Chattanooga FC Women will kick off its 2025 WPSL season against UFA Gunners this Friday, May 23, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium.
It will mark the beginning of a new era for CFC Women as Head Coach and club legend Juan Hernandez is set to take charge of his first match at the helm. Hernandez will be joined by Associate Head Coach Maryn Beutler.
"Preparations are going really well," said Hernandez. "We've done an immense amount of work in recruitment and analysis to get to this point. The players are working really hard and they feel the professional environment we have here. Things are clicking and by the time the first game comes, we will be ready. Our ultimate goal is to grow the game in Chattanooga. We want to be a winning team, so we recruit nationally but we also want to get the best players in the area.
"We want to show our fanbase who we are right away. We want to put a stamp on the league right away, and doing that at home will be really important. Our first three games are at home and we need our fans' support right away to build that momentum we need to carry us throughout the season."
Beutler emphasized the importance of starting the season off on the right foot.
"The season is very short, so the first few games matter immensely. Those performances and those points are where teams either set themselves up for success for long-term playoff runs or they don't.
"We also have the top players that reside in Chattanooga in the off-season. We have attracted some of the best female soccer players that have come out of the city of Chattanooga."
To illustrate the importance and intrigue of CFC's home opener against UFA Gunners, the WPSL announced the encounter as the National Matchup of the Week.
Match info
Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, Tennessee
Kick-off: 7:00 p.m. ET, Friday, May 23
Tickets: Season Tickets | Single match
Broadcast: Chattanooga FC YouTube and National Soccer Network | Talent: Gabriel Schray