USWNT In The NWSL 2026 Season Kickoff: Everything You Need To Know
The 2026 NWSL season kicks off March 13 with Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns; Sophia Wilson returns to face ‘Triple Espresso’ USWNT teammate Trinity Rodman
After five thrilling wins to start the year for the U.S. Women's National Team, players have returned to their clubs, many of them to kick off the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Here’severything you need to know about the USWNT in the NWSL heading into opening weekend:
WHEN DOES THE 2026 NWSL SEASON START?
The NWSL will begin its 14th season on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET when the Washington Spirit hosts the Portland Thorns at Audi Field. Forward Trinity Rodman returns for the Washington, D.C. side alongside midfielder Hal Hershfelt and defenders Tara Rudd and Kate Wiesner. They will face off against Portland’s Olivia Moultrie, Reilyn Turner, and potentially Rodman’s fellow “Triple Espresso” member, Sophia Wilson. Fans can stream the match on Prime Video.
2025 NWSL champion Gotham FC will begin its quest for another title on March 14 at 12:30 p.m. ET against expansion club Boston Legacy FC. Gotham stars Emily Sonnett, Jaedyn Shaw and 2025 NWSL Championship MVP Rose Lavelle are all fresh off a 2026 SheBelieves Cup victory and will take the pitch alongside 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale.
The remaining 14 clubs will open their campaigns on March 14-15. View the full NWSL 2026 regular season schedule here.
Which USWNT players compete in the NWSL?
Thirty-one U.S. Women’s National Team players of the 38 that were on the rosters for the first two camps of the calendar year are set to compete on opening weekend across 14 NWSL clubs. There are more players across the league who are among the USWNT player pool but have not yet competed in 2026.
Which USWNT players are on different teams this season?
USWNT intra-league transfers during NWSL offseason:
- Emily Sams: signed with Angel City FC via trade with Orlando Pride
- Claire Hutton: signed with Bay FC via transfer with Kansas City Current
- Croix Bethune: signed with Kansas City Current via trade with Washington Spirit
USWNT inter-league transfers during NWSL offseason:
- Sam Coffey: signed with England’s Manchester City via transfer from the Portland Thorns
- Lindsey Heaps: signed with Denver Summit and will join the Colorado club following completion of contract with France’s OL Lyonnes in June
- Ayo Oke: signed with Denver Summit via transfer from Mexico's Pachuca
Which USWNT players are returning to the NWSL after missing the 2025 season?
The Portland Thorns announced on March 5 that forward Sophia Wilson was officially back from maternity leave. On March 6 in the team’s preseason match against C.F. Monterrey, she competed for the first time since giving birth to her daughter in September 2025. The striker last competed for the USWNT on Oct. 27, 2024, in a 3-1 win comeback win over Iceland.
Additionally, Gotham FC activated club captain and defender Tierna Davidson off the Season-Ending Injury List on March 1. Davidson competed in three NWSL matches last season before suffering a torn ACL against Houston Dash on March 28, 2025. Davidson last competed for the USWNT in its 2-1 SheBelieves Cup loss to Japan on Feb. 27, 2025.
Both Wilson and Davidson were part of the 2024 Paris Olympics team, and Davidson also won a FIFA Women's World Cup title as the youngest player on the squad in 2019.
Will the NWSL compete during FIFA international windows?
No league matches will take place during the three FIFA international windows that occur throughout the NWSL season. The league will also pause play in June while the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is staged across North America.
The April USWNT matches against Japan in San Jose, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and Commerce City, Colo. – which all take place in NWSL venues – will not overlap with any NWSL matches.