NWSL: Where to Watch Megan Rapinoe and USWNT World Cup Women's Soccer Stars in Regular Season Action

The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) made history on Sunday by clinching an unprecedented fourth World Cup title.

Soccer fever swept across the country and the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan became household names.

The good news for both is that while the next World Cup is four years away, the current National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season still has over three months to run.

With USWNT players set to return to action for their respective clubs next week, there are plenty of reasons to get stuck into the action.

If you're an NWSL novice, here's everything you need to know about the league.

How long is the regular season?

The NWSL season runs from April until October, with the final day of regular season scheduled for Sunday, October 13.

The playoffs will begin two weeks later.

Format

Nine teams compete in the NWSL, with each team playing 24 regular season games, equally split between home and away. The team that finishes the season at the top of the table is awarded the NWSL Shield and qualifies for the playoffs, along with the other three top-four teams.

In the playoffs, the top seed hosts the fourth-placed team and the second hosts the third-placed team in two single knockout matches, with the two winners qualifying for the final.

TV coverage

ESPN has recently signed a deal with the NWSL to broadcast 14 games across its channels, beginning with Portland Thorns against Orlando Pride this weekend.

ESPN channels will broadcast one NWSL each weekend between now and the end of the season.

Live stream

The games not broadcast across ESPN channels are all available to be streamed live on the Yahoo Sports website and via Yahoo Sports digital platforms. If you are abroad, you can stream every game live via the NWSL official website.

Players to watch

The 23 members of the USWNT squad that triumphed in France all ply their trade in the U.S. and will all return to their respective clubs next week.

USWNT's co-captain Megan Rapinoe, who won the Golden Boot and best player of the tournament award, plays for Reign FC, as does U.S. midfielder Allie Long.

Rapinoe's fellow co-captain, Alex Morgan, plays for Orlando Stars alongside Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger and Brazil superstar Marta.

Defending champions North Carolina Courage boasts a quartet of USWNT stars in Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn, Sam Mewis and Jessica McDonald.

Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davidson and Morgan Brian make up Chicago Red Star's USNWT foursome, while Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, Adrianna Finch and Emily Sonnett represent Portland Thorns.

Christen Press, Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O'Hara fly the flag of Utah Royals and USWNT's third co-captain, Carli Lloyd, is the face of Sky Blue FC.

Rose Lavelle, who scored the U.S. second goal in the World Cup final, plays for Washington Spirit alongside Mallory Pugh, while the Houston Dash is the only NWSL without a USWNT player on the books.

Teams to watch

The North Carolina Courage are the defending champions. The Courage won the NWSL Shield in the last two seasons and last year added the playoff trophy, which had been lifted by Portland Thorns a year earlier.

The Thorns are the only team to have won the title twice since the NWSL took on its current form in 2013.