Winter Olympic Schedule: How to watch every women’s event at Beijing 2022

By Feb 13, 2022, 10:00 PM EST
2022 Winter Olympics: A complete schedule and streaming/TV guide for how to watch every Olympic women's and mixed gender event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
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While the 2022 Winter Olympics will provide many competitors with the biggest test of their athletic careers, just watching the Olympics – with a 13-hour time difference between China and U.S. eastern time – presents a challenge of its own for viewers asking, “When and how do I watch my favorite Olympic event?”

If you’re a women’s sports fan, look no further. On Her Turf has compiled a complete schedule of every women’s and mixed gender event – qualifying and finals! – for the Beijing Winter Games.

The U.S. and Canadian hockey teams in group play? Check. The women’s figure skating competition? We’ve got you. Every curling round robin session? Yes, and there are a lot of them!

A few notes about On Her Turf’s schedule / TV guide for the Beijing Winter Games:

  • While the columns include both Beijing time and U.S. eastern time, the day delineations by row occur at 12am eastern time.
  • Gold medal events are identified in bold.

Olympic Schedule for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games: How to watch every women’s and mixed gender event

OLYMPIC EVENTS TO WATCH TODAY: Sunday, February 13, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Women’s Round Robin #6 2/13/22 1:05 AM 2/13/22 2:05 PM
Biathlon Women’s 10km Pursuit 2/13/22 4:00 AM 2/13/22 5:00 PM
Short Track Women’s Relay (Final) 2/13/22 6:00 AM 2/13/22 7:00 PM
Speed Skating Women’s 500m 2/13/22 8:00 AM 2/13/22 9:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #7
  • CHN vs. JPN
  • CAN vs. ROC
  • USA vs. KOR
 2/13/22 8:05 PM 2/14/22 9:05 AM
Figure Skating Ice Dance Free Dance 2/13/22 8:15 PM 2/14/22 9:15 AM
Bobsled Women’s Monobob (Runs 3 & 4) 2/13/22 8:30 PM 2/14/22 9:30 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Big Air (Qualification) 2/13/22 8:30 PM 2/14/22 9:30 AM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Qualifying (rescheduled) 2/13/22 9:00 PM 2/14/22 10:00 AM
Hockey Women’s Semifinal #1 2/13/22 11:10 PM 2/14/22 12:10 PM

