Jul 6, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; The NWSL logo is seen before a match between the Orlando Pride and the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, April 29, the NWSL released a statement clarifying that it would not make any major changes to the league’s schedule through the 2028, 2029 and 2030 seasons.
Per the statement, the league decided to maintain its current schedule after conversations with key decision makers and stakeholders. The statement cites the commitment to “providing stability for everyone invested in the NWSL’s success” as a major reason why they have chosen not to adjust the schedule.
The question of whether or not the league would adjust to a schedule that would run from late summer through spring was recently up for a vote by NWSL owners. Dan Lauletta wrote up the pros and cons of this flip in a recent column.
Big reasons in favor of flipping to a new schedule included that it would line up the league with most other major leagues around the world and would cease to clash with existing tournament schedules. But reasons against flipping to new schedule include some over-saturation of sports as leagues overlap, concerns about playing through winter weather, and the general chaos of making such a big change too quickly.
In response to the decision from the NWSL, Meghann Burke, the executive director of the NWSL Players Association, released the following statement:
“NWSL has made right decision to provide stability and certainty over the calendar footprint for the next several years. Throughout this process, Players made clear that any discussion about the calendar must prioritize Player health and safety, infrastructure (including training and match facilities), and professional standards necessary to compete at the highest level. The NWSLPA remains committed to working with NWSL to foster the conditions necessary for its continued growth.”
