How fans can watch NWSL matches this season
National Women’s Soccer League is kicking off a new season with a new media rights deal, and it may take fans some time to get used to finding games being streamed online.
The NWSL ended its broadcast agreement with Lifetime, and the network will no longer air a game of the week.
Now fans will need to download the Yahoo! Sports or NWSL apps to watch live streams and replays online.
Fans in the U.S. must use the Yahoo app, which is available for download for desktop or mobile.
The app works with Apple and Roku, allowing it to be displayed on standard TV screens.
Shortly after a game ends, replay be available on the Yahoo app.
After 48 hours, replay of matches will be available on both the Yahoo and NWSL apps.
Outside the United States, fans will be permitted to watch live and replay streams on the NWSL app. Links will be provided for each game at NWSLSoccer.com/schedule. will PORTLAND THORNS
The Portland Thorn will be looking to reach the same level they did last year. The 2017 NWSL champs were a single game away from a repeat win in the championship final, but fell to the North Carolina Courage 3-0.
A major challenge for the Thorns this season will be the World Cup, which will pull away a significant number of the team’s starters for a big chunk of the season. The list includes midfielder Lindsey Horan, who led the team with 14 goals and finished third in the league last season, and forward Christine Sinclair, who served up a team-best seven assists last season along with nine goals. Midfielder Tobin Heath, forward Caitlin Foord, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and defender Emily Sonnett will also be gamechanging losses during the midseason World Cup stretch. HOUSTON DASH
The Houston Dash will have a new head coach for the second consecutive season.
James Clarkson, who has worked closely with the Dash since the team’s beginning in 2014 through his previous job with the Dynamo Academy, will be tasked with helping the Dash reach their full potential.
He’ll lead Houston during its sixth National Women’s Soccer League season with a returning core of players, including 2018 club Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly, U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Jane Campbell, Dash all-time leading scorer Kealia Ohai, veteran defender Amber Brooks and central midfielder Sofia Huerta.
Along with longtime Dash players, key new additions join the roster, including midfielder Sophie Schmidt, who is already being called the team’s “missing link” after returning to the NWSL following a four-year stint in Germany. With her, Houston will look to reach the next step — the playoffs. UTAH ROYALS
Expectations should never be set too high for a new expansion team, but the Utah Royals rose to the challenge last season, finishing 9-8-7 and just out of reach of a playoffs berth.
Last year, the team suffered a devastating lineup throughout the month of July — a two-game stretch against Portland and Seattle, followed by two games hosting Orlando and North Carolina. The team had previously been in a rhythm of sorts, winning or drawing seven games over the span of May and June, but the three-game streak of losses put the Royals on their heels as the season drew to a close.
Still, the team managed to finish fifth overall, one slot away from the playoffs in its first season. This year, as it continues to grow into the league, Utah will look to improve its consistency to compete against the best of the NWSL.
WASHINGTON SPIRIT
After missing out on the playoffs for the second season in a row, the Washington Spirit look toward a roster, coaching and front office refresh ahead of the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League season.
Despite the reinforced strength from its USWNT players — such as midfielder Rose Lavelle, Andi Sullivan and forward Mallory Pugh — the Spirit finished second to last in the league with a record of (2-17-5) in 2018. In fact, the Spirit finished just above Sky Blue FC, which had one win last season. Very little is left over from the 2018 club. Coach Jim Gabarra was replaced by Richie Burke and 12 players from last year’s team will not return this season, including former captain Estelle Johnson and fan-favorite Joanna Lohman, who announced her retirement this week. To help replace some of those players, the Spirit signed all five of their draft picks: Jordan DiBiasi, Sam Staab, Tegan McGrady, Dorian Bailey and Bayley Feist. SKY BLUE FC
Sky Blue FC was American soccer’s most scandal-ridden team last year. The team’s one win at the end of the season was coupled with reports of training facilities and living conditions below a professional standard. As a new season and a fresh start, at least on the field, approaches, it seems the only way to go for Sky Blue is up.
Off the field, the team boasts new furnished apartments for players and a training facilitythat has showers and other professional amenities. Most notably, though, Sky Blue president and general manager Tony Novo departed after months of criticism, scrutiny, and a public campaign for his firing by the team’s official supporters’ group.
On the field, Sky Blue plans to combat defensive issues with the addition of former Washington Spirit defenders Caprice Dydasco and Estelle Johnson, and the group is also excited about additions further up the pitch.