Monday, February 14, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Aerials (Qualifying) 2/14/22 2:00 AM 2/14/22 3:00 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Aerials (Final) 2/14/22 6:00 AM 2/14/22 7:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #8
  • SUI vs. SWE
  • GBR vs. CAN
  • JPN vs. KOR
  • DEN vs. ROC
 2/14/22 7:05 AM 2/14/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Semifinal #2 2/14/22 8:10 AM 2/14/22 9:10 PM
Snowboarding Women’s Big Air (Final) 2/14/22 8:30 PM 2/15/22 9:30 AM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Slopestyle (Final) 2/14/22 8:30 PM 2/15/22 9:30 AM
Alpine Skiing Women’s Downhill 2/14/22 10:00 PM 2/15/22 11:00 AM
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Women’s Round Robin #9
  • CHN vs. ROC
  • SWE vs. DEN
  • USA vs. SUI
  • GBR vs. JPN
 2/15/22 1:05 AM 2/15/22 2:05 PM
Speed Skating Women’s Team Pursuit (Semifinals, Final) 2/15/22 1:30 AM 2/15/22 2:30 PM
Figure Skating Women’s Short Program 2/15/22 5:00 AM 2/15/22 6:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #10
  • CAN vs. USA
  • SUI vs. KOR
  • CHN vs. GBR
 2/15/22 8:05 PM 2/16/22 9:05 AM
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Biathlon Women’s 4x6km Relay 2/16/22 2:45 AM 2/16/22 3:45 PM
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s Team Sprint Classic (Semifinals & Final) 2/16/22 4:00 AM 2/16/22 5:00 PM
Hockey Women’s Bronze Medal Game 2/16/22 6:30 AM 2/16/22 7:30 PM
Short Track Women’s 1500m (Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final) 2/16/22 6:30 AM 2/16/22 7:30 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #11
  • KOR vs. DEN
  • JPN vs. USA
  • ROC vs. SWE
  • CAN vs. CHN
 2/16/22 7:05 AM 2/16/22 8:05 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Halfpipe (Qualifying) 2/16/22 8:30 PM 2/17/22 9:30 AM
Alpine Skiing Women’s Combined (Downhill Race) 2/16/22 9:30 PM 2/17/22 10:30 AM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Ski Cross (Qualifying) 2/16/22 10:30 PM 2/17/22 11:30 AM
Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game 2/16/22 11:10 PM 2/17/22 12:10 PM
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Alpine Skiing Women’s Combined (Slalom Race) 2/17/22 1:00 AM 2/17/22 2:00 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Ski Cross (Final) 2/17/22 1:00 AM 2/17/22 2:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #12
  • JPN vs. SUI
  • ROC vs. GBR
  • DEN vs. CAN
  • KOR vs. SWE
 2/17/22 1:05 AM 2/17/22 2:05 PM
Speed Skating Women’s 1000m 2/17/22 3:30 AM 2/17/22 4:30 PM
Figure Skating Women’s Free Skate 2/17/22 5:00 AM 2/17/22 6:00 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Halfpipe (Final) 2/17/22 8:30 PM 2/18/22 9:30 AM
Friday, February 18, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Figure Skating Pairs’ Short Program 2/18/22 5:30 AM 2/18/22 6:30 PM
Bobsled Two-Women (Runs 1 & 2) 2/18/22 7:00 AM 2/18/22 8:00 PM
Curling Women’s Semifinal #1 2/18/22 7:05 AM 2/18/22 8:05 PM
Curling Women’s Semifinal #2 2/18/22 7:05 AM 2/18/22 8:05 PM
Alpine Skiing Team Event 2/18/22 10:00 PM 2/19/22 11:00 AM
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Speed Skating Women’s Mass Start 2/19/22 2:00 AM 2/19/22 3:00 PM
Biathlon Women’s 12.5km Mass Start 2/19/22 4:00 AM 2/19/22 5:00 PM
Figure Skating Pairs’ Free Skate 2/19/22 6:00 AM 2/19/22 7:00 PM
Bobsled Two-Women (Runs 3 & 4) 2/19/22 7:00 AM 2/19/22 8:00 PM
Curling Women’s Bronze Medal 2/19/22 7:05 AM 2/19/22 8:05 PM
Curling Women’s Gold Medal 2/19/22 8:05 PM 2/20/22 9:05 AM
Figure Skating Gala Exhibition 2/19/22 11:00 PM 2/20/22 12:00 PM
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s 30km Mass Start Freestyle 2/20/22 2:00 AM 2/20/22 3:00 PM
Closing Ceremony 2/20/22 7:00 AM 2/20/22 8:00 PM

How to watch the 2022 Winter Olympics

For viewers in the United States, you have some options:

  • Peacock will be the streaming home of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Live streaming coverage and full replays of every event will be available on Peacock’s premium tier. Click here to watch.
  • You can also stream events via NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app.
  • Many events will also air on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. Preliminary TV listings can be found here.

At the Winter Olympics, event dates/times are always subject to change – a known side effect of playing sports on snow and ice. The most up-to-date schedule with TV and streaming info can be found here.

This post will also be updated throughout the Games – so bookmark it now and keep checking back for updates.

To stay updated on the biggest news in women’s sports at the 2022 Winter Olympics (and beyond), be sure to subscribe to the On Her Turf newsletter, bookmark the blog, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok.

