The first women's soccer national championship was awarded to North Carolina in 1982, for its 2-0win over Central Florida.
Since that inaugural NCAA DI women's soccer national championship, 11teams have finished the season at the top of the sport. The 2023 season ended with Florida State moving into second place with its fourth national championship in school history and its second in the past three years.
RANKINGS: Stay update to the with the latest women's soccer rankings
Let's take a look at the eight teams thathave won at leasttwotitles.
Women's college soccer history: Programs with the most national championships
1. North Carolina — 21
Jamie Schwaberow | NCAA Photos UNC's Reilly Parker celebrates the Tar Heels 4-1 victory over Penn State University during the 2012 Division I Women's Soccer Championship.
Championships: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012
There is no questioning the fact that North Carolina has been absolutely dominant in women's soccer. The Tar Heels haven't notched a national championship win since 2012, but have been national runners-up three times since 2018. They have 21 titles overall, all under coach Anson Dorrance, who retired before the 2024 season. That's over 50 percent of all DI NCAA women's soccer national championships ever played. North Carolina's 1992 national championship was the highest-scoring title game in the history of the sport, ending in a 9-1 victory over Duke.
2. Florida State — 4
FLORIDA STATE CELEBRATING AFTER WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Championships: 2014, 2018, 2021, 2023
After coming close twice as national runners-up in 2007 and 2013, the Seminoles finally captured their elusive national title in 2014. A mere four years later, they captured No. 2, taking down North Carolina—our winningest team on the list — 1-0 in the Women's College Cup. The Seminoles won against BYU with a 4-3 victory in penalties in 2021. They secured their fourth national championship in 2024 with a 5-1 win over Stanford.
HISTORY: Women's soccer teams with the most consecutive home wins
3 (tie). Stanford — 3
NCAA Photos Stanford celebrating after their 2017 national championship win.
Championships: 2011, 2017, 2019
Both Stanford's women's and men's soccer teams won national championships in the 2017 season. The Cardinal had an almost perfect season, finishing at 23-1-0 with their 3-1 victory over UCLA. The Cardinal had another monster season just two years later, finishing 24-1-0 and defeating the winningest team in women's soccer championship history (North Carolina) for its third title. Stanford's other national championship came in 2011 with another almostperfectfinal record (25-0-1) with a 1-0 win over Duke.
3 (tie). Notre Dame — 3
Jeffrey Camarati | NCAA Photos Notre Dame's Lauren Fowlkes holds the National Championship trophy following the team's 1-0 victory over Stanford in 2010.
Championships: 1995, 2004, 2010
All three of Notre Dame's women's soccer national championships are pretty spread out. The Fighting Irish's 2010 victory was a seemingly simple 1-0 final over Stanford. The other two weren't so easy. During the 1995 championship, Notre Dame went into three overtime periods before beating out Portland 1-0 for the title.In the 2004 game, the Fighting Irishwent into double overtime with UCLA, finally winning 1-1 on penalty kicks.
4 (tie). Santa Clara — 2
Santa Clara celebrating its second national championship in 2020
Championships: 2001, 2020
In 2001, Santa Clara raised its first Women's College Cup trophy defeating North Carolina, 1-0. Almost two decades later, the Broncos reclaimed victory against upsetting No. 1 Florida State winning 1-1 on penalty kicks.
4 (tie). Southern California — 2
NCAA Photos USC's Katie Johnson is doused with powerade after defeating West Virginia 3-1 during the 2016 national championship.
Championships: 2007, 2016
After winning their first national championship in 2007, the Trojans would wait nine years to relive that glory. The second national championship came in 2016 with a 3-1 win over West Virginia. The first goal was scored in the second minute of the game, with two more following in the second half.
4 (tie). UCLA — 2
Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images The UCLA Bruins celebrate after a win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship on December 05, 2022 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The Bruins won 3-2 in overtime.
Championships: 2013, 2022
The Bruins first won the national title in 2013 with a 1-0 OT win against Florida State. Nine years later, they dramatically topped North Carolina, earning a 3-2 win in OT.
4 (tie). Portland — 2
Portland Athletics Portland celebrating their win after the 2005 National Championship.
Championships: 2002, 2005
Portland is the thirdwomen's soccer program tied fortwo national championships. Their 2002 championship took two extra time periods to win, but the Pilots came out with a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara. In 2005, UCLA fell to Portland 4-0 in the title game.
