Stoney is first coach of an NWSL expansion team to reach playoffs in inaugural season
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 26, 2022) – The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney has been named the 2022 NWSL Coach of the Year.
After becoming the expansion side’s first head coach ahead of the 2022 season, Stoney quickly established Wave FC as one of the top teams in the league, leading the club to a 4-1-0 record in its opening five matches. Under Stoney, the team continued to find success, rounding out the regular season with a top-3 finish and a 10-6-6 record.
Stoney led Wave FC to one of the top-ranked defenses during the regular season, allowing just 21 goals in 22 matches, and outscoring opponents 32-20. On September 22, Stoney helped cement Wave FC in the history books as the first expansion side to reach the NWSL Playoffs in its inaugural season.
The second woman to win the NWSL’s top coaching award, Stoney is also one of two head coaches to record 10 regular season wins in their first full season with the league since 2014.
A former player and captain for the English National Team, Stoney joined the NWSL as San Diego’s first head coach in 2021 after serving as head coach of Manchester United in the Women’s Super League.
OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey finished second in the voting, while Kansas City Current head coach Matt Potter came in third.
The list of finalists was decided after a preliminary round of voting by owners, general managers, coaches, players and media. The finalists were then voted on by fans, owners, general managers, coaches, players and media.
Voting Breakdown:
Preliminary Round: Owners/GMs/Coaches (25%), Media (25%) and Players (50%)
Final Round: Owners/GMs/Coaches (20%), Media (20%) and Players (50%) and Fans (10%)
San Diego Wave FC’s landmark inaugural season came to an end last Sunday in the NWSL Semi-Final. Wave FC made history as the first expansion team to make the playoffs before advancing to the NWSL Semi-Final with a 2-1 win over Chicago Red Stars on Oct. 16 in the Quarter Final. Furthermore, San Diego now holds the record for both the NWSL Playoff attendance record and the NWSL regular-season record, with 26,215 and 32,000 fans at Snapdragon Stadium. As the team looks towards next season, supporters can make season ticket deposits for Wave FC’s 2023 season now.
