NWSL: Takeaways From The 2017 Schedule Release
By Eric Harris
The biggest storylines from the release of the 2017 NWSL Schedule, and five key matches to watch out for this coming season.
Good things come to those who wait. It took until March 1st, but NWSL finally released their season schedule. Teams will play 24 games this season, up from 20 last year. The season will last about the same about of time, Mid-April through the end of September for the regular season.
No details were released on the playoffs just yet, but it sets up well to fit the games in between FIFA dates. You can checkout the full schedule and see your team’s favorite schedule here.
#NWSL announces complete 2017 regular-season schedule for its historic fifth campaign.
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 1, 2017
Details: https://t.co/pSjtR0kGRi pic.twitter.com/QQTnCPxedp
Three Takeaways from the Schedule
1. We are closer to knowing the National TV Games
The league didn’t add anything to the Lifetime deal when announcing the schedule, but at the initial announcement they said it would be in a regular time slot of 4 p.m. (ET) on Saturdays. There are two weeks where there are only one game in that time slot, North Carolina Courage take on FC Kansas City on June 3rd and the Houston Dash host Chicago on September 23rd.
Aside from that every weekend has two games in that time slot. It will be interesting to see if the league announces a full TV schedule or if they hold off to decide which games are more attractive for TV this year.
2. No break for Euros
The league is adding four games this year without extending the season or adding a bunch of weekday games (more on that later). How are they able to do that? With no extended breaks this year. The last two seasons had breaks for the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the major tournament this summer is the Euros taking place in the Netherlands in late July and early August.
Teams will have to get through the stretch without their best Euro players, which will impact more teams than others. Boston and Portland could potentially have three players gone, but Orlando and FC Kansas City have no European players on their current rosters.
3. Not many weekday games
The league did a fantastic job putting their games on weekends this year. Only 11 games are midweek matchups, and no team has more than two midweek games. The amount of times that teams need to play three games in a week are reduced, which will be a big plus for the overall quality of games.
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Five Must Watch Games
April 15: Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage
A rematch of last years championship, combined with the first game of the North Carolina Courage, is a big start to the year.
June 24: Orlando Pride vs Houston Dash
The European Leagues end in May prior to the June FIFA dates, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan could potentially be back for their teams the week before. This matchup falls in the Game of the Week time slot and could be the first time a lot of fans see two of the league’s biggest stars back home going head to head.
July 15: Portland Thorns FC vs North Carolina Courage
Last year’s game of the year was the second leg of the semifinals between Portland and Western New York that ended 4-3 in extra time. This will be first time the now North Carolina Courage will head to Portland with a new name, but largely the same team.
Next: USWNT: SheBelieves Cup Preview vs. Germany
August 26: Seattle Reign FC vs Portland Thorns FC
The biggest rivalry in the league as the playoff race will really start to heat up. Enough said.
September 30: Portland Thorns FC vs Chicago Red Stars
It’s the last week of the season and a game between my personal two favorites to win the Shield. So best case scenario this game decides the NWSL Shield, and even if it doesn’t it’s likely going to have huge playoff ramifications.