Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is a national semi-professional women's soccer league in the United States and Canada.[1] It is on the second level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, below National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and roughly equal with United Women's Soccer (UWS). The WPSL is the largest women's soccer league in the world (in terms of number of clubs).
.png.webp) | |
| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Other club(s) from | Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Divisions | 4 regions with 22 conferences |
| Number of teams | 130 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 (Provisional) |
| Current champions | Pensacola FC Women (2019) |
| Most championships | California Storm (3 titles) |
| Website | wpslsoccer |
The WPSL started as the Western Division of the W-League, before breaking away to form its own league in 1997. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association, an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
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.
Current clubs
The following teams played in the Women's Premier Soccer League during the 2019 season.
Former teams
- ACF Torino USA Maryland (2014–2015)
- ASA Charge FC Maryland
- Ajax America Women California
- Albuquerque Crush New Mexico (2002)
- Albuquerque Lady Asylum New Mexico (2007–2008)
- American Eagles Soccer Club Texas
- Arizona Sahuaros Arizona (2003)
- Arkansas Comets Arkansas
- Atlanta Silverbacks Women Georgia
- Auto Trader Select SC California (1998–1999)
- Bay Area Breeze California (2011–2012) – Left to join W-League
- Boston Aztec Massachusetts
- Brevard County Cocoa Expos Florida (2008)
- Chattanooga FC Women Tennessee (2014-2018, on hiatus for 2019, returning in 2020)[23]
- CFC Passion Connecticut
- CU Diamonds Washington
- Central California Gold California (2004)
- Central California HEAT California
- Cincinnati Lady Saints Ohio (2014–15)
- Clermont Phoenix Florida
- Club Tijuana USA Baja California
- Colorado Springs United Colorado (2007–2008, Colorado Springs Sabers 2006)
- Elk Grove Pride California (2002–2005)
- Emerald City FC Washington
- Empire Revs WNY New York (2013–2015)
- Everton FC America Texas (2005)
- Eugene Timbers FC Azul Oregon
- FC Austin Texas
- FC Metro Magic Missouri (2009–2010, FC St. Louis 2006–2008)
- FC Milwaukee Nationals Wisconsin
- FC Sacramento Thunder California (1998–1999)
- FC St. George Utah
- FC Ulindi Pennsylvania
- FC Virginia Virginia (2006)
- FC Westchester New York
- Foothill FC California (2000)
- Fort Lauderdale Fusion Florida (2006)
- Fort Wayne FC Indiana
- Fresno FC Ladies California (2018)
- Georgia Revolution Georgia
- Houston Aces Texas – moved to United Women's Soccer
- Houston Stars Texas (2003–2005)
- Houston Tornadoes Texas (2003)
- Indiana United Indiana
- L.A. Salsa California
- Lancaster Inferno (WPSL) Pennsylvania – moved to United Women's Soccer
- Las Vegas Shooters Nevada (1998–1999, 2001)
- Las Vegas Tabagators Nevada (2004–2006)
- FC Lehigh Valley Lady Sonic Pennsylvania – Left to join W-League
- Lions Swarm Maryland
- Liverpool Lady Warriors Texas
- Madison 56ers Wisconsin
- Maryland Capitols FC Maryland
- Maryland Pride Maryland (2004–2007, 2009–2010)
- Massachusetts Stingers Massachusetts (2004–2007)
- Memphis Mercury Tennessee (2006)
- Michigan Chill SC Michigan
- Michigan Lions Michigan
- Michigan Phoenix Michigan (2006)
- Mississippi Fuego FC Mississippi
- Mississippi Fuego FC U23 Mississippi (2012)
- New England Mutiny Massachusetts – moved to United Women's Soccer
- New England Mutiny Reserves Massachusetts
- New Jersey Blaze New Jersey
- New York Vendaval New York (2003)
- Norcal Shockwaves California (1998–1999)
- Northampton Laurels Pennsylvania (2006–2008)
- Northern California Blues California (2003–2004)
- Oregon Rush Oregon
- Orlando Falcons Florida (2006–2007)
- Ohio Galaxies Ohio
- Ohio Premier Women's SC Ohio
- Orange County Waves California (2011)
- PAO ST. Louis Missouri (2011) no games played
- Palm City FC Florida
- Philadelphia Fever Pennsylvania
- Phoenix U23 Arizona (2012)
- Pines 1779 Texas
- Portland Rain Oregon
- Quad City Eagles Illinois
- Real Del Mar California (1998)
- Real Salt Lake Women Utah – moved to United Women's Soccer
- Real Shore FC New Jersey (2007)
- Reno Zephyrs Nevada (1999)
- Rhode Island Rays Rhode Island (2003–2006)
- River Cities FC Missouri (2006–2007)
- Rochester Reign New York (2004)
- San Francisco Skyhawks California (1998–1999)
- San Joaquin Valley Quest California (2003)
- St. George United Utah
- St. Louis Archers Missouri (2005)
- St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite Missouri (2009–2010)
- Silicon Valley Red Devils California (1998–2000)
- Spokane Shine Washington
- Sonoma County Sol California (2006–2008)
- Sonoran Thunder Arizona (2002–2003)
- South Florida Strikers Florida
- Steel City Sparks Pennsylvania (2004–05)
- Tampa Bay Elite Florida (2006–2007)
- Tennessee Lady Blues Tennessee (2006)
- Texas Football Club Texas
- Tidewater Sharks Virginia
- Tkaronto Justice New York (2015)
- Tri-City Celtics New York
- United FC Binghamton New York
- Utah Starzz Utah
- Vancouver Angels British Columbia (2000)
- West Texas Pride FC Texas
- Windsor Essex FC Ontario (2015)
WPSL champions
Staff
Executive Committee
- Sean Jones – President
- Rich Sparling – Commissioner
- DeBray Ayala – Vice-President
- Brad Lund – Vice-President
Front Office
- Beth Patterson – Team Services Director
- James Poling – Communications Director
- Robyn Healy – Marketing Director
- Jeramie McPeek – Creative Content
- Dr. Vytas Ringus – Medical Director
- David Simmons – Referee Coordinator
See also
References
- "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 semi professional 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).
- Kassouf, Jeff (February 9, 2012). "WPSL Elite League launches for 2012 with Flash, Breakers, Red Stars, FC Indiana". equalizersoccer.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- "Northern Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Heartland Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Red River Conference - North Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Red River Conference - South Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Mountain Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Midwest Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Metropolitan Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Mid-Atlantic Conference - Keystone Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Mid-Atlantic Conference - Colonial Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Ohio Valley Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Carolinas Conference - North Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Carolinas Conference - South Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Sunshine Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Southeast Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Gulf Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Northwest Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Pac North Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Coastal Conference". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Pac South Conference - Desert Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Pac South Conference - San Diego Division". WPSL. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "The 2018 year in review: Looking to the future". Chattanooga FC Women. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- "Staff Directory". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- Scavuzzo, