The NWSL season’s official kickoff comes on Friday night, when NJ/NY Gotham FC hosts the San Diego Wave in the 2024 Challenge Cup.
While the Challenge Cup used to be an in-season tournament, it is now a one-off match that will kick off the campaign.
Gotham FC, the defending NWSL champion will host the Wave, the defending NWSL Shield winner, before the NWSL regular season starts on Saturday.
The home side added a host of U.S. national team stars over the offseason, with Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Sonnett all joining. Lavelle, along with fellow USWNT attacker Lynn Williams, will miss this match for the Bats with injury.
Featuring USWNT talent like Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw, the Wave will one again be expected to be near the top of the table in 2024.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave (NWSL Challenge Cup)
- When: Friday, March 15
- Where: Red Bull Arena (Harrison, N.J.)
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel/streaming: Prime Video
[lawrence-related id=51912,53210,51675]
We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.