USL W League

The USL W League (USLW) is a pre-professional women's soccer league in the United States which began play in May 2022. It was announced on June 8, 2021 by the United Soccer League with eight founding clubs. It follows the USL W-League, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015.[1] At launch, the USL said the inaugural season would include at least 30 teams.[2]

This article is about the league beginning in 2022. For the former league, see USL W-League (1995–2015).

USL W League
Organizing bodyUnited Soccer League
FoundedJune 8, 2021 (2021-06-08)
First season2022
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
Divisions10 divisions
Number of teams65
Level on pyramid4 (effective)
Current champion(s)Indy Eleven (2023)
Most championshipsIndy Eleven
Tormenta FC (1 title)
Websitewww.uslwleague.com
Current: 2023 USL W League season
United Soccer League divisions
Men's leagues
Women's leagues
Youth leagues

History

The league was originally announced with eight clubs, six of which would be women's sides for existing men's USL teams, and two of which would be entirely new franchises.[3][4] The inaugural season began on May 6, 2022 with 44 teams.[5]

Teams

Current teams
Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Head coach Affiliate team
Eastern Conference
Metropolitan Division
AC Connecticut women Newtown, Connecticut Trinity Health Stadium 5,500 2011 2022 vacant[6] AC Connecticut
Hartford Athletic
Cedar Stars Academy women Teaneck, New Jersey Capelli Sport Complex 500 2021 2022 vacant[7] Cedar Stars Rush
FA Euro women Brooklyn, New York Poly Prep Country Day School 1,500 2013 2022 vacant[8] FA Euro New York
Long Island Rough Riders Uniondale, New York Mitchel Athletic Complex 1,000 1995 2022 England Matt Lannon[9] Long Island Rough Riders
Manhattan SC women New York, New York TBD 2021 2022 vacant[10] Manhattan SC
Morris Elite SC women[11] Union, New Jersey Union High School unknown 2021 2022 United States Stephanie Savino[12] Morris Elite SC
Paisley Athletic FC[13] Kearny, New Jersey Harvey Field Complex 2021 2023 vacant
Westchester Flames women New Rochelle, New York City Park Stadium 1,845 1999 2022 vacant[14] Westchester Flames
Mid Atlantic Division
Christos FC women Baltimore, Maryland Moose Athletic Club 1997 2022 vacant[15] Christos FC
Eagle FC women Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Mountain View High School 1976 2022 vacant[16] Eagle FC
McLean Soccer women McLean, Virginia Holladay Field and Lewinsville Park 1980s 2022 Vacant[17] McLean Soccer
Northern Virginia FC women Leesburg, Virginia Evergreen Sportsplex 1,500 2021 2022 Vacant[18] Northern Virginia FC
Patuxent Football Athletics women Patuxent, Maryland Calverton School 2018 2022 vacant[19] Patuxent Football Athletics
Virginia Marauders FC women[20] Winchester, Virginia Winchester Sportsplex 2023 2023 Jane Dawber Virginia Marauders FC
Central Conference
Great Lakes Division
AFC Ann Arbor women Ann Arbor, Michigan Concordia University Ann Arbor 1,300 2014 2022 vacant[21] AFC Ann Arbor
Cleveland Force SC[22] Cleveland, Ohio DiSanto Field 2,400 2018 2023 vacant Cleveland Force SC
Detroit City FC women Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium 7,933 2012 2022 United States Sam Piraine[23] Detroit City FC
Flint City AFC Flint, Michigan Atwood Stadium 11,000 2022 2022 United States Aaron Roy Flint City Bucks
Kalamazoo FC women Kalamazoo, Michigan Mayors Riverfront Park 2016 2022 vacant[24] Kalamazoo FC
Midwest United FC Grand Rapids, Michigan Aquinas College 1,500 2016 2022 vacant[25] Midwest United FC
Heartland Division
Bavarian United SC women[26] Milwaukee, Wisconsin Heartland Value Fund Stadium 2,000 2011 2023 vacant Bavarian United SC
Chicago City SC women Chicago, Illinois ITW David Speer Academy 2013 2022 vacant[27] Chicago City SC
Chicago Dutch Lions FC women Lisle, Illinois Benedictine University Stadium 3,000 2020 2022 vacant[28] Chicago Dutch Lions FC
Green Bay Glory[29] Green Bay, Wisconsin Capital Credit Union Park 500 2019 2022 United States Linda Moynihan Vance[30] Green Bay Glory
Minnesota Aurora FC[31] Eagan, Minnesota TCO Stadium 5,600 2021 2022 United States Nicole Lukic
RKC Third Coast women[32] Racine, Wisconsin Pritchard Park Multi-Purpose Field 1,534 2023 2023 United States John Burke RKC Third Coast
Rochester FC[33] Rochester, Minnesota Rochester Regional Stadium 5,000 2018 2023 vacant Rochester FC
Valley Division
