• Double dose of NWSL telecasts on ESPN’s 46^th anniversary – September 7
• Alex Morgan’s jersey retirement game on ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes on September 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET

The NWSL on ESPN returns after the league’s summer break for the second half of the 2025 season with a live broadcast of Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, and Disney+ beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Kick is at 12:50 p.m. The game is a matchup between two top-five teams in the standings.

Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play) and analyst Jordan Angeli will call the game in English. Cristina Alexander and Natalia Astrain will handle Spanish-language commentary. SportsCenter’s Kelsey Riggs and Ali Krieger, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, will host the pregame, halftime, and post-game segments.

The match will kick off a stretch of 10 regular season matches in the second half of the 2025 NWSL season across ESPN linear and digital platforms. ABC and ESPN matches will feature most of the 40 NWSL players who represented their respective national teams in the just-concluded UEFA Women’s European Football Championship (UEFA Women’s EURO), the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and the Copa América Femenina 2025 (title match is on Saturday).

Highlights:

• International stars on ESPN: Led by NJ/NY Gotham FC six players – Gabi Portilho (Brazil), Josefine Hasbo (Denmark), Jess Carter (England), Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Stella Nyamekye (Ghana), Esther González (Spain) – who represented their countries at the three marquee international competitions, ESPN’s NWSL games will feature stars of the tournaments.
• August 9 NWSL rivalry: Coming off the best performance by a goalkeeper in UEFA Women’s EUROs, nine saves vs. France in the quarterfinals, Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger leads NJ/NY Gotham FC as it hosts rivals Washington Spirit on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 12 p.m., on ESPN and ESPN+. Washington Spirit eliminated Gotham FC in the semifinals of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs
• September 7 NWSL doubleheader: On its 46^th anniversary, ESPN will showcase two NWSL games – NJ/NY Gotham FC-Angel City FC at 5:00 p.m. and San Diego Wave FC-Houston Dash at 8:30 p.m. The earlier match will feature UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Golden Boot winner Esther González and teammate Jess Carter, who won the competition with the England women’s national team.
• Honoring Alex Morgan: ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes will combine to present San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash on Sunday, Sept. 7, live from Snapdragon Stadium at 8:30 p.m. ET. The telecast will include live coverage of Wave FC’s retirement of Alex Morgan’s No. 13 jersey. Morgan, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion and one of the celebrated forwards in women’s soccer, will be the first player in San Diego Wave’s history to receive this honor. ESPN’s Krieger, a teammate of Alex Morgan in two World Cup-winning campaigns, will helm ESPN’s on-site coverage of the match, including special pre- and post-game shows. Riggs will host.

2025 NWSL on ABC and ESPN Returns:

* Subject to Change

All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming this Fall.

This fall, for the first time ever, ESPN will offer its full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. For more visit the ESPN DTC Press Kit.

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