2022 Winter Olympics: Completed Events

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #1
  • SWE vs. GBR
  • AUS vs. USA
  • NOR vs. CZE
  • CHN vs. SUI
 2/2/22 7:05 AM 2/2/22 8:05 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #2
  • AUS vs. CHN
  • SWE vs. CZE
  • USA vs. ITA
  • GBR vs. CAN
 2/2/22 8:05 PM 2/3/22 9:05 AM
Hockey Women’s Group B (CHN vs CZE) 2/2/22 11:10 PM 2/3/22 12:10 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (SUI vs CAN) 2/2/22 11:10 PM 2/3/22 12:10 PM
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #3
  • ITA vs. SUI
  • USA vs. NOR
 2/3/22 1:05 AM 2/3/22 2:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (JPN vs SWE) 2/3/22 3:40 AM 2/3/22 4:40 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Moguls (Qualifying #1) 2/3/22 5:00 AM 2/3/22 6:00 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #4
  • NOR vs. CAN
  • SUI vs. GBR
  • CHN vs. SWE
  • CZE vs. AUS
 2/3/22 7:05 AM 2/3/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (FIN vs USA) 2/3/22 8:10 AM 2/3/22 9:10 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #5
  • SWE vs. AUS
  • CAN vs. SUI
  • ITA vs. NOR
 2/3/33 7:35 PM 2/4/22 8:35 AM
Figure Skating Team Event
  • Men’s Short Program
  • Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
  • Pairs’ Short Program
 2/3/22 8:55 PM 2/4/22 9:55 AM
Hockey Women’s Group A (ROC vs SUI) 2/3/22 11:10 PM 2/4/22 12:10 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (DEN vs CHN) 2/3/22 11:10 PM 2/4/22 12:10 PM
Friday, February 4, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #6
  • CZE vs. ITA
  • CHN vs. CAN
  • GBR vs. AUS
  • SWE vs. USA
 2/4/22 12:35 AM 2/4/22 1:35 PM
Opening Ceremony 2/4/22 6:55 AM 2/4/22 7:55 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #7
  • AUS vs. NOR
  • SUI vs. SWE
 2/4/22 8:05 PM 2/5/22 9:05 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle (Qualification) 2/4/22 9:45 PM 2/5/22 10:45 AM
Hockey Women’s Group A (CAN vs FIN) 2/4/22 11:10 PM 2/5/22 12:10 PM

Saturday, February 5, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #8
  • CHN vs. USA
  • CZE vs. GBR
  • SWE vs. CAN
  • AUS vs. ITA
 2/5/22 1:05 AM 2/5/22 2:05 PM
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s Skiathlon 2/5/22 2:45 AM 2/5/22 3:45 PM
Speed Skating Women’s 3000m 2/5/22 3:30 AM 2/5/22 4:30 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (CZE vs SWE) 2/5/22 3:40 AM 2/5/22 4:40 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (DEN vs JPN) 2/5/22 3:40 AM 2/5/22 4:40 PM
Biathlon Mixed Relay 2/5/22 4:00 AM 2/5/22 5:00 PM
Ski Jumping Women’s Individual Normal Hill (First Round and Final) 2/5/22 5:45 AM 2/5/22 6:45 PM
Short Track Women’s 500m (Heats)

Mixed Relay (Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final)

 2/5/22 6:00 AM 2/5/22 7:00 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #9
  • GBR vs. ITA
  • NOR vs. CHN
  • CZE vs. SUI
  • USA vs. CAN
 2/5/22 7:05 AM 2/5/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (USA vs ROC) 2/5/22 8:10 AM 2/5/22 9:10 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #10
  • USA vs. CZE
  • GBR vs. CHN
 2/5/22 8:05 PM 2/6/22 9:05 AM
Figure Skating Team Event 2/5/22 8:30 PM 2/6/22 9:30 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle (Final) 2/5/22 8:30 PM 2/6/22 9:30 AM

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #11
  • NOR vs. SWE
  • AUS vs. SUI
  • ITA vs. CHN
  • CAN vs. CZE
 2/6/22 1:05 AM 2/6/22 2:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (CHN vs JPN) 2/6/22 3:40 AM 2/6/22 4:40 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Moguls (Qualifying #2) 2/6/22 5:00 AM 2/6/22 6:00 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Moguls (Final) 2/6/22 6:30 AM 2/6/22 7:30 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #12
  • CAN vs. AUS
  • ITA vs. SWE
  • SUI vs. USA
  • NOR vs. GBR
 2/6/22 7:05 AM 2/6/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (SUI vs USA) 2/6/22 8:10 AM 2/6/22 9:10 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin #13
  • SUI vs. NOR
  • CAN vs. ITA
  • USA vs. GBR
  • CZE vs. CHN
 2/6/22 8:05 PM 2/7/22 9:05 AM
Figure Skating Team Event 2/6/22 8:15 PM 2/7/22 9:15 AM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Big Air (Qualifying) 2/6/22 8:30 PM 2/7/22 9:30 AM
Alpine Skiing Women’s Giant Slalom (Run 1) 2/6/22 8:30 PM 2/7/22 9:30 AM
Hockey Women’s Group A (CAN vs ROC) 2/6/22 11:10 PM 2/7/22 12:10 PM

