The Boston Legacy, the newest team in the National Women’s Soccer League, will extend its preseason activities in warm climates before returning to New England. The team has announced five scrimmages scheduled between Florida and Spain ahead of its first official match on March 14 at Gillette Stadium.
Having trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for three weeks, Boston will open its preseason games with the Washington Spirit on Saturday, February 7. This scrimmage marks the beginning of an important phase of competitive preparation for the squad.
Early Scrimmage Highlights and Player Insights
Forward Sammy Smith spoke about the opening scrimmage against Washington, acknowledging the tactical unknowns on both sides.
“They’re obviously going to come into the scrimmage tomorrow with a game plan and how they want to play, but they won’t really know what we’re going to throw at them,”
Smith said. She anticipated an intense start:
“The first minutes are probably going to be so hectic, but once we all settle, get control of what we want to do, I think that the way we’re gonna play is going to be fun to watch and hard for teams to play against.”
Expanding Horizons: Training and Matches in Spain
After Florida, the Legacy will travel to Spain to continue training and face both domestic and international opponents. On February 15, they will play against the Chicago Red Stars in Murcia, marking the first ever scrimmage abroad between two NWSL teams. This milestone highlights the team’s growing presence on an international stage.
Following that, Boston will compete against Molde FK, a Norwegian club, on February 19 in Alicante. The team’s Spanish trip concludes with a match on February 27 against Alhama CF, a first-division Spanish club, back in Murcia.
Team Leadership Emphasizes Building Identity and Cohesion
General Manager Domè Guasch expressed enthusiasm about the team’s development during the preseason.
“There’s a real excitement in taking the field together for the first time and beginning to shape what Boston Legacy will look and feel like,”
Guasch remarked.
“This preseason is our chance to build our game, but also the trust, habits, and connections that will define who we are.”
Guasch also highlighted the value of training environments and diverse competition:
“Training at IMG Academy in Florida and Pinatar Arena Football Center in Spain gives us two top-class environments to do that work and establish a clear identity in how we want to play. The matches will be just as valuable: facing NWSL opponents and international teams will challenge us in different ways, expose us to different styles and game situations, and accelerate our preparation so we’re ready to compete from day one.”
Upcoming Match in the United States to Conclude Preseason
Following the international stop, the Legacy will return to the United States for a final preseason scrimmage. Details about the opponent and date have not yet been disclosed but the match will complete the team’s comprehensive preseason campaign ahead of their season opener at Gillette Stadium.
