisted of three single-elimination matches: two semifinals and one final.[2] As a result of the expanded group stage, teams played a minimum of six games, two more than in 2021, and a maximum of eight, three more than in 2021. A total of 39 matches were played, 18 more than the 21 matches played during the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.
No matches had extra time. In the group stage, matches could end in a tie at the end of normal playing time. In the knockout stage, if a match was tied at the end of normal playing time, the game was decided by a penalty shoot-out.[2]
Teams were required to have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 20 players on a matchday roster. A maximum of nine players could be named as substitutes with a maximum of five substitutions in three stoppages (excluding half-time) permitted to be used during a match. No substitutes could be made after the end of normal playing time (except if a goalkeeper was unable to continue before or during the penalty shoot-out). Two "concussion substitutes" could also be used in accordance with IFAB rules.[2]
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 were tied on points at the end of the group stage, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied to determine the final group standings:[2]
yellow card: 1 point; 
indirect red card (as a result of two yellow cards): 3 points;
direct red card: 4 points; yellow card and direct red card: 5 points.In the case of two or more teams from different divisions being tied on points at the end of the group stage, the same procedure was followed 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.
The best second-placed team from the group stage advanced to the knockout stage.
The seeding of the division winners was determined by points accumulated in the group stage, followed if necessary by any applicable tiebreakers. The advancing second-place team was automatically made the #4 seed.[2]
There were 106 goals scored in 39 matches, for an average of 2.72 goals per match.
6 goals
Ashley Hatch, WAS5 goals
Debinha, NC Kristen Hamilton, KC4 goals
Mallory Pugh, CHI Alex Morgan, SD Trinity Rodman, WAS3 goals
Sophia Smith, POR2 goals
Christen Press, LA Taylor Smith, NC Kristie Mewis, NJY Darian Jenkins, ORL
Gunny Jonsdottir, ORL
Hina Sugita, POR Bethany Balcer, RGN Ashley Sanchez, WAS1 goal
Vanessa DiBernardo, CHI Amanda Kowalski, CHI.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png){kind=small}
Bianca St-Georges, CHI Arin Wright, CHI
Rachel Daly, HOU Shea Groom, HOU Katie Naughton, HOU Nichelle Prince, HOU Ally Prisock, HOU
María Sánchez, HOU Marisa Viggiano, HOU Lo'eau LaBonta, KC Taylor Leach, KC Alex Loera, KC Hailie Mace, KC Addie McCain, KC Victoria Pickett, KC Simone Charley, LA Tyler Lussi, LA Savannah McCaskill, LA Gemma Bonner, LOU Kirsten Davis, LOU Emina Ekic, LOU Jaelin Howell, LOU Cece Kizer, LOU Jessica McDonald, LOU Lauren Milliet, LOU Malia Berkely, NC Jaelene Daniels, NC
Abby Erceg, NC Kerolin, NC Merritt Mathias, NC Diana Ordoñez, NC Brianna Pinto, NC Nahomi Kawasumi, NJY
Ifeoma Onumonu, NJY Midge Purce, NJY Yazmeen Ryan, POR Christine Sinclair, POR Morgan Weaver, POR Angelina, RGN Alana Cook, RGN Sam Hiatt, RGN Sofia Huerta, RGN Veronica Latsko, RGN Rose Lavelle, RGN Nikki Stanton, RGN Olivia Van der Jagt, RGN Ally Watt, RGN Amirah Ali, SD Belle Briede, SD Taylor Kornieck, SD Kaleigh Riehl, SD Jodie Taylor, SD Andi Sullivan, WAS1 own goal
Hailie Mace, KC (against LOU) Megan Montefusco, ORL (against NC) Tegan McGrady, SD (against LA) Taylor Aylmer, WAS (against NC)Source: NWSL
Statistics do not include penalty-shootout goals.
A player was automatically suspended for the next match in the tournament for the following offenses:[2]
The following suspensions were served during the tournament:
Debinha was named the MVP for the second consecutive Challenge Cup.[3]
# Tournament MVP