NWSL Preseason: How the 14 Teams are Preparing
The 2024 season is inching closer and closer. With preseason just a few more weeks, we take a look at what each team has been up to in preparation for the 2024 season.
North Carolina Courage
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The Courage traveled to Florida for the start of their preseason. They spent a week at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where they trained and then held a closed-door scrimmage against the Chicago Red Stars. While in Florida, they also took on the Orlando Pride in a closed-door scrimmage.
North Carolina kicks off the 2024 regular season at home against the Houston Dash on March 16 at 7 p.m.
San Diego Wave
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To start their preseason, the Wave held a closed-door scrimmage against UCLA. They traveled to Indio, California, to take part in the Coachella Valley Invitational. It’s the first time that the preseason tournament included women’s teams, with four NWSL squads participating. San Diego beat Bay FC 2-1 and fell to Portland 2-1.
The Wave begin their season on March 15 when they take on NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2024 Challenge Cup at 8 PM ET.
Washington Spirit
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The Spirit are traveling twice for their preseason plans, with their first camp being held in Chula Vista, California, and then they’ll head to Bradenton, Florida, to finish up preseason at IMG Academy. While in Florida, they’ll scrimmage against the Houston Dash and Orlando Pride.
Washington begins their regular season on the road, traveling to take on OL Reign on March 17 at 6 PM ET.
Bay FC
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Bay FC began their preseason camp in Santa Barbara, California, where they spent a little over a week. They ended their preseason camp by participating in the Coachella Valley Invitational, going up against the San Diego Wave and Angel City FC in the tournament.
Bay FC will play their first regular season game on March 16 when they travel to face Angel City FC.
Angel City
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Angel City also participated in the Coachella Valley Invitational. At the tournament, they faced Bay FC in a scoreless match on Saturday, February 24. It was the first chance for fans to see the 2024 Angel City squad play.
Angel City begins its regular season schedule on March 16 against new Californian rivals Bay FC.
Chicago Red Stars
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The Chicago Red Stars held part of their preseason camp in Florida, and while there, they held a scrimmage against the North Carolina Courage. They will also play against Racing Louisville in March. They’ll likely also host some other scrimmages that they have yet to announce.
Chicago begins their regular season on March 16 against the Utah Royals.
Racing Louisville
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Louisville began their preseason by traveling to Arizona and facing off against the Houston Dash. They’ll also travel to Purdue University to take on the Chicago Red Stars in early March. On February 27, they’ll travel to Colombia to participate in the Women’s Cup, where they’ll face Colombian team América de Cali and either NJ/NY Gotham FC or Deportivo Cali.
Racing begins their regular season at home on March 16 against the Orlando Pride.
Houston Dash
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Houston planned two trips for their preseason with the team traveling to Arizona and also spending time at IMG Academy in Florida. During preseason, they’ll play scrimmages against Racing Louisville, the University of Arizona, the Costa Rican national team, the University of Texas, Washington Spirit, and the Kansas City Current.
The Dash will start their season on the road with a trip to North Carolina to face the Courage on March 16.
Utah Royals
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Utah spent a week in Mexico preparing for their first season back in the league under new ownership. They’ll spend the rest of their preseason in Utah and open the 2024 regular season against the Chicago Red Stars on March 16.
NJ/NY Gotham FC
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Gotham is the second NWSL club that will head to Colombia to participate in the Women’s Cup. They’ll play Deportivo Cali in their first match and then either Racing Louisville or América de Cali.
The reigning NWSL Champions play host to the Wave on March 15 in the NWSL Challenge Cup.
Portland Thorns
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The Thorns will spend most of their preseason in Portland, but they traveled to California to train and participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational, where they beat San Diego 2-1.
Portland travels to take on the Kansas City Current in their 2024 season opener on March 16.
Seattle Reign
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The Reign traveled to California and then Costa Rica to take on the Costa Rican national team at the beginning of February. They’ll also scrimmage against the University of Washington in early March ahead of the regular season.
Seattle begins their regular season at home, hosting the Washington Spirit on March 16.
Kansas City Current
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The Current will also be traveling to train at IMG Academy this offseason, and while there, they will play scrimmages against Florida State, Orlando Pride, and the Houston Dash.
Kansas City hosts the Portland Thorns in their 2024 season opener, and the match will be the first at CPKC Stadium.
Orlando Pride
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The Pride has quite a few preseason scrimmages lined up as well as a week-long training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Orlando plans to hold scrimmages against the North Carolina Courage, the University of Central Florida. Kansas City Current, Florida State, Florida, and the Washington Spirit.
Orlando begins their 2024 campaign against Racing Louisville on March 16.
Featured image via @nwsl on Instagram
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