The Significance of the Challenge Cup

The NWSL opens its competitive season with the highly anticipated 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup. This year’s inaugural match is particularly thrilling as it features a rematch of the 2024 NWSL Championship, where the Orlando Pride, the defending champions, will take on the Washington Spirit, the runners-up. This unique single-match format places the cup title immediately on the line, generating excitement as the new season approaches.

A Brief History of the Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup was introduced in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally a month-long tournament meant to fill the gap left by the traditional season format, it was held in Utah with eight of the nine participating teams. Orlando Pride had to withdraw due to COVID-19 cases just before the tournament.

In subsequent years, the format evolved. From 2021 to 2022, it transitioned to a round-robin style with regional groups of four teams, and by 2023, it took place concurrently alongside the regular season. The Challenge Cup has reached its current iteration, a standalone cup final where the last year’s NWSL Championship and NWSL Shield winners, or a rematch of the prior Championship if the same team wins both, compete for the title.

Challenge Cup Winners List

• 2020 – Houston Dash
• 2021 – Portland Thorns FC
• 2022 – North Carolina Courage
• 2023 – North Carolina Courage
• 2024 – San Diego Wave FC

Match Preview: Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit

Orlando Pride enters the match with a stellar track record from the 2024 season, having claimed both the NWSL Championship and the Shield. Key players to watch include Zambia international Barbra Banda and Brazil’s Marta, who have been pivotal in the team’s success.

The Washington Spirit, bolstered by U.S. women’s national team member and Olympic gold medalist Trinity Rodman, alongside Colombia’s Leicy Santos, aims to reclaim their status after last year’s impressive run that saw them finishing as runners-up in both the Championship and Shield races.

What’s at Stake?

This match is not merely about the trophy; it also offers significant prize money, which is supported by NWSL partner UKG. Last year’s winners received $3,500 each, while the runners-up were awarded $2,200. Additionally, a separate MVP award of $2,000 will be given, heightening the stakes for personal and team achievement.