The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will commence its 2027 season earlier than any previous year to align with the timing of the Women's World Cup.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announced the schedule adjustments during a midseason address, detailing plans for the league's 15th season. The season is slated to open on February 11, over a month earlier than the current season's start. The annual Challenge Cup match will precede the regular season on February 6.
The league will implement a pause in play from June 24 to July 25 to allow players participating in the Women's World Cup to represent their national teams. Following the World Cup break, the NWSL playoffs are scheduled to begin on November 5, with the championship game concluding the season on November 20.
"We know that major tournaments inspire millions of people to follow the sport, and our schedule allows us to be part of the lead-in and the lead-out of that big moment," Berman stated. The league plans to launch its season on Super Bowl weekend, working with broadcast partner ESPN to integrate NWSL coverage into the weekend's sports narrative. ABC, a partner of ESPN, will broadcast the 2027 Super Bowl.
Despite speculation about potentially shifting to a calendar year that aligns with international soccer schedules, the NWSL will maintain its spring-to-fall season through at least 2030. This decision comes as the players' union has expressed objections to such a calendar shift.
Berman also addressed the impact of Major League Soccer's (MLS) upcoming shift to a summer-to-spring calendar. While acknowledging potential challenges, particularly concerning shared stadium use, Berman noted that the NWSL's distinct schedule will provide greater calendar clarity. "With us being on different calendars, that’s no longer going to be the case. We’re going to have visibility into weeks that might otherwise have been reserved but not confirmed, and that will be helpful," she said.
The league is experiencing growth, which Berman attributes in part to the "World Cup bump" following recent major tournaments. The NWSL's "Summer of Soccer" initiative and marketing campaigns aimed to capitalize on increased interest. Social media engagement saw significant gains, with nearly 40 million impressions on Instagram and YouTube associated with the #NWSLOnTour hashtag.
Average attendance for NWSL games is currently 11,174 per game, ranking as the second-highest in league history, trailing only the average of 11,249 from 2024. Berman expressed optimism that the league could achieve its highest-attended year on average by the end of the current season.