NWSL

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CBS Sports » Seasons 2020-2022 CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network will combine to show live NWSL games. OTT streaming service Paramount+ will provide live exclusive streams as well. Available on: CBS CBS Sports Network CBSSports.com Paramount+

How to watch the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup game between NC Courage and Washington Spirit on Saturday, April 10, 2021

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The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup will resume Saturday, with the NC Courage hosting the Washington Spirit at 3:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup opener between the Dash and Red Stars on Friday, April 9

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The Houston Dash and the Chicago Red Stars will headline the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup on opening day on Friday in a replay of the final in the first edition.

This Week in Women’s Football: Gotham FC, NWSL Challenge Cup, UEFA Women’s EURO playoffs, USWNT friendlies

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The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO playoffs will start on Friday while the U.S. women’s national team gears up to play against Sweden and France. Also, meet NWSL’s NJ/NY Gotham City, formerly known as Sky Blue FC.

Sky Blue FC rebrands as NJ/NY Gotham FC to become more globally recognizable

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National Women’s Soccer League team formerly known as Sky Blue FC unveiled a complete brand transformation, including a name change to NJ/NY Gotham FC and a new crest depicting Lady Liberty’s crown.

This Week in Women’s Football: UWCL update, Montemurro parts ways with Arsenal, NWSL trades & more

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Let’s go over the UWCL quarterfinal results and semifinal what ifs, Joe Montemurro’s departure from Arsenal at the end of the season and the list of women’s football games to watch this weekend.

The National Women’s Soccer League is the top-flight professional league for women in the United States. It was founded on November 21, 2012, and it was owned by the teams under a management contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation. As of January 2021, U.S. Soccer is no longer managing the league, although some aspects of the partnership remain.

The NWSL is a successor to Women’s Professional Soccer (2007-2012), which was a successor to Women’s United Soccer Association (2001-2003) – the world’s first women’s soccer league in which players were paid as professionals.

The NWSL kicked-off with its 2013 season featuring eight teams, four of which were former participants in the WPS (Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue, Western New York Flash). The league saw FC Kansas City and Boston Breakers fold and introduced three expansion teams – Houston (2014), Orlando (2016), Salt Lake City (2018) – across seven years. In 2020, Utah Royals FC (Salt Lake City) sold its ownership and relocated to Kansas City following sexual and racist harassment allegations against owner Dell Loy Hansen. Moreover, Louisville was introduced as the fourth expansion team was introduced in 2021. The NWSL's 10th year anniversary will be celebrated with the introduction of two more expansion teams - Angel City FC (2022), Sacramento (2022).

Current teams:

Chicago Red Stars
Houston Dash
Kansas City
North Carolina Courage
OL Reign
Orlando Pride
Portland Thorns
Racing Louisville
Sky Blue
Washington Spirit

The NWSL typically runs from May through November and consists of ten teams. Each team plays 24 regular season games meaning that contenders play each other three times. The team with the most points at the end of the season is awarded the regular-season title.

The NWSL playoffs consist of the six clubs with the most points in the regular season. The top two teams will receive a first-round bye, while the other four teams play single knockout quarterfinals games. The winners will join the top two seeded teams in the semifinals' single knockout games. The two winners advance to the NWSL Championship to fight for the title.