NWSL and its new commissioner had to get creative, but the end result was a pair of competitions that showcased a strong product that didn’t rely on all the household names.

When the coronavirus shut down American sports in March, the NWSL had barely started preseason for its eighth season. Left in the lurch of a pandemic with no clear end in sight, it soon became obvious the league’s anticipated April–November regular season couldn’t go on as planned. 

In response, new commissioner Lisa Baird got creative. The first Challenge Cup was born, with eight of the league’s nine teams traveling to Utah for a month-long tournament that ultimately produced zero positive COVID-19 cases in the bubble. Afterward, the league then salvaged some autumn action with a Community Shield fall series, with teams competing for a top-three finish that would earn money for a small business or organization in their community.