The group stage of the NWSL Challenge Cup is complete, and only four teams remain.
The two finalists will be determined Sept. 6, when the Kansas City Current play the North Carolina Courage and OL Reign face Racing Louisville in the semifinals.
Teams will ideally have their international players back from the World Cup for the Challenge Cup knockout rounds. The World Cup final takes place on Sunday, Aug. 20, two days after the NWSL regular season resumes and two and a half weeks before the Challenge Cup semifinals.
Here is a guide to the NWSL knockout games.
Reign vs. Racing. Current vs. Courage.The playoff bracket is set for the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup 🏆— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 10, 2023
Reign vs. Racing. Current vs. Courage.The playoff bracket is set for the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup 🏆
Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Kansas City shut out Racing Louisville 3-0 in their final match in the group stage to clinch the Challenge Cup Central Division title for the second straight year, with a record of 4-1-1.
North Carolina, meanwhile, won the East Division with a 3-1-2 record despite falling to Gotham FC 2-0 in their final match of group play.
Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
The Reign became the first team in tournament history to not allow a single goal in group play. The team went 4-0-2 in the group stage to win the West Division.
Louisville secured the most points (12) among second-place finishing teams in the group stage, finishing 4-2.
Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
The winners of each semifinal game will meet in the championship three days later. The Courage are the reigning Challenge Cup champions, while the other semifinalists have never before hoisted the trophy.