Where Each NWSL Team is Playing Their 2021 Season

The number of NSWL teams playing in stadiums with a 20,000 or greater capacity is growing as women’s soccer grows. However, many NWSL teams still play in stadiums with small capacities. Let’s take a look at the stadiums of the NWSL.

Teams with Larger Stadiums

Chicago Red Stars – SeatGeek Stadium

The Red Stars share the 20,000-seat stadium with the Chicago House AC of NISA and several minor-league teams. Until recently, the Red Stars shared the stadium with the Chicago Fire, who returned to Soldier’s Field in Chicago proper.

Orlando Pride – Exploria Stadium

The Pride share this stadium with their men’s affiliate, the MLS team Orlando City FC. This stadium is extra-large and contains 25,500 seats. Exploria has a special section with rainbow-colored seats to honor those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting.

Portland Thorns – Providence Park

The Portland Thorns share Providence Park with their men’s affiliate, the Portland Timbers. The stadium holds 25,218 people thanks to a 2019 expansion. There has been a ball field on that location since 1893. It is currently the oldest in-use soccer stadium in the US and is still a great place to watch a game. The Thorns set a league attendance record of 25,218 on August 11, 2019.

Sky Blue – Red Bull Arena

Sky Blue recently resolved several stadium problems and settled at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. They share this arena with the Red Bulls, though the teams are not affiliated. A translucent roof that expands over the fans section protects from rain but lets light in, making this arena one of the cushiest in the league. In 2020, the supporters’ section removed the seats for better cheering action.

Washington Spirit – Audi Stadium and Segra Field

The Washington Spirit splits their time between 20,000-seat Audi Stadium and the much smaller 5,000-seat Segra Field. Both stadiums are soccer-specific – which is always a plus. The Spirit is playing both of its home 2021 Champion’s Cup matches at Segra.

Houston Dash – BBVA Stadium

The Houston Dash plays in BBVA Stadium, a 22,039-seater NWSL stadium. BBVA is a multi-purpose stadium they share with the Houston Dynamo FC, the Texas Southern University football team, and other events. The stadium fits in with Houston’s post-modern/contemporary architecture. This forward-looking building received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification from the US Green Building Council.

Teams in Smaller Stadiums

Kansas City NWSL – Field of Legends

Kansas City NWSL shares the Field of Legends with a baseball team. The stadium has a 10,385-person capacity for soccer games – and that number includes standing room. As the team moved from Utah and had to start up quickly, much is changing, but the 2021 season seems to be locked into the Field of Legends.

OL Reign – Cheney Stadium

The OL Reign has been stadium-hopping for a few years. They currently play in Cheney Stadium (a baseball stadium) in Tacoma, Washington. Cheney is an older field, built in 1960, and has 6,500 seats. It takes less than a day to change it from baseball to soccer. The OL Group is building a 5,000-seat dedicated NWSL stadium next to Cheney Field.

Racing Louisville FC – Lynn Family Stadium

Racing Louisville FC will share the medium-sized (15,304 seat) Lynn Family Stadium with Louisville City FC (USLC), their men’s affiliate. Lynn Family is a new soccer-specific stadium that the city built to try to attract an MLS team.

North Carolina Courage – WakeMed Soccer Park

The North Carolina Courage play at WakeMed Soccer Park, which they share with North Carolina FC (USL) and occasional North Carolina State University games. This complex holds six fields and the 10,000-seat Sahlen’s Stadium. The team has announced plans for a new stadium seating 24,000.

Angel City FC – Banc of California

When they join the NWSL next year, Angel City FC will play in the 22,000 seat Banc of California Stadium (whose name will change soon). They will join LAFC and share the field. Planners designed this stadium to showcase the Los Angeles skyline and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Featured Image via @Portland Thorns on Instagram

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