The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the preeminent professional women’s soccer league in the United States, will kick off the 2019 NWSL playoffs with a semifinal doubleheader on ESPN2 on Sunday, October 20: defending NWSL champions North Carolina Courage vs. Reign FC at 1:30 p.m. ET, and Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC at 3:30 p.m.
The semifinal winners will compete for the NWSL Championship on Sunday, Oct. 27; live on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. from Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The three NWSL postseason matches will stream live on the ESPN App.
NWSL Playoffs on ESPN International Networks:
Through a combination of ESPN platforms and broadcast partners, the NWSL semifinals and championship will be distributed in 200 countries in the following regions: North America, Latin America, Oceania, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.
2019 NWSL Postseason on ESPN:
| Date | Time (ET) | Event/ Commentators | Network |
| Sun, Oct 20 | 1:30 p.m. | NWSL Championship Semifinal I: North Carolina Courage vs. Reign FC Glenn Davis, Angela Hucles and reporter Dalen Cuff |
ESPN2 |
| 3:30 p.m. | NWSL Championship Semifinal II: Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC Jenn Hildreth, Aly Wagner and reporter Marisa Pilla |
ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Oct 27 | 3:30 p.m. | NWSL Championship Hildreth, Wagner and reporter Pilla Studio: Marisa Pilla and Angela Hucles |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
The matchups:
North Carolina Courage vs. Reign FC
- A matchup of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions – Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Samantha Mewis and Jessica McDonald (Courage) vs. Women’s World Cup Golden Ball winner Megan Rapinoe and Allie Long (Reign FC).
- The Courage is the first club to win the NWSL Shield – the most regular-season points – for three straight seasons.
- Reign FC, the Tacoma, Wash.-based club are two-time NWSL Championship runners-up (2014-15).
Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC
- 2019 World Cup champions Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davidson, Morgan Brian and Julie Ertz (Red Stars) vs. Adrianna Franch, Emily Sonnett, Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath (Thorns FC).
- The Red Stars, playing in the playoffs for the fifth straight year, are looking for their first playoff win.
- The two-time NWSL champion Thorns have reached the playoffs in all but one season.
About NWSL:
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the highest level of professional women’s soccer in the United States. Featuring players from around the world, the nine-team Division-I women’s professional soccer league includes Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Reign FC, Sky Blue FC, Utah Royals FC and the Washington Spirit. Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation. www.NWSLsoccer.com.
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Contacts: Belen Michelis, ESPN, (860) 766-1425, belen.michelis@espn.com
Mac Nwulu, ESPN, (860) 766-4196, mac.nwulu@espn.com
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