Seattle Reign will kick off 2017 season against Sky Blue FC

On the heels of an historic broadcast deal with A+E Networks, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Tuesday the 2017 home openers for all 10 teams. Seattle Reign FC will, for the second year in a row, face off against Sky Blue FC in its first home match of the season. The game will take place on Saturday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. PT.

The date is good news for Reign fans who also follow the Seattle Sounders, as the Sounders play April 14 in Vancouver.

After falling to Sky Blue 2-1 in their 2016 home opener, Reign FC have the opportunity to right a wrong from 2016 and start the season off on a more positive note. The match ended Seattle’s 22-game unbeaten streak at Memorial Stadium, and Seattle went on to post a 0-1-1 record against Sky Blue in 2016.

Seattle is 3-3-4 against the New Jersey-based club, and 2-2-0 in home openers. With their 2017 kickoff starting at 7:00 p.m. PT, the match won’t be featured on Lifetime — as the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime is set to air every Saturday at 1 p.m. PT. Instead, Lifetime will air Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride at Providence Park.

With the new broadcast deal, teams and the league are still coordinating stadium schedules and MLS schedules. As a result, details about streaming and the rest of the 2017 schedule are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

The NWSL has confirmed it will play a 24-game schedule, with teams each playing 12 home and 12 away regular-season games. Preseason camps open on March 13. The countdown begins.

Full Schedule of Home Openers

WEEK 1

Saturday, April 15
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride (Providence Park)
Seattle Reign FC vs. Sky Blue FC (Memorial Stadium)
Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage (Maryland SoccerPlex)

Sunday, April 16
FC Kansas City vs. Boston Breakers (Swope Soccer Village)

WEEK 2

Saturday, April 22
Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City (Toyota Park)
North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC (WakeMed Soccer Park)
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit (Orlando City Stadium)

Sunday, April 23
Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC (Jordan Field)

WEEK 3

Sunday, April 30
Sky Blue FC vs. FC Kansas City (Yurcak Field)