March 21, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
Below is a selection of moments to watch for and notes to know entering Week 2 of NWSL regular season action. Week 2 match coverage begins Friday, March 22 as the Orlando Pride host Angel City FC at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
NOTES TO KNOW
TUNE IN
Last week’s season kickoff marked the start of the NWSL’s landmark media rights agreements. Viewers tuning in this year can catch more than 120 matches across CBS, ESPN, ION and Prime Video . The remaining matches will be available for free on NWSL+, the league’s first-ever domestic direct-to-consumer streaming platform.
REGULAR SEASON DEBUTS
NJ/NY Gotham FC and San Diego Wave FC begin their regular season campaigns this weekend after squaring off last week in the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, which does not count toward regular season standings.
San Diego, who won the match, 1-0, will kick off its regular season slate at home against the Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 23. The match will air live on ION at 10 p.m. ET as part of the platform’s doubleheader coverage of the NWSL.
Gotham FC is set to take the pitch on the road against Portland Thorns FC on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
TEEN TAKEOVER
Saturday night’s matchup between 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Champion San Diego Wave FC and the Kansas City Current will showcase some of the brightest young talent in the league, including 19-year-old Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, who earned Best XI honors last season with six goals and three assists. This match could mark the first minutes of 2024 for 16-year-old forward Melanie Barcenas, who became the youngest player in league history to record an assist last season.
Last week against the Thorns, Kansas City forward Alex Pfeiffer became the NWSL’s youngest goal scorer in regular season history at 16 years and four months. Pfeiffer plays alongside 18-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton, who scored six goals for the United States U-17 National team at the 2022 Concacaf Championship and recently captained the U-19 team at the 2023 PanAm Games.
RETURNS AND REUNIONS
BRIGHT IS BACK
Angel City FC will face the Orlando Pride at 8 p.m. ET on Friday night, marking forward Messiah Bright’s first match back in Orlando since being traded this offseason. Bright excelled with the Pride as a rookie in 2023, scoring six goals, including two game-winners. The Dallas, Texas, native scored three goals in August, including…