ESPN and the National Women’s Soccer League have announced an agreement to televise league matches during the 2019 season.
What’s happening:
- ESPN and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), announced today an agreement to televise 14 league matches during the 2019 season.
- Eight matches will air on ESPNEWS, and the remaining six, including the two semifinals and the championship, will air on ESPN2.
- The NWSL features many of the world’s top players such as:
- Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), who scored the most goals by a single player in a Women’s World Cup game on June 11
- Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), who set a Women’s World Cup tournament record June 16 with a goal in her sixth consecutive game
- Marta (Orlando Pride), the all-time leader of men and women soccer players with her record 17th World Cup goal
- Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC) who continues to dominate the sport with the most goals scored in Reign FC franchise history
- NWSL telecasts will begin Sunday, July 14, at 3 pm ET on ESPNEWS, with a matchup of the Portland Thorns vs. Orlando Pride, live from Portland’s Providence Park.
- Portland’s roster features U.S. Women’s National Team stars:
- Tobin Heath
- Lindsey Horan
- Canadian captain Christine Sinclair
- Orlando’s stars include:
- Brazil captain Marta
- Alex Morgan
- The NWSL Championship will air Sunday, Oct. 27, at 4 pm on ESPN2, with tickets going on sale this month.
- All NWSL match telecasts on ESPN networks will stream live on the ESPN App.
What they’re saying:
- NWSL President Amanda Duffy: “NWSL is a global leader in women’s professional soccer, with collectively the most talented players in the world. Together with the reach of ESPN’s vast network, we have the opportunity to bring more games to a broader audience across the country and world. Even in the year leading up to the Women’s World Cup, we have continued to experience tremendous growth through the support, engagement, and visibility from our fans.”
- Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN: “We are pleased to once again televise the National Women’s Soccer League and showcase many of the world’s top female players when they return to their professional club teams. The success and excitement of the World Cup in France has been on full display and the NWSL represents the best women’s club soccer in the world.”
2019 NWSL Schedule on ESPN:
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Event |
Platforms |
|
Sun, Jul 14 |
3 pm |
Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride |
ESPNEWS |
|
Sun, Jul 21 |
6 pm |
Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage |
ESPN2 |
|
Sat, Jul 27 |
10 pm |
Utah Royals FC vs. North Carolina Courage |
ESPNEWS |
|
Fri, Aug 2 |
7 pm |
Houston Dash vs. Reign FC |
ESPNEWS |
|
Sun, Aug 11 |
3 pm |
Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage |
ESPNEWS |
|
Sun, Aug 18 |
1 pm |
Sky Blue FC vs. Reign FC |
ESPNEWS |
|
Sun, Aug 25 |
3 pm |
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars |
ESPNEWS |
|
Wed, Sep 11 |
7 pm |
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars |
ESPNEWS |
|
Tue, Sep 17 |
7:30 pm |
North Carolina Courage vs. Houston Dash |
ESPNEWS |
|
Wed, Sep 25 |
9 pm |
Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit |
ESPN2 |
|
Sun, Sep 29 |
2 pm |
Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC |
ESPN2 |
|
Sun, Oct 20 |
2 pm |
Semifinal I |
ESPN2 |
|
|
4 pm |
Semifinal II |
ESPN2 |
|
Sun, Oct 27 |
4 pm |
NWSL Championship |
ESPN2 |
About NWSL:
- The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the highest level of professional women’s soccer in the United States.
- Featuring players from around the world, the nine-team Division-I women’s professional soccer league includes:
- Chicago Red Stars
- Houston Dash
- North Carolina Courage
- Orlando Pride
- Portland Thorns FC
- Reign FC
- Sky Blue FC
- Utah Royals FC
- Washington Spirit
- Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation. www.NWSLsoccer.com.
About ESPN:
- ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise features more than 50 assets:
- Eight U.S. television networks
- Direct-to-consumer ESPN+
- ESPN Radio
- ESPN.com
- ESPN International
- ESPN The Magazine
- And more
- ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.