The NWSL will play with nine teams in 2018 due to the impending announcement that the Boston Breakers have folded.
Soccer executive Anthony DiCicco first reported the news. People familiar with the situation confirmed the news to the Chronicle.
The league is currently determining a method to disperse the current Boston players to the rest of the league’s teams.
The NWSL began in 2013 with eight teams. The league added the Dash in 2014 and the Orlando Pride in 2016 to get to 10 teams.
This is the first time a team has folded, though two teams have moved cities the last two years.