**NEW YORK (October 1, 2022) –** With tonight’s 3-0 win over the Orlando Pride, OL Reign have claimed the 2022 NWSL Shield, presented by [CarMax](https://www.carmax.com/) . The shield, awarded to the club with the best record at the conclusion of the regular season, will return to Reign for the first time since 2015 and the third time in the club’s history. OL Reign topped this year’s table with an 11-4-7 record, earning the No. 1 overall seed ahead of the 2022 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Budweiser. This year marks just the third season in league history for the NWSL Shield to be decided in the final weekend of play.
As the presenting sponsor of the NWSL Shield, CarMax has committed to doubling the bonus pool awarded to the winning team, increasing earnings from $5,000 to $10,000 per player to support equitable pay in the women’s game.
“I want to congratulate OL Reign on their incredible success this season,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. “This was a particularly competitive regular season and I applaud the team for all the hard work they put in to achieve this accomplishment. I look forward to watching them compete in what will surely be an exciting postseason.”
“The NWSL Shield is a significant achievement and it’s an honor to recognize OL Reign for their hard work and strong performance this season,” said Sarah Lane, Vice President, Marketing at CarMax. “When CarMax joined the NWSL as a partner this year, we wanted our contributions to directly impact the fan experience and the players, which is why we were excited to double the bonus pool for Shield winners. CarMax is committed to supporting the growth of women’s sports and these incredible athletes for years to come.”
With the No. 1 seed, OL Reign earned both a first-round bye and home field advantage for the semifinals and will await the outcome of the quarterfinals to determine their opponent.
More details regarding the 2022 NWSL Playoffs will be available in the coming days.
OL Reign, who lead the league with 11 wins this regular season, were stellar on both sides of the pitch throughout the 2022 campaign. Notably, Bethany Balcer led the team in scoring for a third year with seven goals and one assist in 19 games. In addition, making her 100th regular-season appearance in Reign's regular-season finale, Megan Rapinoe became the 10th player to score in her 100th regular-season game. Defensively, goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce tied Portland Thorns FC goaltender Bella Bixby for most shutouts this season with nine clean sheets.
With tonight’s result, Laura Harvey became just the second head coach in league history to earn three shields.
CarMax joined the NWSL in July as the league’s first Official Auto Retailer and presenting sponsor of the NWSL Shield. In addition to their commitment to doubling the Shield bonus pool to support equitable pay for women athletes, CarMax is also assisting in the creation of activations to bolster excitement and engagement for fans at home and onsite at league events, including the 2022 NWSL Championship, presented by Budweiser.
**About CarMax**
[CarMax](https://www.carmax.com/) , the nation’s largest retailer of used autos, revolutionized the automotive retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in every interaction. The company offers a truly personalized experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as little, online and in-store as they want. CarMax also provides a variety of vehicle delivery methods, including home delivery, express pickup and appointments in its stores. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, CarMax sold approximately 924,000 used vehicles and 706,000 wholesale vehicles at its auctions. In addition, CarMax Auto Finance originated more than $9 billion in receivables during fiscal 2022, adding to its nearly $16 billion portfolio. CarMax has more than 230 stores, more than 30,000 associates, and is proud to have been recognized for 18 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax is committed to making a positive impact on people, communities and the environment. Learn more in the 2022 [Responsibility Report](https://socialresponsibility.carmax.com/pdf-viewer-3/web/viewer.html#page=1) . For more information, visit [www.carmax.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carmax.com&esheet=52760654&newsitemid=20220624005041&lan=en-US&anchor=www.carmax.com&index=4&md5=156d05f7fc0a7456a74e543774df9d8e "https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/ct?id=smartlink&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.carmax.com&esheet=52760654&newsitemid=20220624005041&lan=en-us&anchor=www.carmax.com&index=4&md5=156d05f7fc0a7456a74e543774df9d8e") .
**About NWSL**
Established in 2012, The National Women’s Soccer League is the premier women’s professional soccer league in the world featuring national team players from around the globe. Beginning play in 2013 with eight original clubs, the league has since expanded to feature 12 teams, including Angel City FC, Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current, NJ/NY Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave FC, and Washington Spirit.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights