Challenge Cup causes scheduling ripple effects across NWSL – JWS

With the Challenge Cup finalists decided, the regular season schedule required a bit of reshuffling.

The North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit won Wednesday’s Challenge Cup semifinals, and both teams had regular-season contests scheduled for this weekend.

The regular season began prior to the finish of the league’s preseason tournament, to the consternation of some players, including OL Reign’s Bethany Balcer.

The Courage’s home match against the Portland Thorns, originally scheduled for Saturday, now will be played on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. ET.

The Spirit, meanwhile, will now play their away match against the Chicago Red Stars – also originally scheduled for Saturday – on Wednesday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET.

OL Reign’s game against Racing Louisville will go on as scheduled at 6 p.m. ET Sunday, which caused Racing Louisville to respond in jest on Twitter.

The Kansas City Current will play at 5 p.m. ET Sunday against the Houston Dash.

North Carolina and Washington will face off Saturday for the Challenge Cup title at 1 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park, the Courage’s home stadium in Cary, N.C.