On the eve of the season opener of the 2024 season, 2023 NWSL Shield Winners the San Diego Wave added to their trophy case by lifting their first UKG NWSL Challenge Cup trophy. The next day, CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri welcomed fans for the first time and made history as the first bespoke professional women’s soccer stadium in the world. Any viewers expecting that to be the most exciting part of the first weekend of the season, however, were in for a surprise when the match had nine goals from seven different goal scorers. Here’s what else you missed during week 1 of the 2024 season.
**Friday, March 15**
**NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave - 0-1**
On Friday night, the 2023 NWSL Champions, NJ/NY Gotham FC, hosted 2023 NWSL Shield Winners San Diego Wave for the 2024 UKG Challenge Cup in front of their second biggest crowd in club history. Gotham FC, with their new offseason acquisitions–Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, and Emily Sonnett–held a largely unchanged San Diego Wave roster to a draw for 88 minutes. However, halftime sub Alex Morgan did what she always does and scored a header off of a Savannah McCaskill corner. Gotham FC were unable to come up with an answer and the game ended with a Wave victory, a trophy lift by the visiting team and a confetti party. * [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597337) * [Watch the replay](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597337)
**Saturday, March 16**
**Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns - 5-4**
Home fans attending this match were in for a treat. Not only did they witness the first match at CPKC Stadium, the first bespoke professional women’s soccer stadium in the world, but they also witnessed nine high quality goals by both the Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns. Vanessa DiBernardo opened up hers, the Current’s, and CPKC Stadium’s scoresheet in the 22nd minute off of a loose ball in the box that had been placed there by the efforts of Brazilian powerhouse, Debinha. Kansas City would have more goals in the first half, by rookie Ellie Wheeler and new Brazilian signee Bia Zaneratto. Portland’s Sophia Smith, unwilling to let her team head to the locker room at halftime without a goal, put Portland up by one right before the halftime whistle. Once the teams returned to the field, the Current scored two more goals, which were answered by two more from the Thorns. Canadian forward Janine Beckie, newly returned from an injury she picked up last season, scored in the final minutes of the match and after 10 minutes of nail biting stoppage time for home fans, Kansas City earned their second ever win against Portland. * [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597745)
**Racing Louisville FC vs. Orlando Pride - 2-2**
The goals kept on coming in the second match of the day, as Racing Louisville hosted Orlando Pride to a draw that might have felt like a loss for the home team. Louisville new signee Elexa Bahr scored in the 13th minute off of a delightful chip and almost 5 minutes later, followed up by assisting in Uchenna Kanu’s goal. Louisville would not score again all match, and was unable to contain Orlando as they made comeback goals off of a forced own goal and finally, a dagger in the 86th minute thanks to the efforts of Summer Yates. * [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597869) * [Watch the replay](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597867)
**North Carolina Courage vs. Houston Dash - 5-1**
In front of Sam Mewis, who was inducted before the game into the Courage’s Ring of Honor, the North Carolina squad put on a goal scoring clinic for home fans as they hosted the Houston Dash. The goals started in the 19th minute after Courage defender Malia Berkely converted her penalty. The Courage dominated the rest of the match, scoring 4 more goals from shots taken within the box. The Dash will have to shake off the loss quickly, as they move to host Racing Louisville next Saturday, March 23rd at home in Houston. * [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597936) * [Watch the replay](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597944)
**Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars - 0-2**
Royalty made its grand return on Saturday night as the Utah Royals FC returned to the NWSL and hosted the Chicago Red Stars in a packed stadium in Sandy, Utah. However, it was the visiting team who would leave with glory, when the Red Stars scored two unanswered goals against the home team. Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made multiple saves to keep Utah out of the game and end the match with a clean sheet. Another long awaited return: forward Mal Swanson made her comeback after an injury in the early part of last season. * [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/597941)
**Sunday, March 17**
**Seattle Reign FC vs. Washington Spirit - 1-0**
It was a comfortable start to the season for the home team, as Seattle Reign FC held off visitors Washington Spirit with a single goal. In the fastest goal of the season so far, Reign FC forward Jordyn Huitema was quickly awarded a penalty in the 1st minute of the match after getting tripped up in the box, which Bethany Balcer easily converted. The Spirit, without the goal scoring prowess of Trinity Rodman who was serving a red card suspension from last season and with a young squad, were easily contained by the more experienced Seattle backline. They will look to apply the lessons learned over the next week as they return home to host new expansion team Bay FC on Saturday, March 23rd.
* [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/598364) * [Watch the replay](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/598363)
**Angel City FC vs. Bay FC - 0-1**
In front of 22,000 onlookers in sunny Los Angeles, Oshoala sealed her name in the history of Bay Area sports when she scored her club’s first ever goal in the 17th minute. Her goal would prove to be the only one of the match, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Angel City FC attempted 19 shots, 9 of which were on target, forcing Bay FC goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx to make saves and Bay FC defenders to make goal line clearances. “They save me, I save them. This is what a team is for,” said Proulx. It’s safe to say, the future of this matchup between these two California clubs is off to an exciting start.
* [Watch the highlights](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/598372) * [Watch the replay](https://plus.nwslsoccer.com/video/598374)