Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Schedules set, NWSL ready to kick off April 13

The new National Women's Soccer League, the first of the three incarnations of professional women's soccer leagues to feature teams in the Northwest, announced it's inaugural schedule Tuesday. Fans will not have to wait long for the Cascadia duo to square off as the Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns will meet in Oregon at Jeld-Wen Field April 21 during the second week of play.

Seattle and Portland will square off four times during the 22-game season, concluding the series in the final week of the campaign in Seattle August 17.

Both clubs begin the season on the road the week before with Portland visiting Kansas City Saturday, April 13 in the league opener while Seattle is in Chicago as the other six clubs play on Sunday.

Seattle's home opener will come in the fourth week of the season when they play host to Kansas City at Starfire Soccer Complex on May 4.

Of note, Seattle and Portland are travel partners for home contests and will see the same opponent play them both three days apart on six occasions. Portland, arguably, will be the primary beneficiary of the short turnaround as the Reign will play the opponent first on four of the six two-game trips though the first two are on matching dates as Sky Blue and Washington trek to the northwest at the same time.

Following the season finales August 18, the top four sides will continue through to the semifinals Saturday, August 24 followed by the championship August 31. The higher seeds are reported to be the hosts for postseason contests.

Northwest Home Dates
April 21 - PORTLAND v SEATTLE
May 4 - SEATTLE v Kansas City
May 16 - PORTLAND v Sky Blue
May 16 - SEATTLE v Washington
May 19 - PORTLAND v Washington
May 19 - SEATTLE v Sky Blue
May 25 - SEATTLE v PORTLAND
June 1 - PORTLAND v Chicago
June 6 - PORTLAND v Kansas City
June 9 - SEATTLE v Kansas City
June 16 - PORTLAND v SEATTLE
June 29 - SEATTLE v Chicago
July 3 - SEATTLE v Boston
July 6 - PORTLAND v Boston
July 11 - SEATTLE v Western NY
July 14 - PORTLAND v Western NY
July 14 - SEATTLE v Washington
July 25 - SEATTLE v Chicago
July 28 - PORTLAND v Chicago
July 31 - PORTLAND v Sky Blue
August 4 - PORTLAND v Kansas City
August 17 - SEATTLE v PORTLAND

COMPLETE TEAM SCHEDULES - SEATTLE || PORTLAND

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