[5] She reached the third round of all four Grand Slam tournaments and represented the United States in Fed Cup and Olympic competitions.

At the USTA Tennis Classic of Troy in Alabama, McHale reached the final where she was defeated by qualifier and compatriot, Alison Riske.

Representing the USA in the Fed Cup tie versus France, McHale only played one rubber; she lost to Pauline Parmentier.

Receiving a wildcard to play at the Western & Southern Open, McHale won her first-round match when her opponent, 15th seed Nadia Petrova, retired due to heat illness.

[20] At the Challenge Bell in Quebec City, McHale reached the semifinals where she was defeated by qualifier and eventual champion Tamira Paszek.

Playing at the Indian Wells Open, McHale upset 11th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round before she was defeated in the third by Nadia Petrova.

[32] Coming through qualifying at the Internazionale di Roma, McHale won the tournament beating Ekaterina Ivanova in the final.

[36] Playing in Cincinnati at the Western & Southern Open, McHale stunned top seed Caroline Wozniacki in her second-round match.

[71] At the Western & Southern Open, McHale retired from her first-round match against Chanelle Scheepers due to gastrointestinal illness.

[78] In Paris at the Open GdF Suez, McHale recorded her first win of the year by defeating French wildcard Pauline Parmentier in the first round.

[83] McHale began her clay-court season in Charleston at the Family Circle Cup where she was defeated in the first round by 12th seed Varvara Lepchenko.

[84] At the Madrid Open, McHale progressed through the qualifying event before falling in the second round to second seed and eventual finalist Maria Sharapova.

[98] Playing in Acapulco, McHale reached her first WTA Tour final where she was defeated by top seed Dominika Cibulková.

[104] Playing at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, her final tournament before the French Open, McHale reached the semifinal round where she was defeated by qualifier and eventual finalist Sílvia Soler Espinosa.

[109] Competing in New York at the US Open, she lost in her second-round match to 16th seed, former world number one, and two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka.

[130] Seeded sixth at the Japan Women's Open, McHale reached the semifinal round where she lost to eventual finalist Magda Linette.

At the Hong Kong Open, she retired from her first-round match against Wang Yafan due to a left elbow injury.

McHale won her first WTA Tour doubles title with Han Xinyun, defeating Kimberly Birrell/Jarmila Wolfe in the final of the Hobart International.

[134] As the top seed at the first edition of the Tennis Championships of Maui, McHale won the tournament beating compatriot Raveena Kingsley in the final.

[144] Seeded seventh at the Japan Women's Open, McHale won her first WTA Tour singles title beating Kateřina Siniaková in the final.

[165] As the top seed at the Hungarian Pro Circuit Ladies Open, McHale lost in the first round to eventual finalist Danka Kovinić.

[189] McHale started her US Open Series at the Silicon Valley Classic where she was defeated in the first round by eventual finalist Maria Sakkari.

[193] Playing at the Tournoi de Québec, McHale was defeated in the second round by eighth seed and eventual champion Pauline Parmentier.

[197] Seeded eighth at the Tyler Pro Challenge, her final tournament of the season, she lost in the second round to compatriot Kayla Day.

McHale started her season at the Brisbane International where she lost in the final round of qualifying to Australian wildcard Destanee Aiava.

McHale started her clay-court season at the Copa Colsanitas where she lost in the first round to seventh seed Sara Sorribes Tormo.

[213] In Beijing at the China Open, she beat after qualifying two-time champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round,[214] and lost to 16th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second.

[215] McHale played her final tournament of the season at the Tianjin Open and suffered a first-round loss by eighth seed Magda Linette.

[217] Entering the Hobart International main draw after coming through qualifying, McHale was defeated in the first round by top seed Elise Mertens.

[5] Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.