The National Women’s Soccer League announced its schedule Wednesday as Sky Blue FC will open on the road against two-time NWSL Shield winner Seattle Reign FC April 15.

Two weeks later, Sky Blue FC will welcome two-time league champion FC Kansas City to Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J., where kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, April 30.

The complete 2017 Sky Blue FC schedule can be at http://www.skybluefc.com/schedule/?mc_cid=c7df7384e3&mc_eid=90333c2d57

“We are very excited to have our full schedule publicly announced,” Sky Blue head coach Christy Holly said in a statement. “We cannot wait to get the season rolling and to see all of our great fans at the games, led by the Cloud 9 Supporters Group. We have a very enjoyable season ahead of us, and we encourage everyone to come out and watch these world-class players do what they do best.”

The NWSL season will extend to a 24-match schedule this season after being a 20-game slate over the past two seasons, with each of the 10 clubs playing 12 home and 12 road fixtures each. The league will observe three FIFA dates during the 2017 campaign, with those weekends occurring on June 10-11, July 29-30 and Sept. 16-17. Unlike the previous two seasons that overlapped the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, there will be no extended tournament breaks this year.

During the course of the regular season, Sky Blue will play the Boston Breakers three times (one home, two away), Chicago Red Stars twice (one home, one away), FC Kansas City three times (two home, one away), Houston Dash twice (one home, one away), North Carolina Courage three times (one home, two away), Orlando Pride three times (two home, one away), Portland Thorns FC twice (one home, one away), Seattle Reign FC three times (one home, two away) and Washington Spirit three times (two home, one away).

The NWSL playoffs will begin after the regular season concludes Sept. 30. Complete postseason details will be announced at a later date.

Through the NWSL’s partnership with A+E Networks, Lifetime will broadcast an NWSL Game of the Week every Saturday this season. Additionally, a 30-minute pregame show will kick off each weekly broadcast.

Tickets for the 2017 Sky Blue FC home opener on April 30 are available now for purchase online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). Season and group tickets are also on sale, while remaining individual game tickets will be available shortly.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.