NWSL games Sunday - Time, how to watch Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns and more
The NWSL is back, with two Sunday games concluding the league's first slate of games in more than a month after a prolonged summer break.
All eyes will be on Washington, D.C., where a packed Audi Field is the venue for the potential game of the week between the Washington Spirit (7W-2D-4L) and the Portland Thorns (6W-4D-3L). U.S. women's national team star Trinity Rodman may make her return to play after missing more than two months with a back injury, while Spirit officials have told Paste BN that the match is trending toward a sell-out.
Portland, meanwhile, ended the first half of the season on a good run that included a 2-0 win over the Spirit on June 15. USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey is in the midst of a career year, and the Thorns have sorted out some early-season defensive issues, losing just once in their last eight games.
In the final game of the weekend, the defending champion Orlando Pride (8W-1D-4L) — minus starters Marta and Angelina, who were representing Brazil in Saturday's Copa América Femenina final — host the struggling Utah Royals (1W-2D-10L). The visitors reportedly have agreed to trade USWNT attacker Ally Sentnor to the Kansas City Current, making a tall task in Florida even more difficult.
Here's what to know as the NWSL continues its first weekend of action following the summer break, including who's playing on Sunday, kickoff times and how to watch the games:
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Time, TV channel and how to watch
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 3
- Location: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
- TV: ABC
- Stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Watch Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns on Fubo (free trial)
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals: Time, TV channel and how to watch
- Time: 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 3
- Location: Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
- TV: None
- Stream: Paramount+, NWSL+
Watch Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals on Paramount+
NWSL standings as league break ends
- Kansas City Current: 33 points
- Orlando Pride: 25 points
- San Diego Wave: 24 points
- Washington Spirit: 23 points
- Portland Thorns: 22 points
- Seattle Reign: 21 points
- Racing Louisville: 20 points
- NJ/NY Gotham FC: 18 points (plus-5 goal difference)
- North Carolina Courage: 18 points (minus-2)
- Bay FC: 15 points (minus-3)
- Angel City FC: 15 points (minus-4)
- Houston Dash: 12 points
- Chicago Stars: 6 points
- Utah Royals: 5 points