Fansided

NWSL schedule: 3 biggest matches to watch in week 2

By Caden Charpentier

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 29: Sophia Smith #9 of the Portland Thorns dribbles during NWSL Cup Final game between Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns FC at Audi Field on October 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 29: Sophia Smith #9 of the Portland Thorns dribbles during NWSL Cup Final game between Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns FC at Audi Field on October 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
HARRISON, NJ – JUNE 19: Casey Stoney Head Coach of San Diego Wave FC watches her team warm up before the start of the Juneteenth National Womens Soccer League match against the NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 19, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ – JUNE 19: Casey Stoney Head Coach of San Diego Wave FC watches her team warm up before the start of the Juneteenth National Womens Soccer League match against the NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 19, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images) /

1. North Carolina Courage at San Diego Wave,

Date: Saturday, April 1, 10:00 pm EST (NWSL After Dark)
How to watch: Paramount+

Just because this is going to be a late-night “NWSL After Dark” matchup it has to make the list of matches to watch in week two. Both teams will be coming off exhilarating wins on their home turf to open up the campaign. For the second week running, Casey Stoney and the San Diego Wave return to Snapdragon Stadium, a place that produced a crowd of over 30,000 against the Red Stars to kick off the 2023 campaign.

Kerolin, Tyler Lussi and the North Carolina Courage will have full confidence that they can walk into Snapdragon and secure their second straight upset. An extremely professional display from Sean Nahas’ team led to its triumph over an injury-riddled Kansas City Current side. Not many counted the Courage as a threat this season, but with Kerolin and her creativity, this club has the ability to shock a whole lot of people.

Naomi Girma v Kerolin is going to be a must-watch matchup as one of the best defenders in the league goes head-to-head against the most creative attacking player. Both these clubs finished in the top four in goals scored last season, but this contest just has exciting, low-scoring draw written all over it. Two world-class goalkeepers on each side will make themselves known throughout the match. When the sun goes down, the NWSL action always seems to get better. It may be a late one on the east coast, but it is worth the long night, especially for a meeting between two clubs coming off a positive opening week.

Prediction: North Carolina Courage 1-1 San Diego Wave

Check out our NWSL hub page for more news, analysis, opinion and unique women’s soccer coverage. And don’t forget to follow FOR(E) on Twitter, FanSided’s home for women’s sports.

Home/NWSL