Indy Eleven women[34] Indianapolis, Indiana Grand Park 1,000 2021 2022 United States Paul Dolinsky[35] Indy Eleven
Lexington SC women[36] Lexington, Kentucky Bell Soccer Complex 3,370 2022 2023 vacant Lexington SC
Kings Hammer FC women Cincinnati, Ohio Bishop Brossart High School 2021 2022 vacant[37] Kings Hammer FC
Racing Louisville FC Academy Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center 2020 2022 vacant[38] Racing Louisville FC
St. Charles FC [39] St. Charles, Missouri Lutheran High School 2020 2023 vacant St. Charles FC
Southern Conference
South Atlantic Division
Asheville City SC women[40] Asheville, North Carolina Greenwood Field 3,000 2021 2022 vacant Asheville City SC
FC Carolinas[41] Waxhaw, North Carolina FCC Soccer Complex 1,000 2018 2023 vacant FC Carolinas
Charlotte Independence women Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 10,500 2014 2022 vacant[42] Charlotte Independence
Greenville Liberty SC Greenville, South Carolina Paladin Stadium 10,000 2021 2022 Julie Carlson Greenville Triumph SC
North Carolina Courage U23 Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park 2022 2022 vacant[43] North Carolina Courage
North Carolina Fusion U23 women Browns Summit, North Carolina Macpherson Stadium 3,000 2018 2022 vacant[44] North Carolina Fusion U23
Wake FC women[45] Holly Springs, North Carolina Ting Stadium 1,800 2021 2022 vacant Wake FC
South Central Division
Birmingham Legion W League[46] Birmingham, Alabama Dunnavant Valley Fields – Field Four 2023 2023 vacant Birmingham Legion FC
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC women Chattanooga, Tennessee CHI Memorial Stadium 5,500 2019 2022 United States Luke Winter Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
North Alabama SC women[47] Huntsville, Alabama Championship Soccer Stadium 2008 2023 vacant North Alabama SC
South Carolina United FC Columbia, South Carolina Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Center 2,000 2012 2022 United States Sandy Burris[48] SC United Bantams
South Georgia Tormenta FC women Statesboro, Georgia Optim Sports Medicine Field 5,300 2021 2022 United States Jim Robbins Tormenta FC
Southern Soccer Academy women[49] Marietta, Georgia Marathon Soccer Park 1,000 2021 2022 vacant Southern Soccer Academy
Tennessee SC women Brentwood, Tennessee Ravenwood High School 2012 2022 United States Dalton Kaufman[50] Tennessee SC
Southeast Division
Florida Elite Soccer Academy women St. Johns, Florida Mandarin High School Stadium 1,000 2014 2022 vacant[51] Florida Elite Soccer Academy
Miami AC women Miami, Florida Miami Dade College 2021 2022 vacant[52] Miami AC
FC Miami City women Lauderhill, Florida Central Broward Park 20,000 2022 2022 vacant[53] FC Miami City
Palm City Americanas[54] Palm City, Florida Football Farm 2022 2023 vacant
Swan City SC women[55] Lakeland, Florida Lake Myrtle Sports Complex 1,500 2016 2023 vacant Swan City SC
Tampa Bay United SC women Tampa, Florida Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay 2011 2022 vacant[56] Tampa Bay United SC
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Capital FC Atletica[57] Salem, Oregon John Chambers Field 500 2017 2023 vacant Capital FC
Lane United FC women[57] Eugene, Oregon New Civic Stadium 2,500 2013 2023 vacant Lane United FC
Oly Town FC women[57] Olympia, Washington A G West Black Hills High School 1,000 2021 2023 vacant Oly Town FC
PDX FC Women[58] Portland, Oregon Sam Barlow High School[59] 2,000 2017 2023 Corey Johnson[60] PDX FC
United PDX women[61] Portland, Oregon Westside Christian High School 2018 2023 Eric McClellan[62] United PDX
Nor Cal Division
Academica SC women[63][64] Turlock, California Academica Field 600 2022 2023 vacant Academica SC
California Storm (W League)[63][65] Sacramento, California Davis Legacy Soccer Club TBA 2022 2023 vacant California Storm
Marin FC Siren[63] Greenbrae, California San Rafael High School TBA 2022 2023 vacant Marin FC
Oakland Soul SC[63][66] Oakland, California Merritt College Soccer Stadium 3,451 2022 2023 vacant Oakland Roots SC
Olympic Club SC women[63] San Francisco, California 2022 2023 vacant Olympic Club
Pleasanton RAGE[63] Pleasanton, California Stanford Medicine Sports Complex TBA 2022 2023 vacant
San Francisco Glens women[63][67] San Francisco, California Skyline College 1,000 2022 2023 United States Mike Sharabi San Francisco Glens
Stockton Cargo SC[63][68][69] Stockton, California San Joaquin Delta College Soccer Field TBA 2021 2023 vacant

