The Challenge Cup has a new date. The annual match between the National Women’s Soccer League Champion and Shield winner will now occur in June, according to multiple sources.
This year, NY/NJ Gotham FC will face the Kansas City Current. It’s a rematch from their quarterfinal last fall, where Gotham triumphed in extra time to secure the NWSL Championship.
The original plan was to hold the Challenge Cup on February 21 at the champion’s home stadium. Gotham requested a change, citing their upcoming trip to London for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. Their placement match is set for February 1, allowing only three weeks to prepare for the Challenge Cup.
After considering replacing Gotham in the game, officials decided to change the date instead.
This will mark the third consecutive year the Challenge Cup is played as a standalone event between the trophy winners. Last year, the Washington Spirit participated after the Orlando Pride claimed both titles in 2024. The Challenge Cup began in 2020 when the league faced a season suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a month-long tournament in a bubble environment in Utah. It was then held as a preseason event in 2021 and 2022, and incorporated into the league schedule in 2023.
Without the Challenge Cup, the first significant NWSL matches are scheduled for March 13-15. The full season schedule will be announced soon.
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