Jump to content

2024 NWSL Challenge Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2024 NWSL Challenge Cup
The Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, hosted the match.
EventNWSL Challenge Cup
DateMarch 15, 2024 (2024-03-15)
VenueRed Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Most Valuable PlayerAlex Morgan[1]
RefereeDanielle Chesky[2]
Attendance14,241
2023
2025

The 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup, known as the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons,[3] was the fifth edition of the NWSL Challenge Cup, a women's soccer competition organized by the National Women's Soccer League. The match was the first Challenge Cup to be played in the super cup format as a one-off game, contested by the winners of the previous season's NWSL Championship and NWSL Shield. It featured NJ/NY Gotham FC, champions of the 2023 National Women's Soccer League, and San Diego Wave FC, winners of the 2023 NWSL Shield. The match was played on March 15, 2024, and was hosted by Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. The match was acted as an curtain raiser to the 2024 season, and was broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, marking the start of the platform's coverage of the NWSL.[4]

The San Diego Wave defeated Gotham 1–0, with an Alex Morgan goal in the 88th minute.[1]

Background

[edit]

The NWSL Challenge Cup was created as a league cup tournament in 2020 as a return to competition after the 2020 NWSL regular season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition was successful enough to be brought back in 2021, though played prior to the start of the NWSL's regular season. This format continued in 2022, but was changed in 2023 to take place during the league's regular season. However, with more regular season matches taking place due to the league being expanded from 12 to 14 teams in 2024, the NWSL decided to scrap the league cup format.[5] Instead, the competition was reformatted to be a one-off super cup match, to be contested by the winners of the NWSL Championship and NWSL Shield from the previous season. Should the same team win the NWSL Shield and Championship, the fixture will be a rematch of the previous NWSL Championship. The game will act as an opener to the league season, played the day prior to the first regular season matches.[6]

The competition will continue to be sponsored by UKG. The company will award $3,500 in prize money to each player of the winning team, while each player of the losing team will receive $2,200. The most valuable player will be awarded an additional $2,000.[3]

Teams

[edit]
Team Qualification Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners)
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2023 NWSL champions 1 (2021)
San Diego Wave FC 2023 NWSL Shield winners None

Match

[edit]

Details

[edit]
NJ/NY Gotham FC0–1San Diego Wave FC
Report
  • Morgan 88'
Attendance: 14,241
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Gotham
Wave
GK 38 United States Cassie Miller
RB 5 United States Kelley O'Hara (c) downward-facing red arrow 85'
CB 15 United States Tierna Davidson
CB 77 Spain Maitane López downward-facing red arrow 85'
LB 3 Brazil Bruninha Yellow card 85'
DM 14 United States Nealy Martin downward-facing red arrow 75'
RM 18 Republic of Ireland Yazmeen Ryan downward-facing red arrow 66'
LM 17 United States Delanie Sheehan Yellow card 69'
LW 9 Spain Esther González Yellow card 72'
RW 23 United States Midge Purce downward-facing red arrow 76'
ST 28 United States Katie Stengel downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutes:
GK 1 United States Michelle Betos
DF 25 United States Maycee Bell upward-facing green arrow 85'
DF 19 United States Crystal Dunn upward-facing green arrow 66'
DF 22 United States Mandy Freeman
DF 21 United States Sam Hiatt upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 2 United States Jenna Nighswonger upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 6 United States Emily Sonnett upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW 13 United States Ella Stevens upward-facing green arrow 85'
FW 8 United States Taryn Torres
Manager:
United States Juan Carlos Amorós
GK 1 Canada Kailen Sheridan
RB 6 Sweden Hanna Lundkvist downward-facing red arrow 74'
CB 4 United States Naomi Girma
CB 2 United States Abby Dahlkemper (c)
LB 20 United States Christen Westphal downward-facing red arrow 61'
DM 5 Australia Emily van Egmond
DM 15 United States Makenzy Doniak downward-facing red arrow 71'
AM 21 United States Savannah McCaskill
RM 23 United States Elyse Bennett downward-facing red arrow 60'
LM 11 United States Jaedyn Shaw downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
ST 33 Republic of Ireland Kyra Carusa downward-facing red arrow 45'
Substitutes:
GK 22 United States Hillary Beall
GK 35 United States Morgan Messner
DF 8 United States Sierra Enge upward-facing green arrow 74'
DF 16 Australia Kaitlyn Torpey upward-facing green arrow 61'
MF 24 United States Danielle Colaprico upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 10 Sweden Sofia Jakobsson upward-facing green arrow 60'
FW 13 United States Alex Morgan upward-facing green arrow 45'
FW 25 United States Melanie Barcenas
FW 7 United States Amirah Ali upward-facing green arrow 90+1'
Manager:
England Casey Stoney

Most Valuable Player:
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave)[1]
Assistant referees:[2]
Tom Felice
Art Arustamyan
Fourth official:[2]
Alyssa Nichols
Video assistant referee:[2]
Kevin Broadley
Assistant video assistant referee:[2]
Kaili Terry

Match rules[7]

  • 90 minutes.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores level.
  • Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Alex Morgan Still Has the Magic: Scores Lone Goal in Wave's Challenge Cup Win". Times of San Diego. March 15, 2024 – via MSN.
  2. ^ a b c d e "NWSL Challenge Cup Assignments". Professional Referee Organization. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "2024 NWSL Season Opens With UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, Featuring Clash of Champions, Start of Prime Video Coverage". National Women's Soccer League. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "Reigning NWSL Champion NJ/NY Gotham FC, Shield-Winning San Diego Wave FC to Raise Curtain on 2024 Season With NWSL Challenge Cup". National Women's Soccer League. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Lauletta, Dan (September 5, 2023). "Get ready to say goodbye to the Challenge Cup". The Equalizer. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2024 Schedule Footprint, Competition Calendar". National Women's Soccer League. December 3, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "2024 NWSL Challenge Cup rules and regulations" (PDF). National Women's Soccer League. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
[edit]