The National Women’s Soccer League announced the relocation of this year’s championship final to Louisville with a 12:00 pm ET start time 'at the request of the players'.
The match was initially set to be in Portland at 9:00 am PT, before it received widespread criticism by the players and their supporters.
Several high profile athletes, including Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Rachel Corsie and Jess Fishlock, were the first to hit out at the league for scheduling a final with an early-morning start, highlighting the complications a player faces with a 5am pre-match.
The league has since listened by altering the schedule to accommodate the players.
“At the request of the players, and in coordination with the Portland Thorns organization and the Racing Louisville organization, the NWSL has moved the 2021 NWSL Championship from Portland to Louisville. The NWSL Championship is a marquee event for the players, the league and women’s soccer in the United States and the league wants to ensure that the players are in a position to perform at their highest level.