Monday, February 7, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Alpine Skiing Women’s Giant Slalom (Run 2) 2/7/22 1:30 AM 2/7/22 2:30 PM
Speed Skating Women’s 1500m 2/7/22 3:30 AM 2/7/22 4:30 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (CZE vs DEN) 2/7/22 3:40 AM 2/7/22 4:40 PM
Biathlon Women’s 15km Individual 2/7/22 4:00 AM 2/7/22 5:00 PM
Short Track Women’s 500m (Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final) 2/7/22 6:30 AM 2/7/22 7:30 PM
Ski Jumping Mixed Team Normal Hill (First Round and Final) 2/7/22 6:45 AM 2/7/22 7:45 PM
Luge Women’s Luge (Runs 1 & 2) 2/7/22 6:50 AM 2/7/22 7:50 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Semifinal #1 2/7/22 7:05 AM 2/7/22 8:05 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Semifinal #2 2/7/22 7:05 AM 2/7/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (FIN vs SUI) 2/7/22 8:10 AM 2/7/22 9:10 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (SWE vs CHN) 2/7/22 8:10 AM 2/7/22 9:10 PM
Freestyle Skiing Women’s Freeski Big Air (Final) 2/7/22 9:00 PM 2/8/22 10:00 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom (Qualification) 2/7/22 9:40 PM 2/8/22 10:40 AM
Hockey Women’s Group A (USA vs CAN) 2/7/22 11:10 PM 2/8/22 12:10 PM
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Mixed Doubles Bronze Medal 2/8/22 1:05 AM 2/8/22 2:05 PM
Snowboarding Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom (QFs, Semis, Final) 2/8/22 1:30 AM 2/8/22 2:30 PM
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s Individual Sprint Freestyle (Qualification) 2/8/22 3:00 AM 2/8/22 4:00 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (JPN vs CZE) 2/8/22 3:40 AM 2/8/22 4:40 PM
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s Individual Sprint Freestyle (QFs, Semis, Final) 2/8/22 5:30 AM 2/8/22 6:30 PM
Luge Women’s Luge (Runs 3 & 4) 2/8/22 6:50 AM 2/8/22 7:50 PM
Curling Mixed Doubles Gold Medal 2/8/22 7:05 AM 2/8/22 8:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Group A (ROC vs FIN) 2/8/22 8:10 AM 2/8/22 9:10 PM
Hockey Women’s Group B (SWE vs DEN) 2/8/22 8:10 AM 2/8/22 9:10 PM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe (Qualification) 2/8/22 8:30 PM 2/9/22 9:30 AM
Alpine Skiing Women’s Slalom (Run 1) 2/8/22 9:15 PM 2/9/22 10:15 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Cross (Qualification) 2/8/22 10:00 PM 2/9/22 11:00 AM

Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Alpine Skiing Women’s Slalom (Run 2) 2/9/22 12:45 AM 2/9/22 1:45 PM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Cross (QFs, Semifinals, Final) 2/9/22 1:30 AM 2/9/22 2:30 PM
Short Track Women’s 1000m (Heats), Women’s Relay (Semifinals) 2/9/22 6:00 AM 2/9/22 7:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #1
  • GBR vs. SUI
  • DEN vs. CHN
  • SWE vs. JPN
  • ROC vs. USA
 2/9/22 8:05 PM 2/10/22 9:05 AM
Snowboarding Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe (Final) 2/9/22 8:30 PM 2/10/22 9:30 AM
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s 10km Classic 2/10/22 2:00 AM 2/10/22 3:00 PM
Freestyle Skiing Mixed Team Aerials 2/10/22 6:00 AM 2/10/22 7:00 PM
Speed Skating Women’s 5000m 2/10/22 7:00 AM 2/10/22 8:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #2
  • CAN vs. KOR
  • SWE vs. GBR
  • USA vs. DEN
  • CHN vs. SUI
 2/10/22 7:05 AM 2/10/22 8:05 PM
Luge Team Relay 2/10/22 8:30 AM 2/10/22 9:30 PM
Skeleton Women’s Skeleton (Runs 1 & 2) 2/10/22 8:30 PM 2/11/22 9:30 AM
Alpine Skiing Women’s Super-G 2/10/22 10:00 PM 2/11/22 11:00 AM
Hockey Women’s Quarterfinal #1: USA vs. CZE 2/10/22 11:10 PM 2/11/22 12:10 PM

