Boston Closer to Reality: Champions' Game at Home Stadium Up 8% Chance!

Boston Legacy FC will make its long-awaited debut in the National Women's Soccer League on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, an iconic venue steeped in rich history and winning ways. "We don't think you can really talk about professional sports meaningfully without having Boston in the conversation," Boston Legacy FC president Jennifer van Dijk told USA TODAY Sports. A Boston-based NWSL franchise has been absent from the league since the Boston Breakers folded in early 2018.

That changes on Saturday (12:30 ET, ABC) when the Legacy kicks off its inaugural season with a matchup against the reigning champion Gotham FC. The NWSL's 15th franchise is here to build on Boston's winning legacy. "We're part of a community that is very competitive and that is also part of our identity, that competitiveness that you see in Boston," Domènec Guasch told USA TODAY Sports.

"Ultimately we're building a legacy. ... We want to be competitive since the very first day, since that March 14th home opener.

" Culture starts with players, coach When building an identity and culture from scratch, "the first ingredient is the people that you bring into the organization," Guasch said. That includes players and staff, with the head coach playing a vital role in cultivating the team's foundation. Boston FC evaluated more than 60 coaches over a months-long process before hiring former Benfica head coach Filipa Patão to steward the Legacy.