After an extensive rain delay, you can catch the NWSL Challenge Cup for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network or CBSSports.com. CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.
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The fourth annual 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup wraps up on Saturday when the North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville FC square off for the cup title. North Carolina return to the final for a second time and will try to defend their 2022 trophy while Louisville head to the final for the first time. Louisville are the underdogs of the tournament as the fourth-seed and knocked out of top-seed OL Reign for a spot in the final. The club entered the league as an expansion franchise in 2021 and have a chance to win their first-ever NWSL trophy. Fans can watch the NWSL Challenge Cup final on CBS.
Take a look at the format, standings, and more:
Format
The annual competition has gone through different variations over the last three editions, moving from a stand-alone tournament in 2020 to a scheduled competition between preseason and the regular season. The Challenge Cup will now take place throughout the regular season, with 12 clubs divided into three groups playing double round-robin matches.
Three group winners advance to the semifinals, along with the highest-placed runner-up. The final four compete for a spot in the final and a cash prize. The final four teams will compete in the semifinals on Sept. 6, and the two finalists will compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on Sept. 9. Winners will claim the cup, bragging rights, and a bonus pool among the players.
Viewing info
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 9 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: WakeMed Soccer Park-- Cary, North Carolina
- TV: CBS Sports Golazo Network
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Standings and schedule
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, Sept. 6
- OL Reign 0, Racing Louisville FC 1
- Kansas City Current 0, North Carolina Courage 1
FINAL
Saturday, Sept. 9
North Carolina Courage vs. Racing Louisville FC (CBS)
| East | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Carolina Courage | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 11 |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
Washington Spirit | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 9 |
Orlando Pride | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 2 |
April 19
Orlando Pride 1, North Carolina Courage 1
NJ/NY Gotham FC 1, Washington Spirit 0
May 3
North Carolina Courage 1, NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
May 10
Washington Spirit 4, Orlando Pride 2
June 14
Washington Spirit 1, North Carolina Courage, 2
June 28
Orlando Pride 1, NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
July 22
North Carolina Courage 6, Washington Spirit, 0
July 23
Orlando Pride 1, NJ/NY Gotham FC 3
July 28
Washington Spirit 4, NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2
July 29
North Carolina Courage 5, Orlando Pride 0
Aug. 4
Orlando Pride 0, Washington Spirit 1
Aug. 5
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2, North Carolina Courage 0
Aug. 9
NJ/NY Gotham FC 1, Orlando Pride 1
| Central | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City Current | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 13 |
Racing Louisville FC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
Houston Dash | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 6 |
Chicago Red Stars | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 4 |
April 19
Houston Dash 0, Kansas City Current 2
May 3
Houston Dash 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
May 17
Racing Louisville FC 3, Kansas City Current, 2
May 31
Chicago Red Stars 0, Racing Louisville FC, 2
June 14
Kansas City Current 4, Chicago Red Stars, 0
Racing Louisville FC 3, Houston Dash, 0
July 21
Racing Louisville FC 2, Chicago Red Stars, 0
July 22
Kansas City Current 3, Houston Dash, 1
July 29
Chicago Red Stars 0, Kansas City Current, 0
Houston Dash 1, Racing Louisville FC, 0
August 4
Kansas City Current 3, Racing Louisville FC 0
August 5
Chicago Red Stars 3, Houston Dash, 0
| West | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OL Reign | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Angel City FC | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 8 |
Portland Thorns FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
San Diego Wave FC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
April 19
Angel City FC 0, OL Reign, 2.
San Diego Wave FC 1, Portland Thorns FC 0
May 3
OL Reign 0, Angel City FC 0
May 31
San Diego Wave FC 0, OL Reign 3
Portland Thorns FC 3, Angel City FC 2
June 28
Angel City FC 2, San Diego Wave FC 1
Portland Thorns FC 0, OL Reign 2
July 21
Portland Thorns FC 4, San Diego Wave FC 1
July 28
OL Reign 1, San Diego Wave FC 0
July 29
Angel City FC 2, Portland Thorns FC 1
August 5
San Diego Wave FC 1, Angel City FC 1
August 6
OL Reign 0, Portland Thorns FC 0
What's different this year?
The competition was first introduced in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bubble tournament paved the way for NWSL to be the first fully professional team-contact league to return to play during the height of the pandemic. Since its introduction, the Challenge Cup has evolved over the year.
The previous two years featured the Challenge Cup as a preseason tourney. Teams were divided into three regional groups with each of the four divisional clubs playing double round-robin style matches for points.
The competition format and group regions are unchanged, but this year's edition is the first time the contest will run throughout the NWSL regular season. Tournament sponsor UKG has also bumped up the prize money to a million-dollar pool. The 2022 Challenge Cup awarded $10,000 per player to the champions, while the runners-up received $5,000 per player, and the remaining two semifinalists got $1,500 per player. The four semifinalists in 2023 will split the million-dollar prize.