Friday, February 11, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Curling Women’s Round Robin #3 2/11/22 1:05 AM 2/11/22 2:05 PM
Hockey Women’s Quarterfinal #2: CAN vs. SWE 2/11/22 8:10 AM 2/11/22 9:10 PM
Biathlon Women’s 7.5km Sprint 2/11/22 4:00 AM 2/11/22 5:00 PM
Short Track Women’s 1000m (Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final) 2/11/22 6:00 AM 2/11/22 7:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #4
  • SWE vs. CAN
  • KOR vs. ROC
  • JPN vs. DEN
 2/11/22 8:05 PM 2/12/22 9:05 AM
Snowboarding Mixed Team Snowboard Cross (QFs, Semifinals, Final) 2/11/22 9:00 PM 2/12/22 10:00 AM
Hockey Women’s Quarterfinal #3: ROC vs. SUI 2/11/22 11:10 PM 2/12/22 12:10 PM
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Sport Event Date / Start Time (U.S. EST) Date / Start Time (China)
Cross-Country Skiing Women’s 4x5km Relay 2/12/22 2:30 AM 2/12/22 3:30 PM
Speed Skating Women’s Team Pursuit (Quarterfinals) 2/12/22 3:00 AM 2/12/22 4:00 PM
Hockey Women’s Quarterfinal #4: FIN vs. JPN 2/12/22 3:40 AM 2/12/22 4:40 PM
Figure Skating Ice Dance Rhythm Dance 2/12/22 6:00 AM 2/12/22 7:00 PM
Curling Women’s Round Robin #5
  • ROC vs. JPN
  • DEN vs. SUI
  • GBR vs. USA
  • SWE vs. CHN
 2/12/22 7:05 AM 2/12/22 8:05 PM
Skeleton Women’s Skeleton (Runs 3 & 4) 2/12/22 7:20 AM 2/12/22 8:20 PM
Bobsled Women’s Monobob (Runs 1 & 2) 2/12/22 8:30 PM 2/13/22 9:30 AM

Follow Alex Azzi on Twitter @AlexAzziNBC

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Utah Royals FC announce NWSL return as new ownership addresses Utah’s abortion restrictions

By Mar 24, 2023, 2:40 PM EDT
Real Salt Lake owner, Ryan Smith, left, and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman pose at a press conference where they announced the return of Utah Royals FC.
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SANDY, Utah – The 2023 NWSL season kicks off Saturday and there’s one thing we know for sure: This is the last year the league will be 12 teams after the Utah Royals FC recently announced its return to the league for 2024.

“I knew that this was going to be one of the most important things that we do,” Jessica Berman said at the announcement March 11 regarding her priority initiatives over her first year as NWSL commissioner. “I lead on behalf of the NWSL, who is making sure that we bring this team back because we know the NWSL fans here are avid, and they care and they’re passionate, and that’s why we’re so excited to bring this team back to the community that’s been asking for [it].”

The Royals ownership group includes Ryan Smith, owner of Smith Entertainment Group, a sports, technology and entertainment investment group whose portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Vivint Arena, America First Field, the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G-League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro) and management of the Salt Lake Bees (Triple A baseball); and David Blitzer, owner of sports investment group Global Football Holdings, which has interests in the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Cleveland Guardians (MLB) and seven European soccer entities including Crystal Palace (England) and FC Augsburg (Germany).

Also joining the ownership is Kraft Analytics Group CEO Jessica Gelman and Philadelphia 76ers exec Daryl Morey, who are part of a five-investor consortium named 42 Futbol Group. Rounding out the group are Netflix vice president Amy Reinhard, former Ernst & Young partner Jim Steger and Eleanor Health CEO Corbin Petro. Gelman will serve as the team’s alternate governor alongside Blitzer, while Michelle Hyncik has been named the club’s president. Hyncik has served as RSL’s general counsel for the past three years and spent five years working as a senior legal counsel for Major League Soccer.

In a recent interview with Sportico, Gelman said the group believes that analytics was being underutilized in leagues such as the WNBA and NWSL, noting “there was a natural fit between 42 Futbol Group’s vision and the commitment from Utah Soccer to dedicate appropriate resources toward the new women’s franchise.”

“This is the right opportunity, with the right overarching ownership group, which has the same vision as us: to empower women, affect change and to do it right,” Gelman said. “Alignment of values is so important.”

The new club is returning to a state with a very different landscape following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last June. Just four days after the Royals’ announcement, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Coxsigned into a law a bill that bans all abortion clinics by Jan. 1, 2024.

