NWSL Preseason Underway

The 2016 NWSL Preseason is here! What kind of match-ups can we expect?

The fourth NWSL preseason has already kicked off, but the friendlies begin Friday as the Chicago Red Stars participate in a closed-door match. This matchup will mark the first of 35 preseason matches for every team in the 2016 season and has the potential to set the bar for the rest of the preseason matches- likely the entire season’s matches.

2016 #NWSL preseason gets underway Friday in the first of 35 matches league-wide. Read: https://t.co/X8AssHU4oc pic.twitter.com/lxTfrnk0xM
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 17, 2016

Chicago Red Stars

Preseason Schedule-
March 18: vs. Illinois State University (closed to the public)
April 3: vs. Northwestern at Lake Side Field – Evanston Illinois 5 p.m. CT
April 6: vs. Notre Dame at Alumni Stadium – South Bend, Indiana 6 p.m. CT

Last season, Chicago finished second and hosted a semifinal match. During the offseason, Chicago made a huge addition in the goal as they picked up Alyssa Naeher of the United State’s Women’s National Team, but it’s notable that there are plenty of last season’s greats that have either been traded or chose to retire such as Lori Chalupny, Aby Erceg, Taryn Hemmings, and Rachel Quon. With their first match being closed on Friday, fans will have to wait until April 3^rdto see what the new faces on the pitch can do for the Red Stars.

Orlando Pride

Preseason Schedule-
March 19: vs. Eastern Florida State College at Titan Soccer Complex – Melbourne, Florida 2 p.m. CT
March 22: vs. University of Florida (closed to the public)
March 30: vs. University of Southern Florida (closed to the public)
April 2: vs. Florida State University (closed to the public)

The Pride have announced their first ever preseason schedule and began practicing as a team on Monday. Thanks to some pretty well-known players signing for them earlier this year (like USWNT’s Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris) the fan base is already roaring and ready to start. There’s a lot of potential with this team for their inaugural season and we will be able to get only one real good look on Saturday as they play a friendly against Eastern Florida State College. Unfortunately, the rest of the matches are scheduled as closed to the public, but I’m sure we won’t be disappointed in the newest addition to the NWSL.

Boston Breakers

Preseason Schedule-
March 20: vs. Northeastern University at Parson’s Field – Brookline Massachusetts 5 p.m. CT
March 25: vs. Florida State at Seminole Soccer Complex – Tallahassee, Florida 6 p.m. CT
March 30: vs. Florida Elite Soccer Academy at Saints Field – St. Augustine, Florida 6 p.m. CT
April 3: vs. Boston College at Game Field – Newton, Massachusetts 11 a.m. CT
April 3: vs UCONN at Game Field – Newton, Massachusetts following previous game
April 8: vs. Boston College at Game Field – Newton, Massachusetts 11:30 a.m. CT

The Breakers have opened up their first preseason under their new coach Matt Beard on Monday. In the past seasons, Boston is the only NWSL team who hasn’t yet participated in a postseason game and this season they are looking to change that pattern. In the NWSL draft, they drafted Texas keeper Abby Smith and added a third keeper to their roster. It’s likely that we won’t see all three remain during the regular season, but after the first preseason match on Sunday, I think fans will have a better idea of what to watch for in the depth chart.

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FC Kansas City

Preseason Schedule-
March 20: vs. University of Missouri Kansas City at Durwood Soccer Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri 1 p.m. CT
March 21: vs. University of Missouri at Walton Soccer Stadium – Columbia, Missouri 5:30 p.m. CT
March 26: vs. Kansas at Rock Chalk Park – Lawrence, Kansas 12 p.m. CT
April 3: vs. Nebraska at Hibner Soccer Stadium – Lincoln, Nebraska 3 p.m. CT
April 9: UMKC at Durwood Soccer Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri 1 p.m. CT
April 9: Minnesota at Durwood Soccer Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri 2 p.m. CT

Two time NWSL champions, FCKC is looking for a three-pete this season, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens during the season now that there is a new team in the mix and plenty of uncertainties remaining in Kansas City about the roster and team. It’s likely that we will see them play again in the post season, but as far as taking a third championship in a row- it’s all up in the air. Fans will be able to have a good look at the team on Sunday as they hope to see another great campaign from the Blues.

