What if?
16 famous title changes, replayed the other wayWe took famous NWSL title changes, flipped the result, and replayed every game since through the same rules. Sometimes the belt finds its way home within days. So far, every alternate belt has found its way home.
What if North Carolina Courage had won?
Real result: Chicago Red Stars beat North Carolina Courage 3–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by July 13, 2019, 62 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Reign
What if North Carolina Courage had won?
Real result: Utah Royals FC beat North Carolina Courage 1–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by July 4, 2018, 18 days later.
The alternate belt: Chicago
What if Kansas City Current had won?
Real result: Chicago Red Stars beat Kansas City Current 4–0 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by April 22, 2023, 220 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Louisville
What if Washington Spirit had won?
Real result: Orlando Pride beat Washington Spirit 3–2 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by August 14, 2026, 300 days later, after 11 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Utah → KC Current → Chicago → Orlando → Louisville → Spirit → Wave → Orlando → Angel City → Louisville → KC Current
What if Kansas City Current had won?
Real result: Orlando Pride beat Kansas City Current 2–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by March 29, 2025, 266 days later, after 3 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Spirit → KC Current → Orlando
What if Seattle Reign FC had won?
Real result: FC Kansas City beat Seattle Reign FC 2–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by August 1, 2015, 335 days later, after 6 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Chicago → Courage → Houston → Spirit → FC Kansas City → Houston
What if Chicago Red Stars had won?
Real result: Portland Thorns FC beat Chicago Red Stars 2–0 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by September 30, 2016, 100 days later, after 5 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Courage → FC Kansas City → Chicago → FC Kansas City → Chicago
What if Angel City FC had won?
Real result: Orlando Pride beat Angel City FC 1–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by November 5, 2023, 34 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Reign
What if Racing Louisville FC had won?
Real result: Utah Royals beat Racing Louisville FC 2–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by August 7, 2026, 82 days later, after 3 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Courage → Spirit → Gotham
What if Utah Royals had won?
Real result: Chicago Stars FC beat Utah Royals 3–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by August 7, 2026, 33 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Gotham
What if Chicago Stars FC had won?
Real result: Boston Legacy FC beat Chicago Stars FC 2–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by August 14, 2026, 35 days later, after 3 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Angel City → Louisville → KC Current
What if Boston Legacy FC had won?
Real result: Washington Spirit beat Boston Legacy FC 2–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by October 25, 2026, 98 days later, after 5 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Thorns → Spirit → Boston → Houston → Spirit
What if Washington Spirit had won?
Real result: San Diego Wave FC beat Washington Spirit 1–0 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by October 25, 2026, 84 days later, after 7 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Courage → Houston → Bay FC → Spirit → Boston → Houston → Spirit
What if San Diego Wave FC had won?
Real result: Gotham FC beat San Diego Wave FC 1–0 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by November 7, 2026, 92 days later, after 2 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Reign → Angel City
What if Gotham FC had won?
Real result: Denver Summit FC beat Gotham FC 3–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 25, 2026, 49 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Spirit
What if Denver Summit FC had won?
Real result: Kansas City Current beat Denver Summit FC 4–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by November 7, 2026, 42 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Angel City