Over the past decade, women’s soccer has exploded in popularity worldwide. Propelled by increased professionalization, viewership numbers, and media coverage, wagering on women’s leagues and international tournaments has moved into the mainstream. With more sportsbooks offering a wide variety of betting options, there has never been a better time to get started with women’s soccer betting. This comprehensive guide provides useful tips and insights for beginners looking to place informed wagers on the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), World Cup tournaments, and other major competitions.
Getting Started with Betting on the NWSL
Founded in 2012, the National Women’s Soccer League is the top-tier professional women’s league in the United States. The NWSL has quickly established itself as one of the most competitive and talent-rich women’s leagues globally. The season runs from February through October each year.
When first betting on NWSL matches, be sure to spend time researching the teams, players, and latest news. Checking for injuries, suspensions, and squad rotation is particularly crucial given the outsized impact of star players on outcomes. Analyzing teams’ home and away records can also be insightful, as many teams perform significantly better in front of their home crowd.
Many of the most common bet types for mainstream soccer also apply to NWSL contests. This includes wagers such as moneylines, spreads, totals (over/under goals scored), both teams to score, correct score predictions, and more. In-play betting during matches is increasing in popularity as well, along with exotic prop bets on outcomes like first goalscorer or the number of corners.
Given the generally lower scoring nature of women’s soccer, unders on totals and low-scoring matches tend to be smarter bets. Creating a database of historical stats can help inform betting decisions based on teams’ play styles. Being aware of betting limits, which tend to be lower for the NWSL versus men’s leagues, is also key for beginners.
| NWSL Team | 2022 Regular Season Record |
|---|---|
| Portland Thorns | 10-9-3 |
| Kansas City Current | 10-6-6 |
| OL Reign | 11-7-4 |
| Houston Dash | 10-6-6 |
| San Diego Wave FC | 10-6-6 |
Women’s International Soccer Betting Overview
On the worldwide stage, the premier event in women’s soccer is undoubtedly the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Contested every four years, 24 national teams from across the globe take part in the month-long tournament.
The defending champion United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) is always a threat, given their dominance over the past quarter-century. However, countries like Germany, France, England, Canada, Brazil, and Japan have emerged as contenders in recent years.
Outright betting on the World Cup winner is popular months in advance of the event. Once the tournament starts, common wagers include picks on individual matches, group stage winners, overall goal totals, player props, and more.
Between World Cup cycles, regional tournaments like the Olympics, the UEFA Women’s Championship (Euro 2022), and Copa America Femenina also attract betting attention. International friendlies are closely watched as well, serving as tune-ups ahead of major tournaments.
Helpful Tips for Betting on Women’s Soccer
As a beginner sports bettor diving into women’s soccer, following certain best practices is highly recommended:
- Thoroughly research teams, digesting statistics, play styles, squad depth, and current form leading up to matches. This will help make informed betting decisions.
- Keep up with lineups and any late injuries/suspensions that could significantly swing the odds. Women’s soccer has less squad depth compared to men’s leagues.
- Start out with simpler wagers like moneyline and total goals before moving to more exotic bets as you gain experience.
- Given the lower scoring rates, unders on totals and correct score predictions of 1-0 or 2-0 are generally sharp bets.
- Compare odds and betting limits across different sportsbooks to find the best values. Limits are often lower for women’s matches.
- Manage your bankroll carefully and bet responsibly. Never wager more than you can comfortably afford to lose.
Bringing up rear, the expanding world of women’s soccer provides tremendous opportunities for newcomers to get started with betting on leagues like the NWSL and prestigious international competitions. With the sport’s popularity rising across the globe, options will only continue increasing. By taking a strategic approach and arming yourself with the right information, women’s soccer betting can be an engaging endeavor with plenty of long-term profit potential. Just remember to gamble responsibly as with any form of sports wagering.
