Full schedule released for 2020 NWSL regular season

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has revealed the full schedule for the upcoming 2020 regular season.

The league’s eighth season includes nine teams set to face off in a single table, 24-game regular season – with 12 home games and 12 away games – in which every team will take on each opponent three times.

Three key matchups kick off the 2020 season on April 18. The North Carolina Courage host the Chicago Red Stars at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in a rematch of the 2019 NWSL Championship. In the 2019 Final, North Carolina defeated Chicago 4-0 to claim their second straight NWSL title. The Washington Spirit look to break their club attendance record at Audi Field when they host Reign FC that same afternoon. Portland Thorns FC put their perfect 7-0-0 record in home openers on the line when they welcome Utah Royals FC to Providence Park in the final game of opening day.

Rounding out opening weekend the Orlando Pride host Sky Blue FC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, April 19.

The home openers continue through Week Two when Utah Royals FC welcome the Orlando Pride to Rio Tinto Stadium on Friday, April 24. A 2019 Semifinal rematch is set for April 25 when the Chicago Red Stars open their 2020 home campaign at SeatGeek Stadium against Portland Thorns FC. Later that evening, the Houston Dash face back-to-back NWSL Champions the North Carolina Courage at BBVA Stadium. Closing out the season’s second weekend, Sky Blue FC make their 2020 Red Bull Arena debut when they host Reign FC in their new full-time home stadium.

Following two games on the road in Washington and New Jersey, Reign FC fans welcome their team home on May 3 when the club hosts the Chicago Red Stars at Cheney Stadium.

After a flurry of offseason trades and acquisitions, defender Emily Sonnett returns to Providence Park May 6 for the first time since being acquired by Orlando in exchange for the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. Kealia Ohai, Houston’s first ever draft pick in 2014, returns to Houston to face the Dash on July 10 following an offseason move to Chicago.

This season’s first Cascadia battle between Portland and Reign FC is set for May 16 at Providence Park.

The NWSL regular season will break for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from July 20-26 and return the weekend of August 1. All teams will return to the pitch that first weekend following the break except for Sky Blue FC who will take the field at Exploria Stadium against the Orlando Pride on August 7.

The 2020 season concludes on October 18, with two season opener rematches between Portland and Utah, and Reign FC and Washington. The top four teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the NWSL Playoffs, which will feature two semifinal matches on Nov. 8 and conclude with the 2020 NWSL Championship on Nov. 14.

Click Here to view the full schedule.