Berman stated last summer that a state’s abortion laws would factor into the league’s decision regarding expansion cities: “It’s one of the things that we’re actually currently analyzing, which is looking even at our current markets to see where we have some differentiation between our values and what we stand behind relative to where we have teams located, and what are the solutions we can put in place that we feel comfortable we can commit to and execute on,” she said.

Berman, Smith and Hyncik talked with On Her Turf about how they plan to address Utah’s reproductive health-care laws within the Royals organization, plus we unpack Utah’s new legislation and take a look at what’s new for the club’s second iteration.

Current Utah abortion legislation counting down to 2024 ban on clinics

Cox signed H.B. 467 into law on March 15 and it takes effect May 3, when abortion clinics will be required to close either by the end of the year or when their license expires, whichever comes first. Additionally, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services will not be allowed to grant or renew abortion clinic licenses starting May 2. The full ban goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

The bill does include exceptions for victims of rape and incest, when the mother’s life is in danger or when the fetus has a “lethal fetal anomaly.” It also classifies violations of Utah’s abortion laws as “unprofessional conduct” for health-care providers, requires doctors to offer perinatal hospice and palliative care options as alternatives to abortion for women facing a fatal anomaly, and prohibits abortion for victims of sexual assault and incest after 18 weeks.

“This bill clarifies that so that those abortions can continue. They will continue in a hospital setting, but there’s nothing to prevent those from continuing,” Cox said at a recent news conference.

Under the legislation, all abortions will be required to take place in a hospital, which is defined as “a general hospital licensed by the state.” Critics warn that moving abortions to hospital facilities will likely raise the cost of accessing an abortion in Utah, even when medically necessary, as out-of-pocket costs in a hospital can reach into the thousands compared to costs at abortion clinics.

How Royals ownership, NWSL are addressing Utah’s abortion laws

Both Smith and Berman addressed head-on the concerns over players’ and female staff health-care access in light of Utah’s restrictions. Smith noted that it’s something his companies have already addressed and implemented a policy for.

“Similar to what we’ve done with the Jazz and what we’ve done with all the employees that work in this organization: If there’s healthcare that is not provided by the state, we’ve offered a stipend, we’ve offered consideration for them to go receive whatever treatment they want elsewhere,” he said. “This is one of the greatest reasons why Michelle (Hyncik) is in this spot, because we worked hand-in-hand with her to develop all of this and roll it out.

“There’s a lot of opportunity we have to push forward what the women in this state can go do. I’m incredibly proud of the women that we have in the state, Look at the entrepreneurship and this platform – it’s way bigger than soccer. And as a girl dad, that’s what I want to see — I want my daughters want to work here. I want our stats department and our analytics to be the best in women’s sports, and I don’t know why we can’t officially own that. And with Jessica (Gelman) coming on board – that’s what she’s done out of Boston and with all of their analytics background, like, that’s right here.”

Berman expressed confidence in the Royals’ ownership, noting: “It’s something that we talk about often and in particular with Meghann Burke (executive director of the NWSL Player Association), and we know that it’s on players’ minds. It’s our responsibility to offer that safety net for players, and we know that the Royals ownership group is completely aligned to ensure that if an athlete’s medical needs are not able to be addressed in their home market, that we have the mechanisms and the tools to offer them the support they need, even if they have to leave the market. We’re going to work closely with the union and with our players and our health-care providers to make sure that our players are taken care of.”

In a statement to local Salt Lake City news outlet KSL.com, a club spokesperson stated that: “For all employees enrolled in our benefits plan, we have had a policy in place where if there is a medical procedure that is not provided in the state of Utah, we will provide a reimbursement of up to $4,000 toward travel and lodging costs.”

The nearest abortion providers outside of Utah are in Colorado — in Durango and Glenwood Springs. Earlier in March, a proposed Planned Parenthood clinic in West Wendover, Nevada, was blocked when city council members denied the organization’s request for a conditional use permit. According to the Guttmacher Institute, however, Colorado is protective of abortion rights and has a shield law to protect abortion providers from investigations by other states.

What’s new for the Utah Royals

The new Utah Royals FC has a lot to look forward to, beginning with a new, state-of-the-art locker room at newly renamed America First Credit Union Field, the stadium they’ll share with MLS team Real Salt Lake.

“I personally have Saran-wrapped that locker room off,” said Hyncik. “Those facilities have been in hibernation, just waiting for the women to come back.”

