The 2017 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season was the fifth for the top-tier US women's soccer league, and the 11th overall counting its professional predecessors, with operations backed by the US and Canadian soccer federations. The defending champions, the Western New York Flash, were sold, relocated to Cary, North Carolina, and rebranded as the North Carolina Courage. After schedule disruptions from the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, teams played a full 24-game regular season, with the Courage winning the NWSL Shield (regular-season title) by two points over the Portland Thorns. The playoffs saw the Thorns and Courage advance from the October 7–8 semifinals to the NWSL Championship on October 14 at Orlando City Stadium, where the Thorns secured a 1-0 victory to claim their second championship. This result underscored both the immediate success of the relocated Courage and the enduring strength of the Portland franchise.