Location map
USL W League clubs
Independent club; MLS-affiliate; USLC-affiliate; USL1-affiliate; USL2-affiliate; (Future clubs in italics)

Future teams
Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Head coach Affiliate team
ATX Women's Soccer[70] Austin, Texas TBD 2023 2024[A] TBD None
Spokane Velocity[71] Spokane, Washington One Spokane Stadium 5,000 2021 2024 TBD Spokane Velocity (USL1)
TLH Reckoning[72] Tallahassee, Florida Gene Cox Stadium 5,500 2023 2024 TBD None
W League Richmond[73] Richmond, Virginia TBD 2023 2024 TBD Richmond Kickers (USL1)
Northern Colorado Rain FC[74][75] Windsor, Colorado TicketSmarter Stadium 6,000 2023 2024 TBD Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL1)
Brevard SC Riptide[76] Melbourne, Florida Melbourne Central Catholic High School 2023 2024 Christofer Felber Brevard SC (USL2)
Charlottesville Blues FC[77] Charlottesville, Virginia TBD 2023 2024 TBD None
River Light FC[78] Aurora, Illinois TBD 2020 2024 TBD None
  1. ^
    Contingent upon the creation of a new division with at least 5 teams.
    2.

Champions
Season Playoff champions Regular season champions
2022 South Georgia Tormenta FC Minnesota Aurora FC
2023 Indy Eleven[79] Minnesota Aurora FC

Finals
Year Winner Score Runner-Up Venue Attendance
2022 South Georgia Tormenta FC 2–1 (a.e.t.) Minnesota Aurora FC TCO Stadium 6,489
2023 Indy Eleven 2–1 (a.e.t.) North Carolina Courage U23 IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium 5,419

W League MVPs
Season Player Club College Ref.
2022 England Amy Andrews Tormenta FC Western Illinois University [80]
2023 Portugal Nádia Gomes San Francisco Glens SC None [81]

