The National Women’s Soccer League released its 2017 schedule today. The Washington Spirit had known their first two games of the season when home openers across the league were announced, but now a full season of fixtures is confirmed. The Spirit will play three matches against most NWSL clubs, while facing Seattle Reign FC, Chicago Red Stars, and FC Kansas City just twice.
That means three games against both the defending champions (North Carolina Courage, who were the Western NY Flash when they defeated the Spirit on penalty kicks in last year’s final) and Portland Thorns FC, the defending NWSL Shield winners.