HARRISON, N.J. (March 15, 2024) -

The National Women’s Soccer League opened its 12th campaign from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Friday night as San Diego Wave FC defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1-0, in the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup.

HARRISON, N.J. (March 15, 2024) - The National Women’s Soccer League opened its 12th campaign from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Friday night as San Diego Wave FC defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1-0, in the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup.

The newly reformatted single-match competition between the reigning NWSL Champion Gotham FC, and San Diego Wave FC, winner of the 2023 NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax, kicked off the NWSL’s coverage on Prime Video as part of a landmark media rights agreement. Strong defensive performances from both teams kept the game scoreless until the 88th minute, but a late header from Wave forward Alex Morgan put the match away as midfielder Savannah McCaskill recorded an assist in her debut with the club. In recognition of the efforts of players from both clubs to achieve greatness on and off the pitch, UKG will provide each player from San Diego with $3,500 in prize money, while players on Gotham FC will each receive $2,200. Leading the way with her game-winning goal, Morgan was named the 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Most Valuable Player, earning an additional $2,000 in prize money. In addition to the Challenge Cup player bonuses, UKG will be funding the launch of a career development program designed to support all NWSL players. Full details regarding the program will be released in the coming weeks. Following the Challenge Cup, the 2024 NWSL regular season opens on Saturday, March 16, as the Kansas City Current host Portland Thorns FC in the inaugural match at CPKC Stadium, the first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team. The historic regular season opener kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, airing live on ABC. Both Challenge Cup competitors begin their respective regular season campaigns next week, as the Wave host the Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 23 for a 10 p.m. ET kickoff on ION. Gotham FC will take on Portland Thorns FC on the road on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.