See also

References
  1. "About the W League". USL W League. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  2. "USL announces return of the W League from 2022". June 15, 2021.
  3. "USL W League Unveils Eight Inaugural Member Clubs". www.uslwleague.com. June 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  4. "Teams". USL W League. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  5. "USL W League kicks off 254-match regular season on May 6 in Indianapolis". www.uslwleague.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  6. "United Soccer League Welcomes AC Connecticut to the W League". USL W League. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  7. "Cedar Stars to Compete in Inaugural USL W League Season". USL W League. January 10, 2022.
  8. USL W League Staff. "FA Euro New York Becomes 16th Club to Join USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  9. "Long Island Rough Riders Join USL W League". USL W League. January 31, 2022.
  10. "USL W League Announces Manhattan SC as the Newest Members of the League". USL W League. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  11. USL W League Staff. "Morris Elite SC Set to Join USL W League Ahead of 2022 Season". USL W League. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  12. "Morris Elite SC hires first head coach in new USL W League". morriselitesoccer.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  13. "USL W League welcomes Paisley Athletic FC as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  14. "Westchester Flames to Compete in Inaugural USL W League Season". USL W League. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  15. "Christos FC Set to Join USL W League for 2022 Season". USL W League. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  16. "USL W League Welcomes Eagle F.C. as Newest Club". USL W League. January 19, 2022.
  17. "Patuxent USL W League Welcomes McLean Soccer as the 44th and Final Club for Inaugural Season". USL W League. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  18. "NOVAFC – About!". NOVAFC. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  19. "Patuxent Football Athletics to Join USL W League and USL League Two for 2022 Season". USL W League. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  20. "Virginia Marauders FC joining USL League Two and W League in 2023". USL Communications staff. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  21. USL W League Staff. "AFC Ann Arbor Joins USL W League and USL League Two for the 2022 Season". USL W League. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  22. "Cleveland Force SC joins USL W League for the 2023 season". USL Communications staff. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  23. "United Soccer League Welcomes Detroit City FC to USL W League" (Press release). USL W League. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  24. "United Soccer League Welcomes Kalamazoo FC to the USL W League". USL W League. January 6, 2022.
  25. "Midwest United FC to Compete in Inaugural USL W League Season". USL W League. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  26. "Bavarian United SC set to join USL League Two and USL W League". USL Communications staff. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  27. USL W League Staff. "United Soccer League Welcomes North Carolina Fusion to the W League". USL W League. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  28. "Chicago Dutch Lions FC to Join USL W League and USL League Two for 2022 Season". USL League Two. December 2, 2021.
  29. "United Soccer League Welcomes Green Bay Glory to the USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  30. "Linda Moynihan Vance Head Coach". Green Bay Glory. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  31. "Minnesota Women's Soccer reveals new team name, Minnesota Aurora FC". USL W League. KARE11. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  32. "RKC Soccer Club to join USL League Two and USL W League". USL Communications staff. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  33. "Rochester FC joins W League and USL League Two as expansion side". USL Communications staff. July 29, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  34. USL W League Staff. "Indy Eleven Announced as Newest Member of USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  35. Indy Eleven Staff. "Indy Eleven Announces Coaching Hires for Women's Senior Team Hitting the Field in 2022". Indy Eleven. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  36. "USL W League welcomes Lexington Sporting Club as expansion side for 2023". USLWLeague.com Staff. October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  37. "Kings Hammer FC Announced as Newest Member of USL W League". USL W League. December 23, 2021.
  38. "Racing Louisville FC joins USL W League". USL W League. January 18, 2022.
  39. USLWLeague.com Staff (June 14, 2022). "St. Charles FC joining USL League Two and W League". USWLeague.com. USWLeague.com. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  40. "Asheville City SC Joins USL W League". Asheville City SC. August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  41. "FC Carolinas joins USL W League and USL League Two as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. June 9, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  42. USL W League Staff. "Charlotte Independence Announced as Newest Member of USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  43. "USL Welcomes NC Courage U23's to W League". USL W League. January 27, 2022.
