KANSAS CITY, MO. – [Schedule | Championship Program | Bracket] The 40^th Annual NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship kicks off tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 27 with four matches tomorrow and Tuesday in the Round of 16. All final site matches will be played at the Foley Sports Tourism Championship Stadium in Foley, Ala., hosted by Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Sports & Events.

The NAIA Network – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast 14 matches live at the  NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship final site in Foley, Ala., and the championship match will be on ESPN3. The NAIA Network, powered by PrestoSports, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.

Defending national champion, Spring Arbor (Mich.), returns to the championship field for the 15th time overall.

Championship Nuggets

• 40 teams qualified for the 2023 championship field. After the first and second rounds at 16 sites around the country, the field was narrowed to 16 teams that advanced to the final site in Foley.
• Seven of the 16 final site teams have double-digit tournament appearances, with only one team appearing in the tournament for the 20^th time in Tennessee Southern.
• Life (Ga.) and OUAZ (Ariz.) are both checking off their first tournament appearances this year.
• Only three teams at the final site have won a Red Banner previously, Spring Arbor (Mich.) (3: 2015, 2017, 2022), Tennessee Southern (3: 2005, 2007, 2021), and William Carey (Miss.) (1: 2018).
• The Southern States have the most teams still in the hunt for a championship with three: Life (Ga.), Tennessee Southern, and William Carey (Miss.).
• The state of Tennessee is the most represented state with three teams: Bethel (Tenn.), Cumberland (Tenn.), and Tennessee Southern.
• Tennessee Southern holds the longest postseason streak of teams at the final site dating back to the 2004 season.
• William Carey (Miss.), Spring Arbor (Mich.), and Aquinas (Mich.) are the only teams remaining to suffer a loss on the season.
  • William Carey (Miss.) is the only perfect team traveling to Foley, Ala. with a 21-0-0 record.
  • The Crusaders’ last loss was back on Dec. 1, 2022, at the final site against Spring Arbor (Mich.).
• Half of the final site field qualified via an at-large berth, while five team won their respective conference tournaments and three teams were the regular season champions of their conference.
• Seven teams posted a second-round upset, punching their ticket to Foley: Hastings (Neb.), Benedictine (Kan.), Hope International (Calif.), OUAZ (Ariz.), Life (Ga.), Truett McConnell (Ga.), and Bethel (Tenn.).
• The 16 final site teams combined for 34 goals in second-round action, while a single goal decided nine games and three games were decided on PKs.
• 10-of-16 final site mascots are animals with six of them being birds