D.C. Defenders unveil schedule for inaugural UFL season

The D.C. Defenders will return to Audi Field this spring to play in the UFL, the new league that emerged after the XFL and the USFL joined forces. 

The UFL published its inaugural schedule Monday. Each of the UFL’s eight teams will play 10 games from March 30 to June 2. 

The Defenders will start their season on March 31 in San Antonio against the Brahmas. Their home opener is set for April 7 at 4 p.m. against the Houston Roughnecks. 

The teams are split into two conferences, the USFL and the XFL, named for their former leagues. After the regular season, the top four teams will advance to a semifinal playoff. A final championship game is slated for June 16. 

All UFL games will be streamed on ABC, ESPN, Fox, or their affiliate channels. Games will also stream on ESPN+ and the Fox Sports app.

Thanks to a new broadcast deal, 31 of the UFL’s 43 games will air on either ABC or FOX. The remaining games will stream on ESPN, ESPN2, or Fox Sports 1. 

“Through the combined reach of our partners at Fox and ESPN — who both share a commitment to broadcast innovation — the UFL will now have exceptional platforms through which fans can experience spring football,” UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said. “We are equally excited to welcome new and returning fans back into our buildings this season so they can immerse themselves in the energy around spring football. Our players are here to perform and to reach the next level and our fans are going to be treated to an excellent on-field product and in-stadium experience.”

Executives from the USFL and XFL announced their merger on Dec. 31. The two leagues hope that the deal will cement spring football’s place on the sports calendar. 

Actor and professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson, who was an XFL owner, is a partner in the new league.

“As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting and very cool for football fans - a spring league with lasting impact for all the players with a dream to play pro football and the ’hardest workers in the room’ mentality to make their dreams come true,” Johnson said after the merger.

Season tickets are now on sale. Single-game tickets will be available for purchase on Feb. 22.