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.

Emerald City’s Berrier bound for Kansas City in NWSL; Seattle and Portland pick final players

Berrier helped ECFC limit Spokane to one goal total in their two meetings | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

After finishing as the all-time games played leader at Loyola University (Chicago) in 2009, Casey Berrier looked bound for a career off the field over a year ago, but a stint with Emerald City as a youth coach and WPSL player started a journey that led to her being selected by FC Kansas City of the new professional National Women’s Soccer League in the Supplemental Draft.

MLS and NWSL draft results for the Northwest

Portland's Kendall Johnson was lone player chosen from a NW school in NWSL draft | photo: Gerald Barnhart

No players from the Inland Northwest were selected the past two days in the Major League Soccer or National Women’s Soccer League drafts at the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis, but there was plenty of action for the Northwest on the other side of the Cascades.

The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers picked up three players, combined, and their NWSL counterparts Reign and Thorns tabbed four players each in the new league’s inaugural college draft.

NWSL allocation results keep Richland’s Solo in Seattle

US Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo (Richland, WA) was among the seven American, Canadian and Mexican national team players assigned to the newly-formed Seattle Reign in Friday’s announcement by the new professional National Women’s Soccer League being operated by the US Soccer Federation.