Just one day after announcing the format for the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup the NWSL announced the schedule for the tournament on Tuesday.
Orlando Pride will begin the tournament against another debuting team, Racing Louisville, giving the NWSL expansion team its first home game on April 10th. Forcing Pride into its away jersey design thanks to no longer being the only purple team in the league. The match will attract a lot of attention as it will be the first competitive match for Louisville.
On the 14th the Pride will return home, taking on Sky Blue FC at Exploria Stadium, that match will have a national audience as it will air on CBS Sports Network. With the regional divide last season it will be the first match the two teams have played since 2019 when the Pride beat the New Jersey side 1-0.
There will be a second home match in a row for Orlando when Washington Spirit come to town on the 21st. Spirit finished the 2020 Fall Season in third place, topping the competitive North East group and will be a stern test for the Lionesses.
The last match of the group stages will be a road trip as Orlando Pride head to Sahlen’s Stadium to play North Carolina Courage. All of Pride’s points from 2020 came against the Courage with a scoreless draw and a 2-2 draw proving vital to keep the women in purple off the bottom of the table. This match will be aired on CBS Sports Network.
All matches not aired on CBS Sports Network will air on Paramount +, the rebranded CBS All Access, with in the United States and on Twitch internationally. Only four matches for the entire tournament will air on CBS Sports Network so Orlando has been given a big honor of playing in half of them.
The top team in each conference will compete in the final, which will be on May 8 and aired live on CBS.
Photo courtesy Orlando Pride
Florida Soccer Report 