The timeline of events surrounding the creation of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. Kinda crazy, no?
| 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Timeline | |
| June 27 |
Challenge Cup begins with the first match between the Portland Thorns FC and North Carolina Courage on CBS.
Hell yes! |
| June 23 |
NWSL releases updated Challenge Cup schedule and full rosters. |
| June 22 |
Orlando Pride withdraw from the Challenge Cup after six players and four staff members test positive for COVID-19. Because a second round of testing must be undertaken in accordance with NWSL’s positive-test protocols, the Pride would not have the results back in time to allow the club to leave for the tournament with a full roster and withdraws from the tournament. Players and staff continue to be tested and monitored through a second round of testing. |
| June 22 |
NWSL Challenge Cup tournament and roster rules are released.
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| June 18 |
NWSL reveals that a player tests positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. |
| June 01 |
NWSL Challenge Cup draw broadcast live on CBS Sports HQ and releases preliminary round schedule.
Draw Results:
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| May 30 |
NWSL opens up full-team training subject to state and local restrictions. |
| May 27 |
NWSL announces the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. |
| May 25 |
NWSL starts to allow small-group training subject to state and local restrictions. Under the NWSL Return to Play Phased Protocol, groups cannot exceed eight players. |
| May 15 |
Full-team training moratorium extended through May 24. |
| May 04 |
NWSL opens up training to individual players under strict guidelines from is medical task force. Training is voluntary and the moratorium on full-team training is still in effect through May 15. |
| April 24 |
Training moratorium extended through May 15. |
| April 18 |
Original start date for the 2020 regular season. |
| April 04 |
Training moratorium extended through May 5 per discussion with the NWSL medical task force.
The league announces it will target a June start for the regular season. |
| March 20 | Following guidelines from the CDC, NWSL extends training moratorium through April 5.
The league announces it has delayed the start of the regular season, originally set for April 18, until further notice. |
| March 15 | NWSL extends training moratorium through March 22. |
| March 13 | NWSL suspends all training through March 15. |
| March 12 | NWSL cancels the 2020 preseason match schedule for all teams due to the spread of the coronavirus. |
| March 11 | NWSL partners with Twitch and CBS, CBSSports, and CBS All Access with three-year agreements to broadcast matches. Under the agreement, Twitch will broadcast 24 NWSL matches during the 2020 regular season for U.S. viewers and air all 108 matches (regular season, playoffs, and championship) for international viewers.
CBS Sports will air 87 NWSL matches across the CBS, CBS Sports Network, and CBS All Access platforms. CBS network will air the league opener and championship matches on broadcast television, with the semifinals and 12 regular season matches on the CBS Sports Network, and the remaining matches streamed on the subscription-based CBS All Access platform. |
| March 09 | NWSL preseason begins. |