NWSL Announces Media Rights Agreement with ESPN; Pride to Feature Twice

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 4, 2019) - ESPN and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the preeminent professional women’s soccer league in the United States featuring more than 55 players competing in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, announced today an agreement to televise 14 league matches during the 2019 season, with the Orlando Pride featuring in two of those matches. 

Eight matches will air on ESPNEWS and the remaining six, including the two semifinals and the championship, will air on ESPN2. All NWSL match telecasts on ESPN networks will stream live on the ESPN App. 

The Pride will be in the spotlight in the first game of the new deal, as the team’s July 14 trip to face Portland Thorns FC will air on ESPNEWS. That match, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, will mark the Pride’s first trip to the newly-renovated Providence Park and the third and final meeting between the two sides this year. 

All eyes will be on Exploria Stadium on Wednesday, September 11, when the Pride welcome the Chicago Red Stars to Orlando. The team’s final match against Sam Kerr and the rest of the Red Stars will kick off at 7 p.m. ET, a change from its previously scheduled 7:30 p.m. ET start time, on ESPNEWS.

“NWSL is a global leader in women’s professional soccer, with collectively the most talented players in the world. Together with the reach of ESPN’s vast network, we have the opportunity to bring more games to a broader audience across the country and world,” said NWSL President Amanda Duffy. “Even in the year leading up to the Women’s World Cup, we have continued to experience tremendous growth through the support, engagement, and visibility from our fans.” 

Last year, more fans came to see NWSL games than any other regular season in the league’s history, with a total regular season attendance of more than 650,000, and the 2018 NWSL Championship broke the record for the largest all-time crowd of a women’s professional soccer championship with a sellout crowd of 21,144. 

“We are pleased to once again televise the National Women’s Soccer League and showcase many of the world’s top female players when they return to their professional club teams,” said Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN. “The success and excitement of the World Cup in France has been on full display and the NWSL represents the best women’s club soccer in the world.” 

2019 NWSL Schedule on ESPN: