NWSL soccer balls. (Shane Lardinois)
NWSL soccer balls.

NWSL Releases 2023 Schedule

It’s here. Finally.

The National Women’s Soccer League released its 2023 regular season and 2023 Challenge Cup schedules. New for 2023 is the Challenge Cup running concurrently, somewhat, with the regular season.

The NWSL has also, finally, given us a true Decision Day, with all teams in action at the same time on the final day of the regular season. Now all that’s missing is a whip-around show to bring it all together.

The opening weekend of March 25–26 sees all teams in action, and includes home openers for Angel City FC, Portland Thorns FC, and San Diego Wave FC, all teams that consistently draw large home crowds.

Tasty Matchups

Such is the talent level in the NWSL that the entire league is a tasty matchup with every team capable of beating one another — making a proper Decision Day so enticing. Still, the April 1 rematch of the 2022 NWSL Championship match between the Kansas City Current and the Portland Thorns is circle-the-date viewing. The Current host the Thorns and feature a reloaded roster that includes Debinha, Morgan Gautrat, Vanessa DiBernardo, No. 2 overall draft pick Michelle Cooper, and international Hanna Glas.

(Speaking of Debinha, she returns to North Carolina to face her former team on opening weekend.)

Challenge Cup vs. World Cup

Progress, kind of. Running the Challenge Cup concurrently with the regular season was always the better option. Players get a proper preseason and coaches can give bench players some meaningful minutes they may not otherwise get.

Three groups of four teams will play double round-robin matches sprinkled throughout the season. The first set of matches begin in April, followed by second and third rounds in May and June, respectively.

The league isn’t taking an official break for the 2023 World Cup, which runs from July 20 through August 20; rather, 16 Challenge Cup games fill that spot, starting on July 21 and running through August 6. Nonplaying weekends bookend the stretch of games, ostensibly to give players rest.

Semifinal matches will be played on Wednesday, September 6, and the final on Saturday, September 9.

NWSL Championship

The top six teams qualify for the NWSL playoffs, which begin on October 22. Similar to past years, the top two regular-season seeds receive first-round byes. Semifinals will be on November 4, and the Championship set for November 11.

Winner of the Day

The Chicago Red Stars did this:

Schedule

The schedule is below with Challenge Cup games noted in bold. All times eastern. The league will release broadcast information at a later date but expect all matches to be spread across CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, and Paramount+ for domestic viewers. More info to come for international viewers, but let’s hope the league won’t give international viewers the short shrift — a grave mistake.

