The NWSL on Monday unveiled its schedule for the 2022 Challenge Cup as the third annual competition will kick off on March 18. Two expansion clubs will be brought into the fold, as the league expanded to 12 clubs with the additions of Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC, and the two will play their inaugural match against each other on March 19 in Fullerton, California. You can catch NWSL games all season long on Paramount+.
The competition will feature three matches broadcast on the CBS, including the Championship Cup match, and the three matches will also stream live on Paramount+. Four games will air on CBS Sports Network, and all other matches will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S.
2022 NWSL Challenge Cup format
Here's how this year's installment of the Challenge Cup will work: Clubs will be divided into three regional groups, with each division made up of four teams. The East features NJ/NY Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit. The Central region includes the Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current and Racing Louisville FC. While the West division contains Angel City FC, OL Reign, Portland Thorns FC and San Diego Wave FC.
The tournament will kick off with a rematch of last year's regular-season opener between the Kansas City Current and Racing Louisville FC hosted at Lynn Family Stadium. The opening day festivities will close with one of the top rivalries in women's soccer as OL Reign host the 2021 Challenge Cup champion Portland Thorns FC at Lumens Field in Seattle, Washington.
The teams will compete in double round-robin matches to determine four semifinalists ahead of the NWSL Challenge Cup final set for Saturday, May 7. Below you can find broadcast details and the full schedule for the tournament.
2022 NWSL Challenge Cup TV schedule
DATE | TIME (CST) | HOME | AWAY | VENUE | PLATFORM |
Sunday, March 20 | 6:00 p.m. | Houston Dash | Chicago Red Stars | PNC Stadium | Paramount+ |
Friday, March 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Racing Louisville FC | Houston Dash | Lynn Family Stadium | Paramount+ |
Wednesday, March 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Houston Dash | Kansas City Current | PNC Stadium | Paramount+ |
Saturday, April 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Chicago Red Stars | Houston Dash | SeatGeek Stadium | Paramount+ |
Friday, April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Kansas City Current | Houston Dash | Children's Mercy Park | CBSSN |
Sunday, April 24 | 5:00 p.m. | Houston Dash | Racing Louisville FC | PNC Stadium | CBSSN |
Wednesday, May 4 (Semi-Final 1) | 7:00 p.m. | TBD | TBD | TBD | CBSSN |
Wednesday, May 4 (Semi-Final 2) | 9:00 p.m. | TBD | TBD | TBD | Paramount+ |
Saturday, May 7 (Championship) | 12:00 p.m. | TBD | TBD | TBD | CBS/ Paramount+ |
Full 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Schedule
| DATE | TIME (ET) | HOME | AWAY | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, March 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Racing Louisville FC | Kansas City Current | Lynn Family Stadium |
Friday, March 18 | 10 p.m. | OL Reign | Portland Thorns FC | Lumen Field |
Saturday, March 19 | 7 p.m. | Orlando Pride | Washington Spirit | Exploria Stadium |
Saturday, March 19 | 7 p.m. | North Carolina Courage | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Sahlen's Stadium at Wakemed Soccer Park |
Saturday, March 19 | 9 p.m. | Angel City FC | San Diego Wave FC | Titan Stadium at California State Fullerton |
Sunday, March 20 | 7 p.m. | Houston Dash | Chicago Red Stars | PNC Stadium |
Friday, March 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Racing Louisville FC | Houston Dash | Lynn Family Stadium |
Friday, March 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington Spirit | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Segra Field |
Friday, March 25 | 8:30 p.m. | Chicago Red Stars | Kansas City Current | SeatGeek Stadium |
Saturday, March 26 | 4 p.m. | Angel City FC | OL Reign | Titan Stadium at California State Fullerton |
Saturday, March 26 | 7 p.m. | North Carolina Courage | Orlando Pride | Sahlen's Stadium at Wakemed Soccer Park |
Saturday, March 26 | 10 p.m. | San Diego Wave FC | Portland Thorns FC | Torero Stadium |
Wednesday, March 30 | 7 P.M. | Orlando Pride | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Exploria Stadium |
Wednesday, March 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington Spirit | North Carolina Courage | Audi Field |
Wednesday, March 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Chicago Red Stars | Racing Louisville FC | SeatGeek Stadium |
Wednesday, March 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Houston Dash | Kansas City Current | PNC Stadium |
Wednesday, March 30 | 10 p.m. | Portland Thorns FC | Angel City FC | Providence Park |
Saturday, April 2 | 3 p.m. | Kansas City Current | Racing Louisville FC | Children's Mercy Park |
Saturday, April 2, 2022 | 4 p.m. | San Diego Wave FC | Angel City FC | Torero Stadium |
Saturday, April 2 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Red Stars | Houston Dash | SeatGeek Stadium |
Saturday, April 2 | 10 p.m. | Portland Thorns FC | OL Reign | Providence Park |
Sunday, April 3 | 4 p.m. | Washington Spirit | Orlando Pride | Audi Field |
Sunday, April 3 | 3 p.m. | NJ/NY Gotham FC | North Carolina Courage | Red Bull Arena |
Thursday, April 14 | 10 p.m. | OL Reign | San Diego Wave FC | Lumen Field |
Friday, April 15 | 8 p.m. | Kansas City Current | Houston Dash | Children's Mercy Park |
Saturday, April 16 | 7 P.M. | Orlando Pride | North Carolina Courage | Exploria Stadium |
Saturday, April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Racing Louisville FC | Chicago Red Stars | Lynn Family Stadium |
Sunday, April 17 | 7 P.M. | Portland Thorns FC | San Diego Wave FC | Providence Park |
Sunday, April 17, 2022 | 7 P.M. | OL Reign | Angel City FC | Lumen Field |
Sunday, April 17 | 3 p.m. | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Washington Spirit | Red Bull Arena |
Saturday, April 23 | 1 p.m. | North Carolina Courage | Washington Spirit | Sahlen's Stadium at Wakemed Soccer Park |
Saturday, April 23 | 10 p.m. | San Diego Wave FC | OL Reign | Torero Stadium |
Saturday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Orlando Pride | Red Bull Arena |
Sunday, April 24 | 5 p.m. | Kansas City Current | Chicago Red Stars | Children's Mercy Park |
Sunday, April 24 | 7 p.m. | Houston Dash | Racing Louisville FC | PNC Stadium |
Sunday, April 24 | 8 p.m. | Angel City FC | Portland Thorns FC | Titan Stadium at California State Fullerton |
Wednesday, May 4 (Semifinal 1) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Wednesday, May 4 (Semifinal 2) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Sunday, May 7 (Championship) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
