Women's Premier Soccer League

The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is an amateur women's soccer league in the United States.[1] It is the top amateur league for women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, below only National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The WPSL is the longest-running active women's soccer league as it enters its 25th season in 2023 – the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WPSL is also the largest women's soccer league in the United States, North America and the world with 130 active teams as of 2023.

Women's Premier Soccer League
Founded1998 (1998)
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
Divisions4 regions with 15 conferences and 21 divisions
Number of teams131
Level on pyramid2 (Provisional)
Current championsCharlotte Eagles
(2023)
Most championshipsCalifornia Storm
(4 titles)
TV partnersEleven Sports
Websitewpslsoccer.com

The WPSL started as the Western Division of the W-League, before breaking away to form its own league in 1998. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association, an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). WPSL players consists of collegiate and post-collegiate players, who currently or have played across all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Former players of the WPSL have taken their playing careers to the next level by signing professional in the NWSL and top leagues overseas. WPSL Alumnae have also reached international status by making international rosters seen in the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympics. Notable alumnae include Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Heather Mitts, Julie Foudy, Shannon Boxx, Alex Morgan and Leslie Osborne.

When Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) suspended play in 2012, WPSL moved forward with its ambitions toward professionalism and created the WPSL Elite League.[2] The Elite League was a pro-am league, with at least four fully professional teams, including three former WPS teams. The Elite league operated for just the 2012 season, disbanding in 2013 with the formation of the NWSL, which the three former WPS teams joined.

In 2021, the WPSL announced its second division, WPSL U21, which is scheduled to begin play in mid-2021.[3]

On February 8, 2023, WPSL announced plans to create a Division III professional league named WPSL PRO. The league plans to start in 2025 with ten teams.[4]

WPSL champions
Season Champions Runners-up
1998Silicon Valley Red DevilsAuto Trader Select
1999California StormSan Diego Auto Trader
2000San Diego W.F.C.California Storm
2001Ajax of Southern CaliforniaSan Diego W.F.C.
2002California StormAjax America Women
2003Utah SpidersCalifornia Storm
2004California StormNew England Mutiny
2005F.C. IndianaCalifornia Storm
2006Long Island FuryRiver Cities FC
2007F.C. IndianaNew England Mutiny
2008Ajax America WomenArizona Rush
2009Long Island FuryAjax America Women
2010Boston AztecAjax America Women
2011Orange County WavesChicago Red Stars
2012Gulf Coast TexansBoston Aztec
2013San Diego WFC SeaLionsHouston Aces
2014Beach Futbol ClubHouston Aces
2015Chicago Red Stars ReservesSoCal FC
2016Boston Breakers ReservesSan Diego WFC SeaLions
2017Fire & Ice SCGulf Coast Texans
2018Seattle Sounders WomenPensacola FC Women
2019Pensacola FC WomenUtah Royals FC Reserves
2020Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021No National Champion
2022 California Storm Colorado Rapids Women
2023[5] Charlotte Eagles Salvo SC

Staff

Executive committee
  • Sean Jones – president
  • DeBray Ayala – vice-president
  • Brad Lund – vice-president
  • Kendra Halterman – commissioner[6]
  • Matt Homonoff – deputy commissioner
  • Rich Sparling – commissioner emeritus[7]

Front office
  • Alex Simpson - team services manager (West & East)
  • Jaclyn Purvine - team services manager (Central & South)
  • Bekah LaCaze – team services manager (WPSL U21)
  • Nichole Singleton – communications & creative services director
  • Vytas Ringus – medical director
  • David Simmons – referee coordinator
  • Josh Fredrickson – match reporting
  • Rob Kehoe – collegiate relations

Associate commissioners
  • Shelley Dougherty – east region
  • Sam Hope – south region
  • Lindsay Eversmeyer – central region
  • Sly Yeates – west region

[8]

League Structure

The league is divided into four regions - West, Central, South, and East. Each region is divided into conferences, with the West Region having five conferences, the Central Region having six conferences, the South Region having five conferences, and the East Region having five conferences. Each conference has 5 to 10 teams.[9]

