The NWSL schedule has finally arrived, just 50 days out from the new one-off Challenge Cup match between the reigning champions Gotham FC and Shield winners San Diego Wave and 51 days before the official start of the 2024 regular season on March 16.
On Thursday, the league also released television and streaming assignments for all of this year’s regular season matches across its various new broadcast partners — and formally introduced its own free streaming service, unimaginatively titled NWSL+.
Thursday’s schedule release is missing one major piece, though: Details for international viewers. The league said in its release that “details regarding international distribution will be announced in the coming weeks.”
With expansion teams Utah Royals FC and Bay FC joining the fray this year, fourteen teams will play 26 games each – 13 home and 13 away – during the regular season. Add in six playoff games and the NWSL Championship in November, and you get a total of 189 games. Of these matches, 121 will make it to various channels and streaming options across ABC/ESPN, CBS, ION and Amazon Prime Video. The rest will be on NWSL+.
There’s a ton to dig into. Here are the main takeaways from the 2024 NWSL regular season schedule.
The impact of the new media rights deals
The…