Additionally, the stadium saved spaces for Royals murals, intentionally left blank when the team did recent improvements and now filled with artworks. Expect to see a depiction of the club’s updated crest, which still features a lioness wearing a crown and a blue, gold and red color scheme, but the new badge is a bolder, cleaner look that also pays homage to Utah with its iconic mountain range graphically incorporated into the crown. Philadelphia-based Tobah Kaiser and her women-run studio, Tov Creative, led the redesign project.

As for partners, the Royals announced the YWCA Utah as a foundational partner and donated $20,000 to the organization during halftime of RSL’s home opener. Hyncik said the Royals also will support STEM education opportunities for young women in the community. America First Credit Union, a longtime partner of RSL and the original Royals, will be the new Royals’ jersey front partner.

“Our foremost goal is to empower women, not only on the field but also the young women off the field who look up to them as heroes and women throughout the community,” she added.

History of Utah Royals FC

The Royals were first established in November 2017, the same week that FC Kansas City folded its club and the team’s player contracts, draft picks and other rights were transferred to the new Salt Lake City team. The expansion club debuted in 2018, packing in 19,203 fans at the home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium, and regularly averaging 11,000 fans or more during three seasons in the NWSL.

England’s Laura Harvey, who currently manages Seattle’s OL Reign, was hired as the first head coach and recorded an 18-17-12 (W-L-D) record over the first two seasons. Several U.S. national team members spent time with Utah including Kelly O’Hara, Christen Press, Amy Rodriguez and Becky Sauerbrunn.

The 2020 season was a tumultuous one for Utah. Head coach Craig Harrington was placed on administrative leave that September amid reports that he allegedly made inappropriate sexual and racist comments to staff and was being verbally abusive, and subsequently was fired in November. Harrington received a two-year suspension from the NWSL this past January after an investigation found he “made inappropriate sexual and objectifying comments” to players.

Amy LePeilbet stepped in as interim coach, and the team went 0-2-2 to finish the season. Additionally, MLS opened an investigation into Real Salt Lake and Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen for racist comments and behavior. Hansen sold his Utah soccer holdings, which included the Royals, RSL and USL’s Real Monarchs, at the end of the year.

The team officially finished 18-14-17 in three seasons in Utah, never reaching the NWSL Cup playoffs but making a statement during the pandemic when the league needed a place to play the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup — a one-off tournament that marked the league’s return to action. The Royals donated $900,000 to help establish a bubble for the four-week tournament that stretched from June 27-July 26, as the NWSL became the first North American professional sports league to return to play following the national shutdown.

In December that year, the Royals moved back east to become the Kansas City Current, whose ownership group includes Brittany and Patrick Mahomes. In January 2022, Real Salt Lake transitioned ownership to Blitzer and Smith.

More about potential NWSL expansion teams 

In July, the NWSL announced that it would be adding two expansion teams in 2024 and a third later on. The other two cities expected to secure franchises are Boston and the San Francisco Bay area, according to a Wall Street Journal report that estimates the two cities will pay a record $50 million in franchise fees. Utah paid a much cheaper price, reportedly $3.5 million, thanks to a prior agreement by former NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird, who had agreed to a fixed reactivation fee.

The 2022 season debuted two new NWSL teams, both located in California: Angel City FC, which averaged more than 19,000 fans at games last year, and San Diego Wave FC, which reached the playoff semifinals and set several attendance records.

Like Utah, Boston would be making its return to the NWSL. The Boston Breakers, one of the NWSL’s original teams, played for five years from 2013-17. San Francisco and Utah are set to begin play in 2024, with Boston launching at a later date.

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2023 LPGA Drive On Championship: How to watch, who’s playing in season’s first full-field event

By Mar 21, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT
Jin-young Ko of South Korea and Nelly Korda on the 17th tee during the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship.
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The LPGA Tour makes its return to the Arizona desert this week at the 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. The season’s first full-field event features eight of the world’s top 10 players plus a slew of fresh faces as this year’s rookie class gets its first taste of competition as tour members.

This week’s event features 144 players (plus two Monday qualifiers) competing for the $1.75 million prize purse in a 72-hole tournament that will implement the LPGA’s new cutline policy for the first time. Beginning this week, the 36-hole cut will change from the top 70 players and ties to the top 65 and ties advancing to weekend action. The LPGA says it hopes to “establish a faster pace of play” with the change.”

