Professional women’s soccer is coming to Rhode Island this week.
On Friday, Boston Legacy FC kicks off the first of seven matches they plan to play this summer at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket.
The Legacy are one of two expansion teams that launched this year in the latest iteration of the National Women’s Soccer League. The team plans to use White Stadium in Boston’s Franklin Park as their home field. But White Stadium is currently undergoing renovations, so the team is splitting “home” games this year between Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and the stadium on the banks of the Seekonk River.
Ocean State Media’s Luis Hernandez spoke with the Legacy’s head of marketing, Sabine Feldmann, about the team’s plans for making Rhode Island a temporary home.
Interview highlights
On a debut for women’s soccer
Sabine Feldmann: Friday is actually a historic night in Rhode Island. It is the first-ever professional women’s soccer match that will be played in the state of Rhode Island. It’s almost tough to believe, but there was never a professional women’s soccer match that happened in the Ocean State. So it gives fans a chance to be part of history. Who doesn’t want to be part of history? There’s only one first.
On fan-player interaction in the NWSL
Feldmann: That is something I feel like makes this league extra special. The fact that the players will stop, win, lose, or draw after the match and interact with the fans, and fans have that opportunity to go there, to see the players, to tell them they did a great job, to get their merch signed, is just extra special.
On Year One in the NWSL for the expansion Boston Legacy FC
Feldmann: It’s super exciting. It’s just such a great time for women’s sports in general. Certainly an amazing year to launch a professional women’s soccer club. We know Bostonians and New Englanders love their sports. Boston’s known to be Title Town, so we feel like we fit right in.
Boston Legacy FC in Rhode Island
The Legacy play seven matches at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket
May 22, 8 p.m. vs Seattle Reign FC
July 5, noon vs Bay FC
July 10, 8 p.m. vs Chicago Red Stars
July 19, 7 p.m. vs Washington Spirit
July 25, 5 p.m. vs KC Current
Aug. 9, 4 p.m. vs Portland Thorns
Sept. 20, 2 p.m. vs Houston Dash
