A capital idea: NWSL final date and location announced, Oct. 29 in Washington D.C.

The NWSL announced Tuesday morning that its final will broadcast on primetime television for the first time in the league’s existence. Set for October 29 at 8 p.m. ET, the final will be broadcasted from CBS, Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch. 

The final will be held at Audi Field, home of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and MLS’s D.C. United.

“As we continue to advance the women’s sports landscape in the U.S. and around the world, this is a particularly significant moment for the league and an opportunity our players wholly deserve,”  NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said. "We look forward to celebrating the end of a fantastic 10th anniversary season in person and on the air with what will surely be an exciting final.”

The game was originally scheduled for noon ET, before being moved into its current time slot. “We are delighted to bring the NWSL Championship to D.C. this year and, thanks to the continued collaboration with our partners at CBS and Ally, equally excited to present the match in its first-ever prime-time slot for fans tuning in across the country,” Berman said.

The NWSL has seen immense growth since its first final between the Portland Thorns and Western New York Flash in 2013. That game was held at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, New York. The attendance was 9,129 fans and was broadcasted on Fox Sports 2. 

Since then, the league has used ESPN, Fox Sports 1 and the Lifetime Network as broadcasting services. In 2020, the league signed a three-year contract with CBS Sports and the streaming service Twitch.

From Sahlen's Field in 2013 to Audi Field and a primetime television spot on CBS in 2022, it is safe to say the league has grown.

Follow The Striker throughout the 2022 NWSL season for coverage of the league and its playoffs.