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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) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 29: Meghan Klingenberg #25 of the Portland Thorns defends Loeau LaBonta #10 of the Kansas City Current 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: Meghan Klingenberg #25 of the Portland Thorns defends Loeau LaBonta #10 of the Kansas City Current 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) /

Week 2 of the 2023 NWSL schedule is loaded with marquee matchups including five matches on Saturday and one to wrap things up on Sunday.

Week one of the 2023 NWSL season produced a number of storylines. Week two hopes to build off that with six more matches on tap this upcoming weekend. From a championship rematch to an intriguing “NWSL After Dark” contest, week two is filled with plenty of must-see NWSL action. Unlike last weekend, the league has the majority of matches on Saturday instead of the quadruple header on Sunday of week one.

San Diego will be hosting its second consecutive after-dark contest following the thrilling late-night action against Chicago to kick things off. The weekend begins in Kansas City and concludes in Orlando on Sunday evening. It is an action-packed Saturday that features five matches within a 10-hour span. Every match has its unique headlines, but there are a few that stand out for their own reasons.

3 massive fixtures to watch on the NWSL schedule this weekend:

3. Portland Thorns at Kansas City Current

Date: Saturday, April 1, 12:50 pm EST
How to watch: Paramount+

This is the matchup almost everyone had marked on their calendars when the schedule came out. A rematch of the 2022 NWSL championship at Children’s Mercy Park is bound to produce. The fact that this match is in the middle of the day does not create as much build-up as if it was after dark, but still, this is the marquee matchup of week two.

Kansas City is coming off of a shock loss on the road in North Carolina and seek to respond with a statement win. Mike Norris and the Portland Thorns are by far the most impressive side of the opening weekend, overwhelming the Orlando Pride at Providence Park with 16 shots on target that resulted in four goals. Sophia Smith and the Thorns totaled nine games in which they scored three or more goals during the 2022 regular season.

The relatively young KC defense has a tall task awaiting them. Portland not only has depth in the attack, but a midfield to back it up and provide consistent quality services to break defensive lines. Against a side with as many veterans as Portland’s Matt Potter better hope that the veterans that missed week one are back for this one. One team hopes to build off their current form from the first weekend while the other hopes a return home changes their fortunes.

Prediction: Kansas City Current 2-2 Portland Thorns

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