NOTE: We posted our review MOMENTS before the official schedule dropped! 
We’ll post more about the full official schedule next week, but here is our deep dive into the state of the league heading into May.
As a fan, the wait for Season 2 has felt long, but it looks like the league is setting up for a much bigger 2026. After an inaugural year that proved professional women’s rugby has a home here, the second season is officially set to kick off on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The Strategic Shift: Why May?
Fans will notice the kickoff moving from March to May to better align with the global rugby landscape. This shift ensures WER remains a destination for elite talent while protecting the international calendar.
- International Alignment: The April window is occupied by the Pacific Four Series, featuring the USA Eagles against powerhouse nations like New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.
- The Global Bridge: A mid-summer finish allows athletes currently playing in in USA Club and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) overseas to finish their seasons before joining WER.
Stability in a Perilous Landscape
It’s a weird time for U.S. rugby. We’ve seen the MLR contract down to six teams, which coincidentally matches the WER’s current six-market footprint albeit teams are in different areas in some cases. While the contraction in the men’s game is a bit of a cautionary tale about expanding too fast, it makes the WER’s “lean and mean” six-team model feel a lot more stable heading into the 2031 & 2033 World Cup cycle.
The league is also fixing some of the early growing pains. After the DAZN partnership didn’t quite deliver the quality fans wanted, the shift to a self-hosted stream was a lifesaver. Expect the broadcast quality to be a major focus as they try to level up for Year 2.
The Roster & The Money
Player declarations for 2026 officially closed back in December, and coaches have been in deep evaluation mode since January. We’re seeing a lot of consistency on the sidelines, with five of the six head coaches returning to lead their teams again. A standout move for the fans is in Chicago, where Kristin Zdanczewicz is officially the full-time head coach for the Tempest after leading them as acting coach last year.
On the financial side, the league recently closed a successful seed funding round. The big rumor? A Grammy Award-winning artist is now an investor. While they haven’t name-dropped the artist yet, that kind of star power is massive for getting the league into the mainstream.
As for the “Will they get paid?” question: the plan is still “sustainability first.” The league currently covers all travel, elite training venues, and high-end housing for the athletes. Real salaries are on the roadmap, but for now, the focus is on keeping the league alive and professional so it’s still here when the World Cup hits our shores.
The Post-Season Debate
The 2025 format was a straight shot to the Legacy Cup, but fans (and some teams) are pushing for a semifinal round this year. While nothing is set in stone yet, a semifinal would mean more high-stakes playoff rugby before the final trophy is handed out in the summer heat.
See more at https://scrumhalfconnection.com/2026/02/10/wer-season-2-everything-we-know-for-the-may-2026-return/.