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By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National
Women's Soccer League (NWSL) roars into action on Saturday, as
back-to-back champions North Carolina Courage kick off the
month-long Challenge Cup against the Portland Thorns on
Saturday.
The NWSL becomes the first major North American league to return
after the coronavirus outbreak, with eight of the league's nine
teams traveling to suburban Salt Lake City, Utah, for the
competition to be played without spectators.
"It's sort of like a beam of light," Portland Thorns midfielder
Rocky Rodriguez said in a team video. "It's not only going to be
a nice environment for the players in the sense that we're going
to be able to play and do what we love but also for the fans."
The Thorns lost in the 2019 semi-finals to the Chicago Red
Stars, who were defeated by the Courage in the Cary, North
Carolina final in October.
The Courage boast a stacked midfield including championship MVP
Debhina and U.S. women's national team veterans Crystal Dunn and
Sam Mewis.
"We've got depth, we've got speed, we've got ability, we've got
talent," coach Paul Riley said. "They're very mission-driven and
I think this is obviously another challenge for them."
The Courage play the Thorns before facing the Washington Spirit,
who fell just short of last year's playoffs but boast a strong
forward line with Rose Lavelle of the U.S. national team and
Ashley Hatch, the squad's leading scorer last season.
"It's different, it's something I've never done before, but we
can get games in - any way we can do that, I'm excited to,"
Hatch, a graduate of Utah's Brigham Young University, said in a
team video.
"Any time I get a chance to play in Utah, it's like a home away
from home."
The Chicago Red Stars, who lost last season's championship game
4-0, have a strong defence that includes 2019 U.S. Soccer Player
of the Year Julie Ertz and keeper Alyssa Naeher, who helped the
U.S. win their record fourth World Cup title in France last
year.
The Orlando Pride were forced to back out of the tournament
after players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19
before departing for Utah.
Utah Royals forward Christen Press and Thorns midfielder Tobin
Heath, both U.S. national team veterans, said they would not
compete in the tournament over health and safety concerns.
Ballon d'Or winner Megan Rapinoe of OL Reign also skips the
event, though no reason was given.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Ed Osmond)
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