The National Women’s Soccer League unveiled its 2025 schedule on Wednesday, setting a new speed record for the league’s schedule release process.
Historically criticized for delayed releases, the NWSL has turned things around in 2025, announcing its schedule less than two months after the conclusion of the 2024 championship.
The 2025 schedule is designed to be more fan-friendly and accessible than ever before. With nearly all 190 games scheduled on weekends and in unique broadcast windows, fans can expect a more streamlined viewing experience.
The season will kick off with the Orlando Pride hosting the NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7, followed by the regular-season opener on March 14. Each of the league’s 14 teams will play every weekend, with breaks scheduled for international matches.
The regular season will culminate with “Decision Day” on Nov. 2, featuring simultaneous games to add to the drama of the final day of the season.
NWSL schedule accommodates TV partners, international competitions
The broadcast partners for the 2025 season – CBS, ESPN, Amazon, and Scripps/ION – will collectively air 160 out of the 190 games scheduled.
Following a groundbreaking deal signed in late 2023, Amazon Prime Video will kick off each weekend with a Friday night match. ION will broadcast two games on Saturdays, while CBS will distribute its selection of 60 regular-season games across various platforms. ESPN will air a total of 17 games, with 10 on its main channel and three on ABC. The remaining matches will be available on the league’s streaming service, NWSL+.
Kickoff times will vary each week, but the majority of matches will take place between Friday and Sunday, with only a few exceptions such as Monday and Thursday games to avoid scheduling conflicts. There are no matches scheduled for weekday nights, except for one midweek game between Portland Thorns and Gotham FC.
To accommodate international breaks and avoid multi-match weeks, the 2025 season will be the longest in NWSL history. In addition to the standard international breaks, the league will pause from June 23 to the end of July for the Women’s Euros and Copa América Femenina.
The season, starting on March 14, will conclude with playoffs in November, culminating in the final on Saturday, Nov. 22. Details for Decision Day and the playoffs are yet to be announced.
The full schedule, including the NWSL’s first-ever “Rivalry Weekend” on Aug. 8-10, can be found here.