The Stanford Cardinal were defending national champions.
Four moved their entire athletic programs to new conferences, two NCAA Division II members that sponsor women's soccer announced during the 2016–17 offseason that they would upgrade their athletic programs to Division I effective in 2018, and one began play in its current all-sports league.
One conference announced that it would no longer use divisions for its women's soccer seasonal competition.
The Mid-American Conference previously divided its teams into an East and West Division.
United Soccer Coaches rankings are used for this list.