DATEDAYHOMEAWAYSTADIUMTIME (ET)WATCHRESULT
March 25SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Kansas City Current WakeMed Soccer Park 2:00 p.m.  TBD
March 25SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Chicago Red Stars Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
March 26SundayWashington Spirit OL Reign Audi Field 4:00 p.m.  TBD
March 26SundayPortland Thorns FC Orlando Pride Providence Park 5:00 p.m.  TBD
March 26SundayHouston Dash Racing Louisville FC Shell Energy Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
March 26SundayAngel City FC NJ/NY Gotham FC BMO Stadium 9:00 p.m.  TBD
April 1SaturdayKansas City Current Portland Thorns FC Children's Mercy Park 12:50 p.m.  TBD
April 1SaturdayChicago Red Stars Houston Dash SeatGeek Stadium 2:00 p.m.  TBD
April 1SaturdayRacing Louisville FC Washington Spirit Lynn Family Stadium 3:00 p.m.  TBD
April 1SaturdayNJ/NY Gotham FC OL Reign Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
April 1SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC North Carolina Courage Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 2SundayOrlando Pride Angel City FC Exploria Stadium 5:30 p.m.  TBD
April 14FridayPortland Thorns FC Houston Dash Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
April 15SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Washington Spirit WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
April 15SaturdayOrlando Pride NJ/NY Gotham FC Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
April 15SaturdayChicago Red Stars Kansas City Current SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
April 15SaturdayAngel City FC Racing Louisville FC BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 15SaturdayOL Reign San Diego Wave FC Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 19WednesdayOrlando Pride North Carolina Courage Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
April 19WednesdayNJ/NY Gotham FC Washington Spirit Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
April 19WednesdayHouston Dash Kansas City Current Shell Energy Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
April 19WednesdayAngel City FC OL Reign BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 19WednesdaySan Diego Wave FC Portland Thorns FC Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 22SaturdayKansas City Current Orlando Pride Children's Mercy Park 3:00 p.m.  TBD
April 22SaturdayOL Reign Chicago Red Stars Lumen Field 3:30 p.m.  TBD
April 22SaturdayWashington Spirit Houston Dash Audi Field 7:00 p.m.  TBD
April 22SaturdayNJ/NY Gotham FC North Carolina Courage Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
April 22SaturdayPortland Thorns FC Racing Louisville FC Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
April 23SundayAngel City FC San Diego Wave FC BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
April 28FridayHouston Dash North Carolina Courage Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
April 29SaturdayRacing Louisville FC OL Reign Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
April 29SaturdayChicago Red Stars Washington Spirit SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
April 29SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Orlando Pride Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
April 29SaturdayPortland Thorns FC Angel City FC Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
April 30SundayKansas City Current NJ/NY Gotham FC Children's Mercy Park 6:00 p.m.  TBD
May 3WednesdayNorth Carolina Courage NJ/NY Gotham FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
May 3WednesdayHouston Dash Chicago Red Stars Shell Energy Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 3WednesdayOL Reign Angel City FC Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
May 6SaturdayWashington Spirit San Diego Wave FC Audi Field 1:00 p.m.  TBD
May 6SaturdayOrlando Pride Racing Louisville FC Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
May 6SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Portland Thorns FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
May 6SaturdayOL Reign Houston Dash Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
May 7SundayChicago Red Stars NJ/NY Gotham FC SeatGeek Stadium 6:00 p.m.  TBD
May 7SundayAngel City FC Kansas City Current BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 10WednesdayWashington Spirit Orlando Pride Audi Field 7:30 p.m.  TBD
May 12FridayRacing Louisville FC Chicago Red Stars Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
May 12FridayHouston Dash Portland Thorns FC Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
May 13SaturdayAngel City FC Washington Spirit BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
May 14SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Orlando Pride Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
May 14SundayNorth Carolina Courage OL Reign WakeMed Soccer Park 3:00 p.m.  TBD
May 14SundayKansas City Current San Diego Wave FC Children's Mercy Park 6:00 p.m.  TBD
May 17WednesdayRacing Louisville FC Kansas City Current Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
May 20SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Angel City FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
May 20SaturdayOrlando Pride Washington Spirit Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
May 20SaturdayKansas City Current Racing Louisville FC Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 20SaturdayHouston Dash San Diego Wave FC Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
May 21SundayPortland Thorns FC Chicago Red Stars Providence Park 5:00 p.m.  TBD
May 21SundayOL Reign NJ/NY Gotham FC Lumen Field 6:00 p.m.  TBD
