Two defending champions took to the field in 2002 as the W-League saw its W-1 and W-2 divisions, which were forged in 1998, unify to form a single league once again. The W-1 champion Boston Renegades and runner-up Vancouver Breakers were among the leading contenders for the 2002 title along with W-2 champion Charlotte Eagles and runner-up Memphis Mercury.

Three of the four would reach the W-League championship tournament hosted by Vancouver. The trio of Boston, Charlotte and Vancouver saw only four losses combined on the season and were joined by the 10-2-0 Denver Lady Cougars, who advanced out of the Western Conference playoffs.

Playing in the same conference, only one of the two W-2 finalists could return to the 2002 final and the fourth-seeded Eagles and fifth-seeded Mercury squared off as expected in the second round of the playoffs. Charlotte advanced to the Central Conference final with a 4-2 victory to meet 2001 W-1 semifinalist Hampton Roads Piranhas. The Piranhas took the early lead only to see Charlotte level the game six minutes later for a 1-1 halftime score. The tie would hold through the second half, forcing overtime where Charlotte’s Keri Ann Lawson scored the winner in the 105th minute.

The Renegades’ road to the final, however, seemed nearly uncontested with their only flaw on the11-1-0 season a thrilling 5-4 road loss in Memphis midseason. Boston cruised to 8-0 and 4-2 victories over Toronto and Long Island in the Eastern Conference playoffs to earn a trip to Vancouver.

In the Western Conference meanwhile, Vancouver continued to dominate with its lone loss of the year coming at the hands of rival Seattle, 4-3 in overtime, in the final game of the season.

While the Breakers took the next week off preparing to host the championship tournament, the Lady Cougars played host to the conference playoffs and defeated the Sounders Select 2-1 in overtime of the final to advance to the league semifinals.

In the semis, the Renegades bounced the Lady Cougars in a close fought 2-1 match to advance to their second straight final and in an even closer match, the Breakers and Lady Eagles needed penalty kicks to decide a 1-1 tie in their semifinal. Charlotte’s Esther Thompson saved Diana Artuso’s fifth round shot to send the Lady Eagles to the final with a 5-4 win in the tiebreaker, setting up a battle of the 2001 champions.

Perhaps worn down from the 120-minute marathon the night before, Charlotte was unable to handle the high power offense of the Renegades, who pushed a 1-0 halftime lead to a 3-0 win on two second half Erin O’Grady goals.

Boston’s victory made them just the second W-League team to capture two straight W-League titles along with the Raleigh Wings of 1998-99.