Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash: NWSL Challenge Cup Final Gameday Guide & How to Watch

It’s Championship Sunday in the National Women’s Soccer League.

For the second straight year, the Chicago Red Stars find themselves in an NWSL final. Last season ended with a disappointing, 4-0 loss to the North Carolina Courage in the title game, so the Red Stars will be hungry to improve upon that runner-up finish.

For the Dash, it’s their first appearance in an NWSL final.

Chicago advanced to the title game after winning a 3-2 thriller over Sky Blue FC, that saw the Red Stars go up by two goals early, score another later on, and then hold on as Sky Blue pulled two back. For a team that struggled to score in this tournament—with just two goals through the first five matches—scoring three in the semifinal seems to indicate the team is clicking offensively at the right time.

As for Houston, the Dash earned a spot in the final after a 1-0 win over Portland. Rachel Daly was the lone goal scorer in that one.

The match marks the first time Chicago’s Kealia Watt and Houston’s Katie Naughton have played against their old teams. The two were traded for one another during the off season. Both women have been thriving at their new clubs, but Watt has yet to find the back of the net for the Red Stars, something she’ll be looking to change today.

Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash

Sunday, July 26, 2020

NWSL Challenge Cup Final | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah

Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. CT

TV: CBS

Live Tweets: @HotTimeOldTown (by TJ)

How do I watch this match?

If you live in the U.S., it’s on CBS. Unlike most of the rest of the NWSL Challenge Cup, you don’t have to pay for a streaming service to watch.

If you live outside the U.S., you can watch on Twitch.

Injuries

Chicago Red Stars OUT: Alyssa Mautz (Left Knee), Arin Wright (Postpartum), Yuki Nagasato (Left Leg), Tierna Davidson (Right Lower Leg), Morgan Gautrat (Right Leg), Ella Stevens (Left Leg), Casey Short (Head) QUESTIONABLE: Danielle Colaprico (Right Ankle), Zoe Redei (Right Hip)

Houston Dash OUT: Christine Nairn (General Illness) QUESTIONABLE: Megan Oyster (Thorax), Bridgette Andrzejewski (Right Ankle), Bri Visalli (Right Knee)

Some light pregame reading

• An ode to the Red Stars, Chicago’s best kept sports secret
• TJ’s full game recap from the semifinal win over Sky Blue FC

Who’s winning this? Jump in the comments below and start the conversation!