May 26FridayKansas City Current Houston Dash Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 26FridaySan Diego Wave FC Portland Thorns FC Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
May 27SaturdayOL Reign Angel City FC Lumen Field 3:30 p.m.  TBD
May 27SaturdayRacing Louisville FC North Carolina Courage Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
May 27SaturdayChicago Red Stars Orlando Pride SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 28SundayWashington Spirit NJ/NY Gotham FC Audi Field 5:00 p.m.  TBD
May 31WednesdayChicago Red Stars Racing Louisville FC SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
May 31WednesdaySan Diego Wave FC OL Reign Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
May 31WednesdayPortland Thorns FC Angel City FC Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
June 3SaturdayOL Reign Portland Thorns FC Lumen Field 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 3SaturdayHouston Dash Orlando Pride Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
June 3SaturdayKansas City Current North Carolina Courage Children's Mercy Park 8:30 p.m.  TBD
June 3SaturdayWashington Spirit Racing Louisville FC Audi Field 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 4SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC San Diego Wave FC Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
June 4SundayAngel City FC Chicago Red Stars BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 7WednesdayNJ/NY Gotham FC Orlando Pride Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
June 9FridayRacing Louisville FC San Diego Wave FC Lynn Family Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 10SaturdayWashington Spirit Angel City FC Audi Field 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 10SaturdayChicago Red Stars North Carolina Courage SeatGeek Stadium TBA TBD
June 10SaturdayOL Reign Kansas City Current Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
June 11SundayHouston Dash NJ/NY Gotham FC Shell Energy Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 11SundayOrlando Pride Portland Thorns FC Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 14WednesdayWashington Spirit North Carolina Courage Audi Field 7:30 p.m.  TBD
June 14WednesdayRacing Louisville FC Houston Dash Lynn Family Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 14WednesdayKansas City Current Chicago Red Stars Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 17SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Angel City FC Snapdragon Stadium 4:00 p.m.  TBD
June 17SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Orlando Pride WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 17SaturdayHouston Dash OL Reign Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
June 18SundayRacing Louisville FC NJ/NY Gotham FC Lynn Family Stadium 4:00 p.m.  TBD
June 18SundayChicago Red Stars Portland Thorns FC SeatGeek Stadium 6:00 p.m.  TBD
June 18SundayKansas City Current Washington Spirit Children's Mercy Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 23FridayPortland Thorns FC Washington Spirit Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
June 24SaturdayOrlando Pride Kansas City Current Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 24SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Racing Louisville FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 24SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC OL Reign Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
June 25SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Chicago Red Stars Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
June 25SundayAngel City FC Houston Dash BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
June 28WednesdayOrlando Pride NJ/NY Gotham FC Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
June 28WednesdayAngel City FC San Diego Wave FC BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
June 28WednesdayPortland Thorns FC OL Reign Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
July 1SaturdayOL Reign Racing Louisville FC Lumen Field 3:30 p.m.  TBD
July 1SaturdayWashington Spirit Orlando Pride Audi Field 7:00 p.m.  TBD
July 1SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Houston Dash WakeMed Soccer Park 7:30 p.m.  TBD
July 1SaturdayChicago Red Stars San Diego Wave FC SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 1SaturdayPortland Thorns FC Kansas City Current Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
July 2SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Angel City FC Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
July 7FridayOrlando Pride OL Reign Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
July 7FridayRacing Louisville FC Kansas City Current Lynn Family Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 7FridayHouston Dash Chicago Red Stars Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
July 8SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Washington Spirit Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
July 9SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Portland Thorns FC Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
July 9SundayAngel City FC North Carolina Courage BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 21FridayRacing Louisville FC Chicago Red Stars Lynn Family Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 21FridayPortland Thorns FC San Diego Wave FC Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
July 22SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Washington Spirit WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
July 22SaturdayKansas City Current Houston Dash Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 28FridayWashington Spirit NJ/NY Gotham FC Audi Field 7:00 p.m.  TBD
