NWSL Makes 2021 Debut with Challenge Cup
| Photo courtesy of NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) returned to play in 2021 with the second year of the NWSL Challenge Cup, a 21-game tournament featuring all 10 league teams.
The NWSL Challenge Cup debuted last year as a product of the COVID-19 pandemic. After having to consistently delay their regular-season games, the league created a tournament to encourage playing while staying safe. Last July, Houston Dash took home the title after previously not making playoffs in their seven-year tenure in the league.
The first NWSL Challenge Cup was hosted in Sandy, Utah in a “bubble” that finished the tournament with zero COVID-19 cases. The 2021 return of the Challenge Cup was split between two divisions: East and West. Each team played four matches in their home markets with a top team from each side competing in the final. The final took place on May 8, 2021 and aired on CBS.
The format of the Challenge Cup was not the only update from last July. In April, ahead of the tournament, the NWSL announced a new concussion protocol. The new rule was a joint effort between the U.S. Soccer and all U.S. professional leagues to increase player safety.
According to the announcement, “The rule allows teams to make two concussion substitutes to replace players with head injuries, regardless of the number of substitutions already used in a game.”
“The new concussion protocol is another steppingstone in our continued efforts to create robust player safety guidelines for all teams and athletes,” NWSL Director of Sports Medicine Hughie O'Malley said. “The welfare of our players is a priority at the NWSL, and we're pleased to collaborate with the other professional leagues and U.S. Soccer on this pilot program to continue protecting our athletes.”
The goal of the new rule is to encourage players suspected of suffering a concussion to withdraw from the match without fear of penalty towards their team and leave them at a disadvantage.
On a lighter note, Sky Blue FC announced their rebranding ahead of the Challenge Cup. Sky Blue FC was originally founded as Jersey Sky Blue and was one of the four teams from the Women’s Professional Soccer league to join the NWSL after the previous league folded. Their team history dates back to 2006.
The rebrand launch included a new logo and new name. Sky Blue FC is now NJ/NY Gotham FC. According to Urban Pitch, the new brand was a two year journey involving fan surveys and focus groups.
“This process is the culmination of a wide-ranging collaboration among our fans, players, front office, and owners” NJ/NY Gotham FC General Manager Alyse LaHue said in the club’s announcement. “The club has a tremendous history and close relationship with its fans, so it was important we listened and remained completely openminded throughout the process. What emerged is a new brand that is overwhelmingly fan driven, respectful of the club’s past, and representative of a promising future.”
Other rebranding efforts included the former Utah Royals FC. Utah Soccer LLC purchased the rights to the former FC Kansas City team after it folded in 2017. The Royals played their first game under new ownership in 2018 in Sandy, Utah. In December 2020, Utah Royals ownership announced that there had been a “mutually beneficial transaction” with the NWSL to allow the continuation of team play in Kansas City for the 2021 season. Along with the transfer back to Kansas City, the deal allows the new ownership of the Utah Soccer LLC to re-establish the Utah Royals FC and franchise in 2023.
The NWSL Challenge Cup has also been the debut of Racing Louisville FC. The team played their inaugural NWSL game against Orlando Pride On April 10. The game ended with a 2-2 draw, and the team has picked up two losses in the Challenge Cup since. In December, the NWSL hosted an expansion draft for Racing Louisville FC to form their foundation for their team. Notable names picked were USWNT Christen Press and Tobin Heath who have yet to make their Racing Louisville debut as they have been playing over in England. Australian nationals Cailtin Foord and Alanna Kennedy are also playing in England, leaving their NWSL rights in the hands of Racing Louisville FC.
Racing Louisville FC was not the only club missing notable members from the Challenge Cup. At the start of the tournament, USWNT players were playing friendlies overseas and missed the opening of the tournament.
ESPN reported in April that Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan was frustrated that the scheduling of the Challenge Cup collided with the international FIFA window. Players missed two games of the tournament as they were in Sweden and France for international responsibilities.
The NWSL Challenge Cup and USWNT friendlies were some of the final opportunities for USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski to make decisions on what his final Olympics roster will shape up to be for the summer.