The Women’s International Champions Cup was billed as the women’s club event of the summer. On matchday one, the WICC absolutely lived up to the hype. Two matches, nine goals, a penalty shootout, and two NWSL teams duking it out with the previous two UEFA Women’s Champions League winners in Providence Park. What more can fans ask for?
It is an interesting tournament because it’s preseason for the European teams and midseason for the NWSL teams, who have to balance this tournament with their league schedule. Also, players from each team are reintegrating after competing in the Tokyo Olympics, so the teams aren’t able (or willing) to put out their best eleven.