While the NWSL doesn't officially return to regular season play until Friday, clubs were nonetheless in full swing this weekend as international matchups took centerstage.
On Saturday, the Current lifted The Women's Cup trophy in Kansas City after beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 behind Debinha's first-half goal.
Then in Sunday's friendly action, the Spirit fell 2-1 to the WSL's Arsenal behind Alessia Russo's brace, which one-upped a close-range strike by Washington's Ouleymata Sarr. Meanwhile, Angel City notched a massive friendly win of their own, taking down Liga MX Femenil's FC Juárez 7–0 thanks to a hat trick from Messiah Bright.
Concacaf W Champions Cup adds to international NWSL action
Perhaps the most intriguing moments of the NWSL's internationally tinged Olympic break will come courtesy of the Concacaf W Champions Cup's group stage openers. Similar to the UEFA Champions League, the budding competition's eventual victor will represent the region at FIFA's recently unveiled Club World Cup in 2026.
With Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps already beating Alianza Women FC in the tournament's preliminary round, this week's group stage slate includes Panama club Santa Fe hosting the San Diego Wave, Alajuelense taking on Frazsiers, Club América facing Vancouver, and a intracity clash between Monterey's Rayadas and UANL Tigres.
Other NWSL teams set for next month's Champions Cup group stage action are Portland and Gotham FC, who will face Club América and Alajuelense, respectively.
NWSL schedules more international club play
In another friendly meeting between the NWSL and WSL, Gotham will take on Chelsea in New York tonight at 7 PM ET (streaming on FuboTV) before Arsenal and Chelsea square off next week in Washington, DC.
NWSL newcomer Bay FC is also jumping into European friendly play with a match against UEFA Champions League victors FC Barcelona scheduled for August 27th.
The Women’s Cup field has been finalized, with Chilean club Colo Colo joining the four-team field.
Colo Colo will join Racing Louisville of the NWSL along with Italy's Juventus and Brazil's Palmeiras at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville from August 9th through 13th.
The tournament will have a $100,000 prize pool.
"We are honored to have Colo-Colo as the first Chilean Team to play in The Women’s Cup," said J.P. Reynal, CEO of The Women’s Cup, in yesterday's press release. "Women’s soccer has seen exponential growth in South America and having two of the best teams in the region participating in this year’s tournament is proof they can compete with the top teams from Europe and the United States."
"We are pleased to be considered in this important championship for women’s soccer and very proud that Colo-Colo is one of the most important exponents of this discipline in Chile," echoed Enzo Caszely, president of women’s football at Colo-Colo. "As a club, we have been pioneers in its professionalization at a national level, and this instance is proof of it."
Juventus and Colo-Colo will square off on Friday, August 9th at 5 PM ET followed by Racing Louisville and Palmeiras at 8 PM ET. Tickets can be purchased now via both The Women's Cup's and Racing Lousiville's websites.
This is Racing Louisville's third time featuring in the competition. The team won The Women's Cup's first iteration in 2021, beating German side FC Bayern in penalty kicks at Lynn Family Stadium. The Seattle Reign claimed The Women's Cup in 2022.
The Kansas City Current will also host a Women’s Cup tournament from August 14th through the 17th. The winners of each 2024 tournament will then face each other in the Global Series Finals, scheduled for February 2025.
The Women’s Cup lineup is complete, with Tottenham Hotspur FC (England) and AC Milan (Italy) joining the tournament, which will take place Aug. 14-20 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville.
Also playing are host Racing Louisville FC, OL Reign, Club América (Liga MX Femenil, Mexico) and Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza (WE League, Japan). Their participation had been announced in April, alongside the announcement that Louisville would once again be hosting the event, of which they are defending champions.
A total of seven games will be played between the six teams.
“The Women’s Cup has quickly become the preeminent professional women’s club soccer tournament in the world,” said J.P. Reynal, The Women’s Cup’s president and CEO. “With the addition of these two storied European powerhouses, we’ve solidified an international field like none previously assembled. We look to continue growing the tournament in years to come.”
Tottenham finished the 2021-22 season with a best-ever FA Women’s Super League finish with a 9-8-5 record. For the efforts, manager Rehanne Skinner was nominated as FA Women’s Super League Manager of the Season. Defender Ashleigh Neville was also shortlisted for Player of the Season.
AC Milan, meanwhile, is still new to the women’s game having been founded in 2018. Last season, the club finished with a 14-4-4 record and finished the year as runner-up in the Supercoppa Italiana.
“It is a huge honor to have AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur representing Europe in the 2022 edition of The Women’s Cup,” said Jaime Phillips, the tournament’s co-founder and executive director. “These are prestigious soccer clubs worldwide, and we are excited to have them competing for a championship this summer in Louisville.”
It’s the first time six teams will play in the Women’s Cup, up from last year’s four. The winners of the first round of games will play Racing Louisville and OL Reign in the semifinals while the losing teams will play one another for fifth place.
The final is set for Saturday, Aug. 20.