It’s been an eventful week considering it’s offseason around the National Women’s Soccer League. The NWSL announced its 2019 schedule but also lost its primary broadcast partner. So those wondering how to watch NWSL matches in 2019 may be in for a change from recent seasons.
The NWSL and A+E Networks announced an “amicable end” to their partnership on Wednesday, with one year remaining on a three-year broadcast deal. This came a day before the release of the full 2019 season schedule.
The players’ response to today’s @NWSL announcement pic.twitter.com/caxzqKeAWn
— NWSL Players Assoc (@NWSL_PA) February 20, 2019
In the short term this means there are currently no regularly scheduled televised matches on the 2019 schedule.
How To Watch NWSL 2019
A+E Networks had carried NWSL matches on Lifetime since 2017, with additional games shown on ESPNews last year. That is over.
Fortunately, women’s soccer fans aren’t completely out of luck. While no games are currently scheduled for a TV broadcast, every match will be available to stream for free online.
How To Watch NWSL 2019
- TV: None
- Streaming: Yahoo! Sports
- Additional/International Streaming: NWSL App, NWSLsoccer.com
This season, Yahoo! Sports will stream every match online. International fans will be able to stream matches on the NWSL app and website.
NWSL did not say whether the matches would be free or require a subscription, but we’re guessing it’ll be free, as with Yahoo’s coverage of the Concacaf Champions League.
Is this better than watching matches on Lifetime? For some, yes, but not for all. For many homes, it’s not feasible to stream on a computer, tablet or phone. Those people will miss having matches on Lifetime and, occasionally, ESPNews.
Despite A+E no longer carrying NWSL matches, Lifetime will remain as a league sponsor.
Additionally, NWSL president Amanda Duffy said the league is searching for a new national broadcast partner and she expects an announcement to come soon. We’ll be sure to update you if and when the NWSL reaches a deal with another broadcaster.
The NWSL will desperately want to market itself for the 2019 season with a big-time TV partner. With the Women’s World Cup this summer, there will be increased interest in the U.S. and around the globe, making this a big season for the league.
2019 NWSL Schedule
The 2019 NWSL schedule kicks off on April 13; the regular season runs through Oct. 13. In between, there will be a two-week break for the Women’s World Cup from June 3-14.
The playoffs begin Oct. 19, with NWSL Championship to be played on Oct. 26.
Season starts April 13 & we've got everything you need right here.
2019 schedule ‣ https://t.co/OSFRUroAmB
News ‣ https://t.co/wsjOltFoGJ
Home openers ‣ https://t.co/WeikDzyh59
Games to watch ‣ https://t.co/U4aSi2m6xX
Tickets ‣ https://t.co/WmR9J6Qphy pic.twitter.com/Dti5QHKx8g— NWSL (@NWSL) February 21, 2019
Below is the full 2019 NWSL schedule. Preseason begins March 4. And at least now you know how to watch NWSL matches — every single one.
2019 NWSL Schedule
All times ET; all matches streamed by Yahoo! Sports
NC Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars 4/13/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC 4/13/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC 4/14/19 5:00PM
Houston Dash vs. Reign FC 4/14/19 6:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Orlando Pride 4/17/19 7:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC 4/20/19 3:30 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash 4/20/19 6:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Washington Spirit 4/20/19 9:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Orlando Pride 4/21/19 10:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC 4/27/19 7:30 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Reign FC 4/27/19 8:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. NC Courage 4/28/19 6:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 4/28/19 6:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 5/3/19 9:30 PM
NC Courage vs. Sky Blue FC 5/4/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Reign FC 5/4/19 7:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Orlando Pride 5/5/19 6:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Spirit 5/11/19 3:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash 5/11/19 3:30 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC 5/11/19 7:30 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. NC Courage 5/12/19 6:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Sky Blue FC 5/18/19 4:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC 5/18/19 7:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Utah Royals FC 5/19/19 5:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars 5/19/19 6:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 5/25/19 6:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Orlando Pride 5/25/19 8:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit 5/26/19 6:00 PM
Reign FC vs. NC Courage 5/27/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals FC 6/1/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. NC Courage 6/1/19 7:30 PM
Reign FC vs. Houston Dash 6/2/19 4:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 6/2/19 6:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Washington Spirit 6/15/19 10:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Sky Blue FC 6/15/19 10:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC 6/15/19 7:45 PM
Houston Dash vs. Orlando Pride 6/15/19 8:30 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Utah Royals FC 6/21/19 11:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Orlando Pride 6/22/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash 6/22/19 7:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Reign FC 6/23/19 6:00 PM
Utah Royals FC FCvs. Reign FC 6/28/19 10:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. NC Courage 6/29/19 7:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC 6/29/19 8:30 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars 6/30/19 5:00PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Reign FC 7/5/19 11:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Houston Dash 7/5/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit 7/6/19 7:30 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue FC 7/6/19 8:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Utah Royals FC 7/12/19 7:30 PM
NC Courage vs. Reign FC 7/13/19 7:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars 7/13/19 8:30 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride 7/14/19 3:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 7/19/19 10:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash 7/20/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Sky Blue FC 7/20/19 7:30 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. NC Courage 7/21/19 6:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash 7/24/19 10:30 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Spirit 7/24/19 7:30 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. NC Courage 7/27/19 10:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 7/28/19 4:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Sky Blue FC 7/28/19 7:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Reign FC 8/2/19 7:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Washington Spirit 8/2/19 7:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Sky Blue FC 8/3/19 11:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Utah Royals FC 8/3/19 8:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 8/7/19 10:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Sky Blue FC 8/7/19 10:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Red Stars 8/10/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash 8/10/19 7:30 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. NC Courage 8/11/19 3:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Utah Royals FC 8/11/19 4:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 8/14/19 7:00 PM
NC Courage vs. Houston Dash 8/16/19 7:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit 8/17/19 10:30 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC 8/17/19 7:30 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Reign FC 8/18/19 1:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Orlando Pride 8/21/19 7:30 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals FC 8/21/19 7:30 PM
NC Courage vs. Reign FC 8/24/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride 8/24/19 7:30 PM
Houston Dash vs. Sky Blue FC 8/24/19 8:30 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 8/25/19 3:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit 8/31/19 7:30 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 9/6/19 9:30 PM
Reign FC vs. Orlando Pride 9/7/19 10:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. NC Courage 9/7/19 3:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash 9/8/19 6:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. NC Courage 9/11/19 10:30 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars 9/11/19 7:30 PM
Houston Dash vs. Utah Royals FC 9/13/19 8:30 PM
NC Courage vs. Orlando Pride 9/14/19 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit vs. Reign FC 9/14/19 7:30 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 9/15/19 5:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Utah Royals FC 9/18/19 10:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Sky Blue FC 9/21/19 10:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash 9/21/19 10:30 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit 9/21/19 8:00 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. NC Courage 9/21/19 9:00 PM
Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit 9/25/19 8:30 PM
Washington Spirit vs. NC Courage 9/28/19 7:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars vs. Utah Royals FC 9/28/19 8:00 PM
Sky Blue FC vs. Orlando Pride 9/29/19 1:00 PM
Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC 9/29/19 4:00 PM
Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit 10/12/19 10:30 PM
NC Courage vs. Sky Blue FC 10/12/19 7:00 PM
Orlando Pride vs. Reign FC 10/12/19 7:30 PM
Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash 10/12/19 9:30 PM