Current teams
Team City Stadium Founded First WPSL Season Head coach
West Region
Desert Conference
Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club Mesa, Arizona Bell Bank Park 1992 2023
El Paso Surf El Paso, Texas United States David Lopez
FC Tucson Tucson, Arizona Kino North Stadium 2013 2013 United States Kelly Pierce
Royals AZ
SC del Sol Phoenix, Arizona 1998 2010
Northwest Conference
Cultures United Football Club Seattle, Washington Silver Eagle Stadium 2020 2023
OSA XF Tukwila, Washington Starfire Sports 2022 2022 United States Kevin Legg
Spokane SC Shadow Spokane, Washington Joe Albi Stadium Scotland Kevin Moon
Westside Metros FC Beaverton, Oregon Count Basie Park United States Cory Hand
Pac North Conference
BattleBorn FC Carson City, Nevada 2023 2023
California Storm Davis, California Davis Legacy Sports Complex 1995 1998 United States Jamie Levoy
Diablo Valley Wolves Concord, California Concord High School 2021 2021 United States Nikki Ferguson
FC Davis Davis, California Playfields Sports Park United States Pip Harragin
Fresno Freeze Fresno, California Keith Tice Park 2015 2015 United States Ivan Janssens
Lamorinda United Moraga, California Miramonte High School Mohamed Mohamed
Napa Valley 1839 FC Napa, California Dodd Stadium 2016 2016 England Ben Solomon
San Francisco Elite Soccer Club San Francisco, California Kezar Stadium 2023 2023
San Francisco Nighthawks San Francisco, California Kezar Stadium 1995 1995 Iceland Petra Kowalski
San Ramon FC San Ramon, California Tiffany Roberts Field 2015 2015 United States Mani Salimpour
So Cal Conference
Coastal Division
Elite Development Academy Fullerton, California 2020 2020 United States Michael Orozco
FC Premier Women Bellflower, California St. John Bosco High School 2020 2021 Trevor Labuschagne
LA Surf Soccer Club Pasadena, California 2014 2014 United States Mike Davis
Rebels Empire Rancho Cucamonga, California 2023 2023
So Cal Union FC Temecula, California Rancho Christian High School 2016 2018
SoCal Reds FC
Plymouth Division
ALBION San Diego San Diego, California United States Eloisa Borreguero
San Diego Parceiro Ladies San Diego, California 2018 2018
San Diego Strikers San Diego, California Mission Bay High School 2018 2018 United States Ray Taila
San Diego Surf San Diego, California 2023 2023 Spain Andres Deza
SoCal Dutch Lions FC Carlsbad, California Army and Navy Academy Stadium 2022 2022 Brazil Patricia Toledo
Central Region
Heartland Conference
AFC Columbia Columbia, Missouri Columbia College 2020 2020 Kurtis Boardsen
Kansas City Scott Gallagher SC Kansas City, Missouri Paragon Star 2023 2023 United States Dan Naidu
KC Courage Kansas City, Missouri Avila University 2014 2023 United States Wendy Louque
Lou Fusz Athletic Earth City, Missouri United States Jeff Tottleben
St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Fenton, Missouri World Wide Technology Soccer Park
Sunflower State FC Overland Park, Kansas Rockhurst University 2023 Brazil Jose Ramos
Midwest Conference
Lake Michigan Division
Chicago KICS Football Club Chicago, Illinois De La Salle Institute 2021 2021 Antonio Godinez
FC Milwaukee Torrent Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Hart Park 2017 2018 Germany Andreas Davi
Iowa Raptors FC Cedar Rapids, Iowa Prairie High School 2021 2022 United States Curt Lewis
Midwest Select SA Muskrats St. John, Indiana Lake Central High School England Jamie McNicholas
Quad Cities Rush Davenport, Iowa St. Vincent's Athletic Complex United States Randy Bollman
National Road Division
Columbus Eagles FC Bexley, Ohio Crew Stadium 2014 2014 United States Matt Ogden
Dayton Dutch Lions WFC West Carrollton, Ohio Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium 2011 2016 United States Ian Richardson
FC Dayton Dayton, Ohio Centerville Soccer Complex 2022 2022 United States Bradley Schluter
FC Pride Indianapolis, Indiana FC Pride Turf Stadium 2014 2014 United States Jamie Gilbert
FC Spirit Evansville, Indiana
Mountain Conference
Rockies Division
Boulder County United Lafayette, Colorado 2021 2021 United States Stephanie Hempen
Broomfield Burn Broomfield, CO United States Adam Loovis
Colorado Pride Colorado Springs, Colorado Washburn Field 2014 2018 United States Andi Waterhouse
Colorado Rapids Women Aurora, Colorado Regis University 2003 2019 Sebastian Giraldo
Flatirons Rush SC Lakewood, Colorado Denver Christian High School 2023 2023 Mervyn Johnson
Indios Denver FC Denver, Colorado Juan Martinez
Wasatch Division
Griffins FC
La Roca FC South Weber, Utah United States Kelly Parke
Utah Avalanche Sandy, Utah 2023 2023
Utah Red Devils Sandy, Utah United States Dennis Burrows
Utah Surf Utah County, Utah 2021 2021 United States Brad Silvey
Northern Conference
Dakota Fusion FC Fargo–Moorhead Moorhead High School 2016 2018 United States Sierra Renham
Joy AC St. Louis Park, Minnesota St Louis Park High School 2022 2022
Manitou F.C. White Bear Lake, Minnesota White Bear Lake High School Bosnia and Herzegovina Edi Buro
