As San Diego Wave Fútbol Club finished up their preseason training in preparation for their opening match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup against Angel City FC this Saturday, the regular-season schedule was announced on Wednesday.
San Diego Wave will start on the road at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 against the Houston Dash at PNC Stadium. Houston finished the regular season with a 9-10-5 record in seventh place of the standings last year.
“We are really excited about the announcement for our inaugural season,” said head coach Casey Stoney. “We have a big away game in Houston to start but are massively excited about our first opportunity to play at home in front of our San Diego Wave FC fans. We have lots of exciting trips ahead that will provide opportunities to grow and learn.”
Following its opener, San Diego Wave will begin a two-game homestand taking on NY/NJ Gotham on Saturday, May 7, and Chicago Red Stars on Sunday, May 15 from its temporary home Torero Stadium at University of San Diego.
San Diego then heads out on the road for four consecutive road matches beginning with Louisville on May 18, NC Courage on May 22, OL Reign on May 29, and finally Kansas City on June 4. Wave FC will line up against fellow expansion club Angel City on July 9 at Banc of California stadium before hosting its Southern California rival at its permanent home, Snapdragon Stadium, on Sept. 17.
The rivalry between both clubs is something that has both fan bases have been preparing for since the league announced that both teams would be joining the NWSL in 2022.
“We’re excited to kickoff. My family has already told me they’re going up to Angel City no matter what,” said Angel City FC founding investor Shannon MacMillan. “We will have probably the rowdiest section, we’re going to rival the supporter groups up there.”
MacMillan also serves as vice president of community relations for San Diego Loyal SC.
The 2022 campaign will see six teams qualify for the NWSL playoffs set to begin in October, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye. The season will end with the NWSL Championship the weekend of Oct. 28-30.
San Diego Wave Wave FC enters the season with 24 players representing six international soccer federations with their roster as they enter the NWSL Challenge Cup being:
Goalkeepers: Carly Telford, Kailen Sheridan, and Melissa Lowder.
Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, Christen Westphal, Kaleigh Riehl, Kayla Bruster, Mia Gyau, Naomi Girma, Tegan McGrady, and Taylor Hansen.
Midfielders: Belle Briede, Emily van Egmond, Kelsey Turnbow, Kristen McNabb, Sydney Pulver, and Taylor Kornieck.
Forwards: Alex Morgan, Amirah Ali, Jodie Taylor, Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, Marleen Schimmer, and Sofia Jakobsson.
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