SHOP CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR:Buy 2023 official Florida State women's soccer College Cup gear
Women's college soccer: Complete history of the championship match
Here's the complete list of women's college soccer national champions:
Year | Team (Record) | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Florida State (22-0-1) | 5-1 | Stanford | Cary, N.C. |
2022 | UCLA (22-2-1) | 3-2 (ot) | North Carolina | Cary, N.C. |
2021 | Florida State(22-1-2) | 0-0 (2ot, pk) | BYU | Santa Clara, Calif. |
2020 | Santa Clara(10-1-1) | 1-1 (2ot, pk) | Florida State | Cary, N.C. |
2019 | Stanford(24-1-0) | 0-0 (2ot, pk) | North Carolina | San Jose, Calif. |
2018 | Florida State(20-4-3) | 1-0 | North Carolina | Cary, N.C. |
2017 | Stanford(23-1-0) | 3-2 | UCLA | Orlando, Fla. |
2016 | Southern California(19-4-2) | 3-1 | West Virginia | San Jose, Calif. |
2015 | Penn State(22-3-2) | 1-0 | Duke | Cary, N.C. |
2014 | Florida State (23-1-1) | 1-0 | Virginia | Boca Raton, Fla. |
2013 | UCLA (22-1-3) | 1-0 (OT) | Florida State | Cary, N.C. |
2012 | North Carolina (15-5-3) | 4-1 | Penn State | San Diego, Calif. |
2011 | Stanford (25-0-1) | 1-0 | Duke | Kennesaw, Ga. |
2010 | Notre Dame (21-2-2) | 1-0 | Stanford | Cary, N.C. |
2009 | North Carolina (23-3-1) | 1-0 | Stanford | Texas A&M |
2008 | North Carolina (25-1-2) | 2-1 | Notre Dame | Cary, N.C. |
2007 | Southern California (20-3-2) | 2-0 | Florida State | Texas A&M |
2006 | North Carolina (27-1) | 2-1 | Notre Dame | Cary, N.C. |
2005 | Portland (23-0-2) | 4-0 | UCLA | Texas A&M |
2004 | *Notre Dame (25-1-1) | 1-1 (2 ot, pk) | UCLA | Cary, N.C. |
2003 | North Carolina (27-0) | 6-0 | Connecticut | Cary, N.C. |
2002 | Portland (20-4-2) | 2-1 (2 ot) | Santa Clara | Austin, Texas |
2001 | Santa Clara (23-2) | 1-0 | North Carolina | SMU |
2000 | North Carolina (21-3) | 2-1 | UCLA | San Jose State |
1999 | North Carolina (24-2) | 2-0 | Notre Dame | San Jose State |
1998 | Florida (26-1) | 1-0 | North Carolina | UNC Greensboro |
1997 | North Carolina (27-0-1) | 2-0 | Connecticut | UNC Greensboro |
1996 | North Carolina (25-1) | 1-0 (2 ot) | Notre Dame | Santa Clara |
1995 | Notre Dame (21-2-2) | 1-0 (3 ot) | Portland | North Carolina |
1994 | North Carolina (25-1-1) | 5-0 | Notre Dame | Portland |
1993 | North Carolina (23-0) | 6-0 | George Mason | North Carolina |
1992 | North Carolina (25-0) | 9-1 | Duke | North Carolina |
1991 | North Carolina (25-0) | 3-1 | Wisconsin | North Carolina |
1990 | North Carolina (24-0) | 6-0 | Connecticut | North Carolina |
1989 | North Carolina (24-0-1) | 2-0 | Colorado College | North Carolina State |
1988 | North Carolina (18-0-3) | 4-1 | North Carolina State | North Carolina |
1987 | North Carolina (23-0-1) | 1-0 | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
1986 | North Carolina (24-0-1) | 2-0 | Colorado College | George Mason |
1985 | George Mason (18-2-1) | 2-0 | North Carolina | George Mason |
1984 | North Carolina (24-0-1) | 2-0 | Connecticut | North Carolina |
1983 | North Carolina (19-1) | 4-0 | George Mason | UCF |
1982 | North Carolina (19-2) | 2-0 | UCF | UCF |
*Declared champion on the basis of penalty kicks.