The NWSL will celebrate its first competitive fixture of the year with the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup on Friday night. This year it will be a rematch of the 2024 NWSL Championship final between reigning title holders Orlando Pride and runners-up Washington Spirit. The first game of the year will be a singular match with a cup title on the line as the NWSL rings in its latest campaign. The 2025 regular season will begin with opening weekend on March 14.
But why does the competitive calendar for NWSL start with this game? Let’s take a look at what to know about the Challenge Cup:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday, March 7 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando, Fla.
- Live stream: Amazon Prime Video
- Odds: Orlando Pride +130; Draw +230; Washington Spirit +200
History of the Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup was launched in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The then-month-long tournament was created as a placeholder in lieu of a traditional multi-week season. The original competition took place in Utah, with eight of the then-nine teams participating, as Orlando Pride were forced to withdraw due to a string of multiple positive COVID tests a day before the tournament. Players, coaches, and staff lived and worked in…
