Koroleva to take charge of 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Final

Katja Koroleva has been assigned as the center referee for the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Final between North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit on Saturday, May 7 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Koroleva refereed the inaugural NWSL Challenge Cup Final in 2020 when the competition was played in a COVID-19 secure bubble at Real Salt Lake during the first summer of the pandemic.

Read more [from 2020]: Katja Koroleva reflects on the NWSL Challenge Cup Final and her continued efforts on the frontline

The healthcare worker has been part of the FIFA panel since 2014 and officiated at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. More recently, she took to the field in the SheBelieves Cup in 2021 and Concacaf Women’s U20 Championship earlier this year.

Assistant Referee Katarzyna Wasiak is a regular at NWSL games and has been officiating in the women’s top division since 2019 along with Ashlee Varnson – who will be running the opposite touchline on Saturday. The fourth official for the trophy game is Adam Kilpatrick. As well as serving as a fourth official in MLS, he referees in MLS NEXT Pro, NWSL, and USL Championship. Kali Smith will be the Reserve AR.

North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit finished in first and second place in the NWSL Challenge Cup East Division. The Courage beat Kansas City Current 2-1 in the competition’s semifinals, and the Spirit won a penalty shootout 9-8 to see off OL Reign and book their place in the final after 90 minutes of scoreless action.

North Carolina Courage vs Washington Spirit
WakeMed Soccer Park (1PM ET)
REF: Katja Koroleva
AR1: Katarzyna Wasiak
AR2: Ashlee Varnson
4TH: Adam Kilpatrick
RAR: Kali Smith