HOME OPENERS UNVEILED FOR 2018 NWSL SEASON
CHICAGO (Feb. 16, 2018) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the home openers for all nine clubs for the 2018 regular season. The 2018 NWSL season will kick off Saturday, March 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET with the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime as the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns FC square off at Sahlen’s Stadium in a rematch of the 2017 championship.
Also on March 24, the Orlando Pride will play host to Utah Royals FC at 7:30 p.m. ET in the inaugural match for the league’s newest club. Later that day, Seattle Reign FC will face the Washington Spirit at Memorial Stadium at 10 p.m. ET as Andi Sullivan – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NWSL Draft – is set to make her professional debut.
Then on Sunday, March 25, the Houston Dash will go against the Chicago Red Stars at BBVA Compass Stadium at 5 p.m. ET as the two clubs get ready to clash in the season opener for the third-consecutive season.
Week 2 of the 2018 NWSL season will feature two home openers on Saturday, March 31 as the Washington Spirit will take the field against the Orlando Pride at Maryland SoccerPlex at 3:30 p.m. ET in the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime.Later that night, the Chicago Red Stars will host Portland Thorns FC at 8:15 p.m. ET at Toyota Park where the Red Stars have won all four of their previous home openers.
In Week 3 action, the NWSL heads to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time as Utah Royals FC play the inaugural home game in club history against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime.
The final two home openers are slated for Sunday, April 15, when Sky Blue FC welcomes Seattle Reign FC to Yurcak Field at 5 p.m. ET and defending champions Portland Thorns FC raise the curtain on their home schedule against Orlando Pride at Providence Park at 6 p.m. ET. The 2018 regular season will then culminate the weekend of September 8-9 and be followed by the playoffs, featuring two semifinal matches on September 14-16 and the championship on Saturday, September 22.
The complete regular season schedule, along with the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime national television schedule, will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
The upcoming season will once again feature livestreams of matches on the go90 app and website. International fans will also be able to watch all of the games on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com.
2018 NWSL Home Openers:
- Saturday, March 24:
3:30 p.m. ET – North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC (Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park)
7:30 p.m. ET – Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC (Orlando City Stadium)
10:00 p.m. ET – Seattle Reign FC vs. Washington Spirit (Memorial Stadium) - Sunday, March 25:
5:00 p.m. ET – Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars (BBVA Compass Stadium) - Saturday, March 31:
3:30 p.m. ET – Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride (Maryland SoccerPlex)
8:15 p.m. ET – Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC (Toyota Park) - Saturday, April 14:
3:30 p.m. ET – Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars (Rio Tinto Stadium) - Sunday, April 15:
5:00 p.m. ET – Sky Blue FC vs. Seattle Reign FC (Yurcak Field)
6:00 p.m. ET – Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride (Providence Park)
Schedule subject to change
Source: NWSL Press Release
