Now that the 2018 NWSL schedule is out to the masses, and the Red Stars are firmly in preseason (opening with a 2-0 victory at Marquette this past weekend), let’s take a look at some of the more significant dates within the CRS campaign that are going to be key to survival in a league where every advantage matters.
Specifically, it looks like there are going to be two key periods where scheduling could make or break the season for the Red Stars, and this summer they happen to work as bookends. While the FIFA window has taken the USWNT and other international players out of the system for preseason (shoutout to all four available Red Stars making the USA’s SheBelieves squad), major absences specifically for Australian and Brazilian players will continue into the beginning of season due to all-important World Cup qualifying happening during that time.