  44. USL W League Staff. "United Soccer League Welcomes North Carolina Fusion to the W League". USL W League. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  45. USL W League Staff. "Wake FC Announced as Newest Club to Join USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  46. "Birmingham Legion announced as latest expansion side to compete in 2023 season". USL Communications staff. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  47. "North Alabama SC joins USL W League and USL League Two as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  48. "Welcome Coach Sandy‼️". Twitter.com. @scunitedbantams. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  49. "Southern Soccer Academy Becomes Newest Club to Join USL W League". USL W League. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  50. "Tennessee Soccer Club joins USL's League Two and W League in 2022 Season". USL W League. December 14, 2021.
  51. USL W League Staff. "Florida Elite Soccer Academy to Compete in Inaugural W League Season". USL W League. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  52. "Miami AC Expands Its Programming to the USL W League and USL League Two". USL W League. December 22, 2021.
  53. "FC Miami City joins USL W League". USL W League. January 14, 2022.
  54. "USL W League welcomes Palm City Americanas as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  55. "Swan City SC joining USL League Two and W League in 2023". USL Communications staff. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  56. USL W League Staff. "Tampa Bay United to Join USL W League for the 2022 Season". USL W League. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  57. "USL W League solidifies westward expansion with creation of Northwest Division". USL W League. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  58. "PDX FC announced as final expansion side for the 2023 W League season". USL Communications staff. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  59. "Sam Barlow High School to serve as PDX FC home stadium for 2023". March 21, 2023.
  60. "PDX FC on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  61. "United PDX to join League Two and W League in 2023". USL W League. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  62. "United PDX on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  63. "USL W League unveils NorCal Division; includes six new expansion clubs to compete in 2023 season". USL W League. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  64. "Academica SC Joins USL". Academica Soccer Club. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  65. "California Storm Announces USL W League Expansion Team". California Storm. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  66. USLWLeague.com Staff (May 24, 2022). "USL W League Welcomes Oakland Soul as 2023 Expansion Team". USWLeague.com. USWLeague.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  67. "SF Glens To Join USL W League For 2023 Season". SFGlens.com. San Francisco Glens. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  68. Belt, Shannon Mia (April 25, 2022). "A league of their own: SC Stockton becomes first West Coast team in United Soccer's Women's League". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo.com. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  69. "USL W League 2023 Expansion Side Stockton Cargo Soccer Club unveil identity and crest". USLWLeague.com Staff. August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  70. "USL W League Expands into Texas, Welcomes ATX Women's Soccer as 2024 Expansion Club". USLWLeague.com Staff. April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  71. "Spokane Velocity FC unveils official branding ahead of inaugural 2024 season". USLWLeague.com Staff. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  72. "Tallahassee Reckoning announced as newest USL W League expansion side". USLWLeague.com Staff. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  73. "USL W League Welcomes Richmond As Expansion Side For 2024". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  74. Lytle, Kevin (July 20, 2023). "Professional women's soccer team planned for Future Legends Complex in Northern Colorado". The Coloradoan. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  75. Abshire, Chris (October 8, 2023). "Northern Colorado's new women's pro soccer team has its own unique name". The Coloradoan. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  76. "Brevard Riptide SC announced as latest 2024 W League expansion side". USL W League. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  77. "Charlottesville Blues FC to join USL League Two and USL W League in 2024". USL W League. September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  78. "River Light FC to join USL League Two and USL W League in 2024". USL W League. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  79. "Indy Eleven claims 2023 W League title in extra time against NC Courage U23". www.USLWLeague.com. USL W League. July 22, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  80. "South Georgia Tormenta FC's Amy Andrews voted 2022 USL W League Player of the Year". USL W League. July 22, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  81. "San Francisco Glens' Nádia Gomes Named USL W League Player of the Year". USL W League. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.