Houston Dash

Preseason Schedule-
March 19: vs. Baylor at Houston Sports Park – Houston, Texas 3 p.m. CT
March 27: vs. Oregon State University at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 4:30 p.m. CT
March 30: vs. Seattle Reign FC at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT
April 2: vs. Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT
April 8: vs. Texas A&M at Ellis Field – College Station, Texas 7 p.m. CT

The Dash return for their third preseason set of friendlies on Saturday with familiar and new faces. Melissa Henderson has returned after announcing her retirement in the 2015 season alongside Allie Bailey who had quite the season in 2015. Even with the loss of Erin McLeod and Ella Masar, I think Dash fans can expect to see great things from the playoff hopeful 2016 roster. Carli Lloyd returned to practice on Friday morning from the SheBelieves Cup for Houston and looks to have a pretty remarkable preseason. Fans will get a first look on Saturday in Houston as the Dash play the Baylor Bears. During the Dash’s preseason friendlies, fans will also get a chance to watch NWSL against NWSL instead of just NWSL against college teams. Here, we will get a good look at what to expect for the regular season play.

Portland Thorns FC

Preseason Schedule-
March 27: vs. Seattle Reign FC at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT
March 30: vs. Oregon State University at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 11:30 p.m. CT
April 2: vs. Houston Dash at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT

Under the Thorns’ new coach, Mark Parsons, Portland looks to get back to the top of the league during their 2016 campaign. For the first time in the NWSL, they missed the post season in 2015, but have a pretty solid roster coming into the 2016 preseason. Portland added Canada Women’s National Team member Christine Sinclair among a number of athletic talent. On March 27, NWSL fans will get their first look at the team as they play a friendly against Seattle Reign FC. Not only will it be a great look for a league on league matchup, but I believe that Portland fans will see much-needed momentum coming into the 2016 season.

Seattle Reign FC

Preseason Schedule-
March 27: vs. Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT
March 30: vs. Houston Dash at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 7 p.m. CT
April 2: vs. Oregon State University at Providence Park – Portland, Oregon 4:30 p.m. CT
April 9: vs. University of Washington at Memorial Stadium – Seattle, Washington 9 p.m. CT

With a majority of the team returning, the Reign looks to have a pretty remarkable 2016 season. Preseason friendlies begin on March 27 giving the team an extra week to practice and gain even more chemistry than they already have. Seattle looks to head to the playoffs for the third straight year. Seattle participates in the first league on league matchup against Portland where I expect to see the returners put on a show for Seattle fans.

Sky Blue FC

Preseason Schedule-
March 20: vs. St. John’s University at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School – Scotch Plains, New Jersey 1 p.m. CT
March 26: vs. North Carolina at Georgian Court University – Lakewood, New Jersey 2 p.m. CT

Former assistant coach and now head coach Christy Holly is hoping to lead Sky Blue to the playoffs after being short for two seasons in a row. The club added Raquel Rodriguez who easily has the most potential as a rookie in the NWSL. Fans will get a good look on Sunday at their team favorites in their first of two friendlies of the preseason.

Washington Spirit

Preseason Schedule-
March 19: vs. University of Virginia at Maryland SoccerPlex – Boyds, Maryland 6 p.m. CT
March 26: vs. Penn State at Maryland SoccerPlex – Boyds, Maryland 3 p.m. CT
April 2: vs. North Carolina at Maryland SoccerPlex – Boyds, Maryland 3 p.m. CT
April 9: vs. Duke at Maryland SoccerPlex – Boyds, Maryland 6 p.m. CT

Washington, too, is under a new head coach. Jim Gabarra looks to end the streak of the team ending fourth in the league. The roster doesn’t change much as we see plenty of 2015’s rookies return for a 2016 season with the Spirit. Washington will play four friendlies and hasn’t made much offseason noise, but I expect fans won’t be disappointed in the 2016 season. The team has a ton of chemistry and will likely be an unstoppable force.

Western New York Flash

Preseason Schedule-
March 19: vs. West Virginia at Sahlen’s Sports Park – Elma, New York 3 p.m. CT
April 2: vs. Penn State at Sahlen’s Sports Park – Elma, New York 1 p.m. CT

Much like Washington, under a new coach (Paul Riley), the Flash look to return to postseason play after falling short during the previous two seasons. Though big things aren’t being said for WNY Flash, I think fans will see momentum building moments during their two preseason friendlies. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the underdog rise to the occasion and shock fans throughout the league during the 2016 season. Fans will get a good look on Saturday as the Flash faces West Virginia in a midday matchup.