NWSL releases revamped league and cup schedules for 2023 season

February 10 – The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has announced its full schedule for the 2023 regular season which begins on March 25.

Champions Portland Thorns will kick off their NWSL title defense on March 26 against Orlando Pride at Providence Park.

The league is not in its 11th season which will see its 12 teams play a 22-game home and away campaign.

In 2020, the league introduced its Challenge Cup as a way to get a competition played before the league season could be finalized due to uncertainties around covid and schedule planning.

>

The competition was a success and the NWSL held it as a pre-season cup competition before the start of the 2021 and 22 league seasons. This is changing and for 2023 the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup will run concurrently with the regular season.

The Cup will feature three groups of four teams who will play double-round matches for a total of six competitions.

Group stages start on April 14 and end on August 5 and 6. After the group stage, four teams will advance to the knockout semi-finals on September 6 and the final on September 9.

The top six regular season teams in the league will advance to the NWSL Championship Playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a bye in the first round. The final will be played on November 11.

Contact the author of this story at moc.l1676254186labto1676254186ofdlr1676254186owedi1676254186sni@n1676254186osloh1676254186cin.l1676254186uap1676254186