The unofficial schedule has been floating around on social media: here's the unofficial @NWSL schedule grid for fall series. Ignore the mid-week matches; those aren't happening. Awaiting formal announcement. pic.twitter.com/K1DKdJW9uh— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) August 28, 2020 We'll probably get the official one in a day or two.
I'm actually surprised that of the three Pod 3 pairings, the one without a TV spot is the reigning NWSL Champions vs the NWSL Challenge Cup Champions.
That, by the way, was one of the few matches that didn't happen during Challenge Cup, thus would be super-interesting to see!
The official schedule for the first 3 weeks of the series has been released: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/art...ights-regional-rivalries-innovative-solutions EDIT: In the unofficial schedule above, you'll see that there are potential games in Utah in Week 4; I wonder if that's in question now, and if that's the hold up on a full schedule for the series? I do hope that the series can proceed as planned even with the situation happening in Utah, but who knows? Of course, the hold up could just be something pandemic-related like waiting on local approval for venue and/or fans.
RSL has three home games in the next two weeks that, as far as I can tell, are moving forward as planned. Same with the Monarchs. However, those schedules have been out for a while, so maybe the shake-up could be affecting NWSL without affecting MLS+USL... But I'd lean on other factors being the issue. Considering that the unofficial schedule only had Saturday games, but the official schedule now has a Friday game and Sunday games, that also makes me think it's general logistics as the hold-up.
I was told the hold up is that they were waiting on MLS to lock in their "second phase" of games as they have scheduling priority at most overlapping sites. Especially with several MLS/USL teams playing at Red Bull Arena.
And just to follow up a bit more: URFC has announced their game in Portland, and in the announcement said that games at RioT are still planned: https://www.rsl.com/post/2020/09/01...n-sunday-september-20-against-portland-thorns
Remaining schedule is announced: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/art...fall-series-schedule-and-cbs-broadcast-talent
Probably a function of them getting none in the Challenge Cup, I guess? Odd, but if both Morgan and Marta play in every game, that'll be a TV draw.
As for Morgan, she will return to team training Monday, and they're hopeful she'll get on the field during the series: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/spo...0200904-hhy4wqhtw5gafpkly23msks5zu-story.html On the Sky Blue front, Carli Lloyd is out as she continues to rehab. Mal Pugh though is ready to play: More breaking NWSL news:@SkyBlueFC confirms that @MalPugh will make her debut for the club in the NWSL Fall Series.— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) September 4, 2020
In other news, there won't be a winner of the Fall Series, per se, but there will be a winner of the Verizon Community Shield (and 2nd and 3rd place as well). From what I understand, the team that has the most points at the end of the series will win the Community Shield and a $25,000 grant for the respective team's community partner (small business or organization chosen by each team): https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/art...unch-the-verizon-community-shield-competition
I like the idea of a charity "Community Shield" set of rewards, but four games just isn't enough to meaningfully determine standings. Since there were 4 pool games in the Challenge Cup and 4 Fall Series games now, I would love to see the eight-game totals used instead of four-game totals; for ORL, we can just double the point values they earn over the half-season they're getting, I guess.
Considering that DC is the only game this weekend, I'm not surprised other teams haven't put announcements out yet. The Spirit Squadron are "in attendance" at Segra today, but I think they're in the parking lot and not in the stadium itself.
I don't expect any fans in Cary. The USL NCFC has yet to allow fans, and they way they're socially distancing the bench players for USL games, makes me expect no public will be allowed.
Seems like up to 3,000 fans will be allowed in BBVA when the Dash host their two pod games: https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/...ost-limited-number-fans-upcoming-home-matches Good for them, especially since fans will presumably be spread out across the whole stadium and not limited to just the lower bowl like normal for Dash games. Will be nice for fans of the Challenge Cup Champions to get to be there in person. I hope it bodes well for Dash attendance next year!
Hmmm interesting. News hasn't been sent out via Spirit e-newsletter yet. Maybe they're coordinating it through the Squadron?
He's added more to the tweet in a thread. This first game will just have guests of the club (less than 100) as a dry run for the next game. I don't get it though...does Washington have any more home games?
A note about the Thorns v Reign match on Saturday: Unless something changes, which is unlikely, there probably will not be a game in Portland. Forest fire smoke is traveling from elsewhere into the area and is not expected to clear out until early next week. The particle count from the smoke right now is in the red unhealthy zone. I do not think they would have the players playing in anything like this situation. I have no idea if they could move the game to Tacoma, but it currently is in the red zone too.
Thorns/Reign postponed to the 15th due to the air conditions. Courage/Dash pushed from tomorrow night to the TV slot on Saturday. So the 2019 NWSL Champions vs 2020 NWSL Challege Cup Champions match will be on CBS afterall.