NWSL: The 2020 Challenge Cup Preview

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PORTLAND, OR – SEPTEMBER 21: Allysha Chapman #4 of the Houston Dash kicks the ball during a game between the Houston Dash and the Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park on September 21, 2019, in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /

Houston Dash

Unlike Chicago and Washington, the Houston Dash benefited from the new scheduling tremendously. Houston now plays the Utah Royals, OL Reign, Sky Blue FC and the Washington Spirit. The Dash were scheduled to play Chicago, North Carolina, Sky Blue and Washington.

Although the scheduling does benefit Houston, it’s hard to imagine this team bringing home any silverware out of this competition. Goals were hard to come by in 2019, finishing second-to-last with 21. It doesn’t help, then, that two of the club’s four top goalscorers from last year are no longer with the team.

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A positive for the Dash is that they kept team-leading goalscorer, Rachel Daly, though she only notched five goals, and her teammate Kristie Mewis, who ended last year with four. The new draw benefits Houston, but it’s hard to see them making a deep run in the tournament.

Utah Royals

The Utah Royals benefited from the new schedule, but not as much as Houston. The Royals will face Houston, Sky Blue, OL Reign and Chicago before advancing to the knockout rounds. Instead of having the toughest draw in the league, Utah gets a little bit of a break playing Sky Blue and Houston who were in the bottom half of the table last year.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Utah was the presence of Christen Press. After reports that she would not be participating, her absence was made official earlier this week. She ended 2019 with eight goals 14 games played, making her one of the most efficient goalscorers in the league. She will be sorely missed.

Utah will, however, send their team leader in goals, Amy Rodriguez with nine, while USWNT player Kelley O’ Hara will lead the defense after the club lost veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn to the Portland Thorns. Things don’t look great for the hosts, but it’s not as bleak as it was before.

North Carolina Courage

The two-time defending champions got a much harder draw than what they were originally scheduled, but they’re still one of the easy favorites to win the competition. The North Carolina Courage faces the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit, Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue. The Courage-Thorns matchup will kick off the tournament on CBS and the Red Stars will try to get revenge after losing to North Carolina in the final last year.

The Courage was already one of the favorites in the tournament, regardless of which players participated or now. Now, as rosters are official, it’s even more difficult to see someone besides North Carolina taking home the silverware. All of the club’s USWNT players and several international stars like Stephanie Labbe and Debinha are playing in the competition.

The only real question fans have is who will replace right-back Merritt Mathias who is listed on the 45-Day DL after tearing her ACL last year. The Courage are ready to defend the last two NWSL championships with the 2020 Challenge Cup in Utah. They will take some beating.

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