March 15, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
Below is a selection of moments to watch for and notes to know entering Week 1 of the NWSL’s 2024 campaign. Opening week match coverage begins Friday, March 15 as NJ/NY Gotham FC host San Diego Wave FC in the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
NOTES TO KNOW
NEW WAYS TO WATCH
Thanks to the NWSL’s landmark domestic media rights agreements, fans will now be able to watch more than 120 matches across national platforms, including CBS, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps-owned ION. The remaining matches will be available for free on NWSL+, the league’s first-ever domestic direct to consumer streaming platform.
See here for more details on how to watch the NWSL in 2024.
WE PLAY HERE
In addition to the start of the season, the NWSL announced the return of its heralded WE PLAY HERE marketing campaign with the call-to-action encouraging fans to Keep Up ! Leaning into the one-of-a-kind athleticism, competition and emotion of professional women’s soccer, it also captures the momentum of the league’s 12th campaign with four new broadcast partners, two new teams, and the unveiling of the first-ever stadium built specifically for women’s professional soccer.
CHALLENGE CUP OPENER
The NWSL’s historic 12th campaign kicks off on Friday with the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup between 2023 NWSL Champion NJ/NY Gotham FC and San Diego Wave FC, winner of the 2023 NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax. The match, which does not count towards regular seasons standings, kicks off at 8 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, airing live on Prime Video.
Both clubs begin their respective regular season campaigns next week, as the Wave host the Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 23 for a 10 p.m. ET kickoff on ION. Gotham FC will take on Portland Thorns FC on the road on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
CPKC BABY!
The Kansas City Current will make history on Saturday, opening CPKC Stadium, the first purpose-built stadium for women’s sports. The 11,500-seat venue will host the first regular-season matchup of 2024 in a rematch of the 2022 NWSL Championship between the Current and Portland Thorns FC.
The regular season opener is reminiscent of the first-ever NWSL match in 2013 between FC Kansas City and the Portland Thorns in Overland Park, Kansas. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski, hired by the Current this offseason, coached an FC Kansas City…