Mankato United Soccer Club Mankato, Minnesota Bethany Luteran College England Tudor Flintham
MapleBrook Fury Maple Grove, Minnesota Maple Grove High School Igor Stosic
Minnesota Thunder Richfield, Minnesota Academy of Holy Angels 2006
Rochester United FC Rochester, Minnesota Rochester Community and Technical College 2019 2019 Egypt Bassem Fadlia
Salvo SC Eagan, Minnesota University of Northwestern 2019 2019 United States Greg Wheaton
Sioux Falls City FC Sioux Falls, South Dakota Bob Young Field, University of Sioux Falls 2022 2022 United States Dale Weiler
St. Croix Soccer Club St. Croix County, Wisconsin Stillwater Area High School
South Region
Red River Conference
DKSC BADTOP Farmers Branch, Texas United States Michael Bones
FC Dallas Frisco, Texas Gareth Evans
Oklahoma City FC Yukon, Oklahoma Lakeview Field 2007 2007 United States Daniel Gibson
SouthStar FC Addison, Texas 2019 2019 United States Casey Loyd
Tulsa Soccer Club Tulsa, Oklahoma 2018 2018 United States Aaron Crouch
Southeast Conference
865 Alliance Knoxville, Tennessee 2023 2023 Laban Defriese
Atlanta Fire United Duluth, Georgia Notre Dame Turf Field 2023 2023 United States Domenic Martelli
Charlotte Eagles Charlotte, North Carolina United States Samantha Hope
Chattanooga FC Chattanooga, Tennessee Finley Stadium 2014 2014 United States Randy Douglas
FC Birmingham Women Birmingham, Alabama 2023 2023
Georgia Impact
Nashville Rhythm F.C. Nashville, Tennessee Giacosa Stadium 2017 2017 Scott Davidson
Soda City FC Columbia, South Carolina Saluda Shoals Sports Complex Joseph Bacino
Women's Football Club of Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina United States Scott Ginn
Sunshine Conference
Coconut Division
Cape Coral Cyclones Cape Coral, Florida CAPE CORAL SPORTS COMPLEX Bajro Dizdarevic
FC Prime Sunrise, Florida Russ Morgan
FC Surge Miami, Florida 2013 2013 United States Ramiro Vengoechea
Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC Fort Myers, Florida Paradise Coast Sports Complex 2015 2015 Greece Katie Bond
Team Boca Blast Boca Raton, Florida FAU Glades Fields 2012 2012 Raul Orezzoli
Palmetto Division
Florida Krush Orlando, Florida England Hue Menzies
Fusion FC Miami, Florida
Seminole Ice Sanford, Florida
United Soccer Alliance Fleming Island, Florida Wale Leyimu
West Florida Flames Tarpon Springs, Florida England Jamie McGuinness
Texas Triangle Conference
AHFC Royals Houston, Texas Robert McGann & Stephen Williams
Austin Rise FC Austin, Texas House Park Stadium 2023 2023
Bat Country FC Temple, Texas 2018 2021 United States Tristan Long
Challenge Red Devils Republic of Ireland Patrick O'Toole
Corinthians FC of San Antonio San Antonio, Texas
Houston Aces Houston, Texas Albion Campbell Road 2012 2012 Jonathan Giraldo
Lonestar SC Austin, Texas Dewi Hardman
San Antonio Blossoms San Antonio, Texas 2018 2018 Lupe Metzger
East Region
Lake Erie Conference
Ambassadors Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio Caleb Fortune
Beadling Soccer Club Bridgeville, Pennsylvania United States Matt Fonagy
Cleveland Ambasssadors
Erie FC Erie, Pennsylvania
RNY FC Rochester, New York RNY FC Soccer Complex 2023 2023 Estonia Katrin Kaarna
Metropolitan Conference
Brooklyn City F.C. Brooklyn, New York Aviator Sports and Events Center 2021 2021 United States Kim Wyant
Downtown United Soccer Club New York, New York Poly Prep Paul O'Donnell
New York Athletic Club Pelham Manor, New York New York Athletic Club 2006 2006 Argentina Juan Gatti
New York Dutch Lions FC Brooklyn, New York Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus 2016 2017 Rogier Schultz
NJ Wizards SC
STA Randolph, New Jersey 2005 2005 United States Kelly Sims
SUSA FC Central Islip, New York 2001 2001 JR Bazlarini & Nicholas Flaim
Mid-Atlantic Conference
Colonial Division
Delaware Ospreys Frederica, Delaware Joe Brown
Fever SC Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania United States Bob Wilkinson
Penn Fusion SA West Chester, Pennsylvania West Chester Rustin High School 2016 2016 United States Susan Barr
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals - Liberty
SJEB FC Sicklerville, New Jersey 2021 2021 Christos Economopoulos & John Thompson
Washington Dutch Lions FC Washington, D.C. 2021 2021 Michel Vanderhart
Keystone Division
Hershey FC Hershey, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley Tempest
PA Classics Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2022 2022 United States Todd Hoffard
Reading United A.C. Reading, Pennsylvania 2023 2023 United States Thomas Gosselin
Real Central NJ Trenton, New Jersey Rider University 2020 2021 Brian Thomsen
Torch FC Perkasie, Pennsylvania United States Jason Lollar
Northeastern Conference
Clarkstown Soccer Club New City, New York United States Daniel Samimi
Force FC New York
Kingston Capitals Kingston, New York Christopher Lyn
New York Shockers Albany, NY Kurtis Smith
Rhode Island Rogues Bristol, Rhode Island Roger Williams University Brandon Iannelli
Vermont Fusion Manchester Center, Vermont United States John O'Connor

