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NWSL Announces Opening Games for 2017 Season

By Steve Fowler

Aug 7, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers' fans line up to enter Providence Park to watch the Timbers play Sporting Kansas City. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers' fans line up to enter Providence Park to watch the Timbers play Sporting Kansas City. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NWSL 2017 season kicks off Saturday, April 15th with four games, including the Portland Thorns hosting the Orlando Pride on Lifetime network!

The NWSL announced on Tuesday the 2017 home openers for each club. The full schedule will feature each team playing 24 games with 12 matches at home, and 12 away.

The full schedule has not yet been released, but is expected within the new few days.

Home Openers (home teams listed first)

WEEK 1

Saturday, April 15
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride (Providence Park) (Lifetime TV Game of the Week)
Seattle Reign FC vs. Sky Blue FC (Memorial Stadium)
Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage (Maryland SoccerPlex)

Sunday, April 16
FC Kansas City vs. Boston Breakers (Swope Soccer Village)

WEEK 2

Saturday, April 22
Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City (Toyota Park)
North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC (WakeMed Soccer Park)
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit (Orlando City Stadium)

Sunday, April 23
Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC (Jordan Field)

WEEK 3

Sunday, April 30
Sky Blue FC vs. FC Kansas City (Yurcak Field)

To get everyone in the mood for these season openers, here is a packed stadium watching the league debut of Orlando Pride visiting the Portland Thorns last April.

Opening weekend comments for each team:

  • Boston Breakers. The Breakers could not have asked for a better start to their 2017 season. They face the only team who struggled against them in 2016. Can Boston build confidence in their rookie class with a victory against Kansas City?
  • Chicago Red Stars. The Red Stars travel to Houston, where Christen Press and her teammates lead the attack for Chicago as they hope to return to the playoffs again in 2017.
  • FC Kansas City. Kansas City had struggled a bit in 2016, but start their season at home against a very young Boston squad looking to turn things around. Will the return of Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux Dwyer catapult this team back into the playoffs?

    • Houston Dash.

    Carli Lloyd has left for greener pastures in Manchester City, so this is now Kealia O’Hai’s team until Lloyd returns in June. She and her teammates look to take the exciting soccer form and chemistry from September 2016, and keep that momentum going for their home opener against the Chicago Red Stars.

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  • North Carolina Courage. The team formerly known as Western New York Flash defend their 2016 Championship title at their new home, facing the same Spirit team that they defeated with penalty kicks in overtime. Can Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald take them back to the promised land for a consecutive title?
  • Orlando Pride. The Pride travel to Portland for a national broadcast game on Lifetime. They will be missing their star Alex Morgan for several weeks, but can newly acquired players like Ali Krieger lead the 2016 expansion team into their first playoffs in 2017?
  • Portland Thorns FC. With seemingly all the talent in the world, and a huge fan base known as the Rose City Riveters, the Thorns look to avenge last year’s playoff loss and march to the 2017 championship. Will Allie Long, Tobin Heath, and Christine Sinclair start the year strong in their home opener against the Pride?
  • Seattle Reign FC. By Seattle Reign standards, 2016 was a disappointing season. However, they just missed the playoffs finishing in fifth place. This year they will be hungry and play their home opener against the Sky Blue, who shocked them early last year. Will Seattle get revenge, and begin their quest for another NWSL Shield, and potential championship?
  • Sky Blue FC. Many people thought the Sky Blue had one of the better 2017 drafts. Can they lead their rookies against an established team of veterans and talented international players, and upset the Seattle Reign once again?
  • Washington Spirit. It was a disappointing end to last season, losing the 2016 Championship to the Western New York Flash in penalty kicks. In the off-season, they have lost many of their stars players to Europe and various trades. Can a refurbished Spirit squad pull off a miracle, and upset the Courage at home?

    • Next: Hope Solo TV Interview and new deal with INvelop

    The NWSL has promised that all games should still be available free on the internet. However, at 4 PM Saturday, April 15th, tune into the Lifetime channel and watch the Portland Thorns host the Orlando Pride!

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