In 2023, however, the stretched-out schedule could tip the scales back in favor of the NWSL Shield contenders. Historically, the Challenge Cup has rewarded scrappy sides who ride momentum and punch above their weight. Fitness and player absences for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in July and August will force some teams into greater challenges than others. The Challenge Cup is a depth game, so the teams that have the ability to rotate without sacrificing quality will have the best chance at winning it all by the end of the year. (William Purnell/USA TODAY Sports) Which teams are set up best to compete? With rookie Michelle Cooper and other veterans, Kansas City has the depth to sustain World Cup absences. While coaches will be tasked with keeping their squads fresh for the regular season matches on either side of their midweek Cup games, players will give their all with the opportunity to win bonuses that rival some of the highest in women’s soccer. Turning the Cup into a regular season competition should help teams stay sharp, and UKG’s commitment of $1 million in prize money - equitable to the winnings of the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament - will keep players engaged. The Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage, meanwhile, played competitively all the way to the Challenge Cup final and then suffered in the regular season after a taxing Cup championship game. The scheduling was both a blessing and a curse as teams rotated depth and showed a varied commitment to immediate results versus long-term process.įor example, the NWSL’s two new California expansion sides in 2022, the San Diego Wave and Angel City FC, used Challenge Cup to test brand-new rosters ahead of the regular season. In 20, the Challenge Cup became a preseason tournament, where teams played out the group stages before the regular season began. In 2020, the Challenge Cup functioned as a mini-tournament replacing the regular season, as professional sports reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NWSL’s decision to turn the Challenge Cup into an in-season competition is rooted in recent history. What can fans expect from this year’s version of the Challenge Cup? Let’s dig in. With more prize money available than ever before, players will be greatly incentivized to compete for the trophy. The top four teams at the end of the Cup round-robin stage will advance to single-elimination semifinals on Sept. To accommodate players competing in the World Cup this summer, the league will play only Challenge Cup games from July 10 to Aug. Instead of a preseason tournament, the Challenge Cup will run as an in-season campaign with games interspersed throughout the league’s regular season. The 2023 Challenge Cup kicks off with five games on Wednesday as the league gets set to debut a new Cup format in its fourth year of existence. Only a few weeks into the regular season, the NWSL is already switching gears. Sam Coffey is primed to stand out for the Portland Thorns while other players are away for the World Cup.
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