NWSL Challenge Cup watch post: opening day

It’s the first day of the Challenge Cup and we’re opening with a doozy.

By Stephanie Yang@thrace Jun 27, 2020, 10:00am EDT

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SOCCER: SEP 11 NWSL - NC Courage at Portland Thorns FC

Welcome to the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup! It really feels somehow like they announced this thing both six months and just a week ago, and now it’s here. Please join us in the comments to talk about the two games lined up today! The opener is a real doozy, Courage vs Thorns in what could be a real grudge match, but don’t sleep on Red Stars vs Spirit. The Red Stars are possibly taking a more experimental tack in the opening round, and the Spirit are ready to leverage rebuilding into results.

If you need a primer on any of the teams, we’ve got you here:

NC Courage preview

Portland Thorns preview

Chicago Red Stars preview

Washington Spirit preview