NWSL games today: How to watch opening night as 2025 season begins
The NWSL is back, with the women's soccer league beginning its 2025 season Friday night with both of last year's championship finalists in action.
The Orlando Pride may have fallen on penalties in last week's NWSL Challenge Cup (effectively a curtain-raising preseason showcase), but the defending champions are expected to contend once again in 2025. With arguably the best striker in the league in Zambia's Barbra Banda and a global icon in Brazilian playmaker Marta, the Pride will be favored as they host Chicago Stars FC, who will be without Mallory Swanson (personal reasons).
The other major contender kicking the season off Friday is the Washington Spirit. Even with Trinity Rodman closing out recuperation from a long-standing back problem, a deep Spirit squad is being talked up as a threat to win it all by season's end. Washington begins 2025 on the road against a rebuilt Houston Dash side hoping that some big offseason additions (including emerging USWNT prospect Yazmeen Ryan) will make them a more formidable challenge after a rough 2024 campaign.
Here's how to watch Friday's games as the NWSL embarks on another season:
NWSL season begins: Opening weekend schedule, times
All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.
Friday, March 14
- Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Stars FC: Prime Video, 8 p.m.
- Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit: NWSL+, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 15
- Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns: ABC/ESPN+, 12:45 p.m.
- Racing Louisville vs. North Carolina Courage: NWSL+, 5 p.m.
- Utah Royals vs. Bay FC: Ion, 7:30 p.m.
- Seattle Reign vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Ion, 10 p.m.
Watch NWSL on Saturday with Fubo
Sunday March 16
- Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave: ESPN2/ESPN+, 6:50 p.m.
NWSL 2025 season: How to watch Friday games, TV channel, live stream
The two NWSL matches on opening night see last year's championship finalists in action on Friday. The Orlando Pride will host the Chicago Stars, with the match broadcast on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET.
A few hundred miles west, a revamped Houston Dash welcome the Washington Spirit. That game also begins at 8 p.m. ET, with NWSL+ — the league's free direct-to-consumer platform — carrying the stream.
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Stars FC
- Date: Friday, March 14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: None
- Stream: Prime Video
Watch Orlando vs. Chicago on Prime Video
Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit
- Date: Friday, March 14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: None
- Stream: NWSL+
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