So the NWSL Challenge Cup ended almost a month ago. Fans are coming down from the thrill of the games and champions Houston Dash are now barely recovering from their Budweiser hangovers.
2020 as illustrated by @brivisalli: pic.twitter.com/jDtvt0KwAz
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) August 10, 2020
We did it pic.twitter.com/67zIrjBQlH
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) July 28, 2020
Several NWSL players have committed to teams overseas, including Sam Mewis with Man City. This led us to believe that the 2020 NWSL season was over and that we wouldn’t see our girls again until next year. The withdrawals are real.
The Chicago Red Stars announced today that Rachel Hill, Cassie Miller, Makenzy Doniak, Emily Boyd and Kayla Sharples will be heading overseas during the NWSL offseason.
— Chicago Red Stars (@chiredstarsPR) August 14, 2020
Now there’s a bit of a buzz going around that the NWSL is leaning towards continuing the 2020 season — plus a lot of the teams have started training again…
Excited to get back into training on Monday. pic.twitter.com/pYgCsJSAGh
— OL Reign (@OLReign) August 15, 2020
Your fav trio gettin' back to work @RachelDaly3 @sheabayy2 @MeganOyster pic.twitter.com/FqQsN2n0Ub
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) August 10, 2020
It’s a beautiful day to start training back up again!#NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/l2pVZGjVnT
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 17, 2020
And training always points to a continuation of play. They might be preparing for a continued 2020 season.
Again, because of the Covid-19 pandemic everything is uncertain. But reports came in saying that the league wanted to create "pod play" to continue games starting September 5.
NWSL plans for Sept-Oct appear to be coming together. Here's the latest proposal:
Pod 1: Washington, Sky Blue, Chicago
Pod 2: NC, Orlando, Houston
Pod 3: Utah, Porland, OL Reign2-3 matchdays per market
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) August 16, 2020
“The idea is that three or four teams based on proximity and COVID-19 rules and regulations would come into a market and play in a bracket-style series of games,” Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler described to the Chicago Sun Times.
The matches would open up on Sept. 5 with the Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue and potentially continue every Saturday until Oct. 10. There has been no word yet on how the games will be broadcast — CBS is in the proposal along with other sources.