July 28FridayOL Reign San Diego Wave FC Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
July 29SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage Orlando Pride WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
July 29SaturdayChicago Red Stars Kansas City Current SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
July 29SaturdayHouston Dash Racing Louisville FC Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
July 29SaturdayAngel City FC Portland Thorns FC BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
August 4FridayOrlando Pride Washington Spirit Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
August 4FridayKansas City Current Racing Louisville FC Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
August 5SaturdayNJ/NY Gotham FC North Carolina Courage Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
August 5SaturdayChicago Red Stars Houston Dash SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
August 5SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Angel City FC Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
August 6SundayOL Reign Portland Thorns FC Lumen Field 6:00 p.m.  TBD
August 18FridayKansas City Current OL Reign Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
August 19SaturdayRacing Louisville FC Angel City FC Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
August 19SaturdayHouston Dash Washington Spirit Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
August 19SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC NJ/NY Gotham FC Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
August 20SundayOrlando Pride Chicago Red Stars Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
August 20SundayPortland Thorns FC North Carolina Courage Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
August 25FridayOrlando Pride San Diego Wave FC Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
August 26SaturdayHouston Dash Kansas City Current Shell Energy Stadium 8:30 p.m.  TBD
August 27SundayNorth Carolina Courage Chicago Red Stars WakeMed Soccer Park 2:00 p.m.  TBD
August 27SundayWashington Spirit Portland Thorns FC Audi Field 5:00 p.m.  TBD
August 27SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Racing Louisville FC Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
August 27SundayAngel City FC OL Reign BMO Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
September 1FridayKansas City Current Angel City FC Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
September 2SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage NJ/NY Gotham FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
September 2SaturdayRacing Louisville FC Portland Thorns FC Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
September 3SundayWashington Spirit Chicago Red Stars Audi Field 5:00 p.m.  TBD
September 3SundayOL Reign Orlando Pride Lumen Field 6:00 p.m.  TBD
September 3SundaySan Diego Wave FC Houston Dash Snapdragon Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
September 6WednesdayTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
September 6WednesdayTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
September 6SaturdayTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
September 15FridayRacing Louisville FC Houston Dash Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
September 16SaturdayNJ/NY Gotham FC Washington Spirit Red Bull Arena 7:30 p.m.  TBD
September 16SaturdaySan Diego Wave FC Kansas City Current Snapdragon Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
September 16SaturdayPortland Thorns FC OL Reign Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
September 17SundayChicago Red Stars Angel City FC SeatGeek Stadium 6:00 p.m.  TBD
September 17SundayOrlando Pride North Carolina Courage Exploria Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
September 21ThursdayAngel City FC Orlando Pride BMO Stadium 10:00 p.m.  TBD
September 30SaturdayWashington Spirit Kansas City Current Audi Field 7:00 p.m.  TBD
September 30SaturdayChicago Red Stars Racing Louisville FC SeatGeek Stadium 8:00 p.m.  TBD
September 30SaturdayPortland Thorns FC San Diego Wave FC Providence Park 10:30 p.m.  TBD
October 1SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Houston Dash Red Bull Arena 5:30 p.m.  TBD
October 1SundayOL Reign North Carolina Courage Lumen Field 8:00 p.m.  TBD
October 6FridayRacing Louisville FC Orlando Pride Lynn Family Stadium 7:30 p.m.  TBD
October 6FridayOL Reign Washington Spirit Lumen Field 10:00 p.m.  TBD
October 7SaturdayPortland Thorns FC NJ/NY Gotham FC Providence Park 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 7SaturdayNorth Carolina Courage San Diego Wave FC WakeMed Soccer Park 7:00 p.m.  TBD
October 7SaturdayKansas City Current Chicago Red Stars Children's Mercy Park 8:00 p.m.  TBD
October 8SundayHouston Dash Angel City FC Shell Energy Stadium 7:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundayWashington Spirit North Carolina Courage Audi Field 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundayNJ/NY Gotham FC Kansas City Current Red Bull Arena 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundayOrlando Pride Houston Dash Exploria Stadium 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundayChicago Red Stars OL Reign SeatGeek Stadium 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundayAngel City FC Portland Thorns FC BMO Stadium 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 15SundaySan Diego Wave FC Racing Louisville FC Snapdragon Stadium 5:00 p.m.  TBD
October 22SundayQuarterfinalist 1Quarterfinalist 2TBDTBDTBD
November 4SaturdaySemifinalist 1Semifinalist 2TBDTBDTBD
November 11SaturdayFinalist 1Finalist 2TBDTBDTBD