Arizona last hosted the LPGA for the 2019 Bank of Hope Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club, where Jin Young Ko earned her first of four LPGA titles that season. The tour last played at Superstition Mountain in the Safeway International from 2004 to 2008, where Hall of Famers Annika Sorenstam (2004, 2005) and Lorena Ochoa (2007, 2008) each won twice, and Juli Inkster won in 2006.

The tournament marks the first of four events over the next five weeks (taking off the week of the Masters, April 7-10) and kicks off the crescendo that’s building to the LPGA’s first major of the season, The Chevron Championship, April 20-23 in its new location at The Woodlands, Texas. The 72-hole LPGA Drive On Championship features 144 players, in addition to two Monday qualifiers, who will compete for a $1.75 million purse.

How to watch the 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship

You can watch the 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship on Golf Channel, Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Check out the complete TV and streaming schedule:

  • Thursday, March 23: 9-11 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
  • Friday, March 24: 9-11 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
  • Saturday, March 25: 6-10 p.m. ET, live stream; 7-9 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
  • Sunday, March 26: 6-10 p.m. ET, live stream; 7-9 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Who’s playing in the 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship

Sitting out this week are world No. 1 Lydia Ko and No. 5 Minjee Lee, but No. 2 Nelly Korda and No. 3 Jin Young Ko are back in action following Ko’s return to the winner’s circle two weeks ago in Singapore, where she held off Korda by two strokes. Also in the field this week are:

  • No. 4 Atthaya Thitikul
  • No. 6 Lexi Thompson
  • No. 7 Brooke Henderson
  • No. 8 In Gee Chun
  • No. 9 Hyo-Joo Kim
  • No. 10 Nasa Hataoka
  • 2022 major winners Ashleigh Buhai, Jennifer Kupcho, Chun, Henderson

Rookies and Epson Tour graduates making their first starts as LPGA members include 20-year-old Lucy Li, a two-time Epson Tour winner who might be best known for playing the 2014 U.S.  Women’s Open as an 11-year-old; South Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu, who took medalist honors at LPGA Q-Series; and 18-year-old Alexa Pano, who finished tied for 21st at Q School to earn her card but might be best known from her role in the 2013 Netflix documentary, “The Short Game.”

Past winners, history of the Drive On Championship

The Drive On Championship was initially created as a series of LPGA events that marked the tour’s back-to-competition efforts following the pandemic. Each tournament used the “Drive On” slogan in support of the tour’s resilience, beginning with the first series event in July 2020 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, where Danielle Kang won by one stroke over Celine Boutier. The second event, held in October 2020, replaced the three stops originally scheduled in Asia, and was held at Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters Course in Greensboro, Georgia. Ally McDonald captured her career first LPGA title by one stroke over Kang.

The last two “Drive On” events were staged in Florida, at Golden Ocala Golf Club (Ocala) in March 2021 and at Crown Colony Golf Club (Fort Myers) in February 2022. Austin Ernst cruised to her third career title at the 2021 edition, beating Jennifer Kupcho by five shots. The 2022 tournament marked a fresh start for the event (no longer including results or records from the 2020 and 2021 events), where Leona Maguire became the first Irish winner on tour with her victory in 2022.

Last year at the Drive On Championship

Ireland’s Leona Maguire gifted her mom and early birthday present with her first career win at the 2022 LPGA Drive On Championship. A 27-year-old Maguire, a standout at Duke and former No. 1 amateur, carded a final-round 67 to finish at 18-under 198 and won the 54-hole event by three strokes over Lexi Thompson. She became the first woman from Ireland to win on tour, and her 198 tied her career-best 54-hole score.

More about Superstition Mountain

Superstition Mountain’s Prospector Golf Course opened in 1998 and was a combined design effort by Jack Nicklaus and his son Gary. The course plays as a par-72 and stretches to 7,225 yards in length, with the women playing it at 6,526 yards. The course was home of the LPGA Safeway International from 2004-08, and was recently selected by Golfweek as one of the “Top 100 Residential Courses.”

Of note, Superstition Mountain is a female-owned facility, originally purchased in 2009 by Susan Hladky and her husband James, who died in 2011. Hladky has made a point of opening her courses to women and college players, twice hosting U.S. Women’s Open qualifying and the site of a 2025 NCAA women’s regional tournament. She’s also given membership to eight LPGA players, who play out of the club: Carlota Ciganda, Mina Harigae, Dana Finkelstein, Jaclyn Lee, Charlotte Thomas, Caroline Inglis, Jennifer Kupcho and Brianna Do.

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