The 21-game tournament consists of group play, with each team playing four matches followed by the final.
CBS Sports Network will broadcast the 2021 Challenge Cup opener between Houston and Chicago and three additional games. However, the final will air on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+, the newly launched premium streaming service from ViacomCBS that replaced CBS All Access. Every other game will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. On the other hand, Twitch will stream all the games for international viewers, including Canada for all the games that are not on CBS Sports Network.
2021 NWSL Challenge Cup schedule
2021 NWSL Challenge Cup format
The second edition of the Challenge Cup will see the league's 10 teams organized in two divisions, East and West. The East is composed of Racing Louisville FC, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Sky Blue FC and the Washington Spirit. The West includes the Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City, OL Reign and Portland Thorns.
Each team will play four games in home markets, and the top team from each division will compete in the final scheduled for May 8, 2021.
Other information about the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
Tournament hosts Secret continued investment in women's equality and advocacy for women's sports, helping the league create a NWSL Rookie Class program. The program is designed to expand sponsorship opportunities for NWSL rookies competing in the tournament.
"We're ready to build on our success of the last year and I couldn't be more excited to open the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by Secret the same way we left off in the summer of 2020, watching Houston and Chicago showcase the very best in women's professional soccer," said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. "I want to thank Secret for once again helping us put on this incredible event, and for their continued commitment to the NWSL and our players, including the NWSL's 2021 rookie class."
