NWSL set to begin season with Challenge Cup 2020

By Jennifer Edwards

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 18, 2020) It has been 40 days without women’s soccer. The season was set to open on April 18, 2020 when the National Women’s Soccer League pressed pause on the start of the season like many other sporting leagues around the world. As the world starts to slowly emerge from our quarantine nests, so does sports. These leagues are venturing into wildly uncharted territories. Some liken it to trying to navigate a hurricane in a canoe, others have cancelled their seasons altogether. The NWSL spent weeks alongside the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association to put together the NWSL Challenge Cup 2020. The Challenge Cup will be played round-robin tournament style for one month from June 27 to July 26 with all matches being played at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of the Utah Royals Soccer Club. 

Each of the nine clubs will play four games each; with the best eight clubs advancing to the semi-finals and then on to the knockout rounds with the Championship Match being played on July 26. “As our country begins to safely reopen and adjust to our collective new reality, and with the enthusiastic support of our players, owners, as well as our new and current commercial partners, the NWSL is thrilled to bring professional soccer back to the United States,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “This exciting month-long tournament will showcase our league’s talented players and provide our fans the type of world-class entertainment they’ve come to expect from the NWSL.” 

While this sounds amazing for the fans to be able to watch, especially season ticket holders who have missed the matches that they have already paid for, it brings its own set of challenges. From the number of games that will take a toll on the players bodies, to the number of substitutions needed to accommodate the altitude issues in Utah; there are a number of questions that are being raised by fans and of the sport. How will the travel look? How will players with families be accommodated? The NWSL feels confident that they can address all of these issues and more. Time will tell. At least the United States will be able to see soccer again!