2024 expansion teams
  • Decatur Triumph
  • Kansas City Current II
  • The Town FC

Former teams

See also

References
  1. "Federal City FC Women bring WPSL to Washington, DC metro area". SoccerWire. May 6, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020. The WPSL is the top women's amateur operating league in the United States. Sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the WPSL is considered the 2nd tier of women's soccer within the United States behind the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
  2. Kassouf, Jeff (February 9, 2012). "WPSL Elite League launches for 2012 with Flash, Breakers, Red Stars, FC Indiana". equalizersoccer.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  3. "WPSL UNVEILS SECOND LEAGUE SET TO COMPETE IN 2021". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  4. "THE WPSL ANNOUNCES NEW PROFESSIONAL DIVISION III WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE". WPSL. February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  5. Mosier, Andrew (July 24, 2023). "CHARLOTTE EAGLES WIN FIRST WPSL TITLE IN FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE". www.WPSLSoccer.com. Women's Premier Soccer League. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  6. "THE WPSL NAMES KENDRA HALTERMAN AS NEW COMMISSIONER HEADING INTO 25TH SEASON". WPSL. February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  7. Scavuzzo, Christine (October 24, 2017). "WPSL's new commissioner Sparling takes over". GoalNation.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  8. "Staff Directory". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  9. "WPSL TEAMS". WPSLSoccer.com. WPSL. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  10. "The 2018 year in review: Looking to the future". Chattanooga FC Women. January 16, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
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