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Tuesday Roundup: NWSL partners with sports data provider Opta on 3-year deal

Also in today’s roundup, Australian midfielder Katrina Gorry signs to play with Caitlin Foord in Japan, and FC Kansas City closed out NWSL preseason by beating the University of Kansas

NWSL has signed a three-year partnership with Opta, the world's leading provider of live, detailed sports data. The deal runs through 2019.

NWSL has signed a three-year partnership with Opta, the world’s leading provider of live, detailed sports data. The deal runs through 2019.

The NWSL announced today that it has agreed to a three-year partnership with Opta, the world’s leading provider of live sports data tobecome the league’s Official Data Partner. The partnership will ensure that teams, fans and media have the best statistical data possible from all games this year.

The partnership will begin with the start of the season and run through the 2019 season, the same time-frame as the current deal the NWSL has in place with A+E Networks. Opta will manage the live statistical analysis for all regular season and playoff  games as well this year. They have also collected all data from the 2016 NWSL season. All data feeds will be available to fans on the new NWSL website and app, including live match centers and player and team seasonal analysis.

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{MORE NWSL: Sky Blue FC Preview | Link to all previews | Staff predictions}

Press box statistics distribution via Opta’s LiveMonitor platform, live statistical querying for broadcast partners, and Opta curated editorial content are other features in addition to web integrations. Overall, the partnership will bring data to the forefront for the league-the increased use of live statistics on digital, social and within TV broadcasts will be instrumental in helping to promote the league domestically as well as around the world.

“We are delighted to be announcing our official partnership with NWSL, a league which has pioneered the women’s game and one which we have been eager to work alongside. This is a historic time for the league, and this partnership will only further energize that momentum and support its continued growth,” Oliver Miller-Farrell, Business Development Director of Content in North America, said, according to the league’s official release. “As leaders in data-driven content, Opta will give NWSL fans and supporters the ability to dive deeper than ever before into their favorite teams and players, shinning a bright light on the league’s action”.

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Opta has major data partnerships with many sporting entities including soccer leagues such as Major League Soccer, United Soccer League and North American Soccer League, as well as others.

Australian MF Katrina Gorry signs with Japanese club Vegalta Sendai

Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry signed with Vengalta Sendai of the J1 League in Japan. She joins international teammate Caitlin Foord at the club.

Most recently, Gorry played with the Brisbane Roar of the W-League in Australia. Over four seasons, she made 12 appearances for the club. Prior to that, she spent one season in the NWSL with FC Kansas City during the 2014 season.

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FCKC defeat Kansas 3-1 in final preseason test

On Monday night, FCKC came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat the University of Kansas by a score of 3-1 thanks to goals from Alexa Newfield, Erika Tymrak and Maegan Kelly.

Kansas was the first side on the board in the 11th minute when Lois Heuchan finished an opportunity one-on-one with FCKC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. Newfield answered for the Blues in the 21st minute when she fired a shot from 20 years out to beat the Kansas goalkeeper.

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In the 29th minute, FCKC took the lead after Erika Tymrak is taken down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded. Tymrak stepped up to take it and buried it into the back of the net. The Blues took the 2-1 lead into halftime.

{MORE FCKC: Season preview | A sudden collection of attacking talent}

After roughly 30 minutes of back and forth play, Maegan Kelly extended the lead for the Blues as she chipped the keeper to secure the 3-1 win over the Jayhawks. This win in their final preseason test made for an undefeated preseason schedule for FCKC.

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FC Kansas City will embark on the fifth NWSL season on Sunday, April 16 at Swope Soccer Village as they host Boston Breakers. Kick-off is slated for 5 p.m. CDT.

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