NWSL Announces 2026 Season Schedule and Broadcast Details

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has released its 2026 regular season schedule and broadcast details. The league's 14th season is set to begin in March, building on recent growth in viewership, attendance, and fan engagement.## Broadcast CoverageThe league's four-year domestic media rights agreements with CBS Sports, ESPN, ION, and Prime Video will feature 220 matches on national platforms. This includes 212 regular season contests, all seven playoff matches, and the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup.## 2026 NWSL Kickoff WeekendThe 2026 NWSL regular season will commence on Friday, March 13, with all 16 clubs scheduled to play.* Friday, March 13: Prime Video will feature the 2025 NWSL Championship runner-up Washington Spirit hosting Portland Thorns FC.* Saturday, March 14: ABC will broadcast Boston Legacy FC against defending NWSL Champion Gotham FC. ION will also present a tripleheader, including the debut of Denver Summit FC.* Sunday, March 15: Victory+ will host a doubleheader, featuring Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC, and Angel City FC vs. Chicago Stars FC.## Season Format and Broadcast DistributionEach NWSL club will play 30 regular season matches, consisting of 15 home and 15 away fixtures.* Prime Video: Will air Friday night matches, typically at 8 p.m. ET or 10 p.m. ET.* ION: Will present Saturday night doubleheaders and a weekly studio show.* CBS Sports Platforms (CBS Television Network/Paramount+, CBS Sports Network): Will carry a package of regular season matches.* ESPN (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN App): Will televise matches with live streaming in English and Spanish, including Latin American rights.* Victory+: Will feature a weekly Sunday night showcase and 32 additional matches, available for free streaming.* NWSL+: Remaining matches will stream on the league’s free direct-to-consumer platform.## League-wide Competition PauseRegular season matches will be paused from June 1 to June 28. This includes a CBA-mandated break from June 8-14 and a halt for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Play will resume on July 3 after the tournament's group stage.## 2026 NWSL Challenge CupThe NWSL Challenge Cup, presented by e.l.f., will take place on Friday, June 26, at 8 p.m. ET. It will feature 2025 NWSL Champion Gotham FC and 2025 NWSL Shield winner Kansas City Current, held at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be streamed live on Prime Video.## NWSL Rivalry Week and Decision DayNWSL Rivalry Week, presented by Ally, is scheduled for July 10-15, featuring several key matchups:* July 10: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current* July 11: San Diego Wave FC vs. Angel City FC* July 12: Seattle Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC (Cascadia Rivalry)* July 15: Gotham FC vs. Washington SpiritThe regular season will conclude with NWSL Decision Day on Sunday, November 1. All clubs will compete simultaneously for playoff positioning, with ESPN platforms exclusively broadcasting these matches in the U.S.## 2026 NWSL Playoffs & ChampionshipThe 2026 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, will proceed as follows:* Opening Round: November 6-8, broadcast across ESPN/ABC, CBS/Paramount+, and Prime Video.* Semifinals: November 13-15, airing on CBS/Paramount+ and ESPN/ABC.* Championship: The 2026 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will be played on Saturday, November 21. It will air in primetime on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+.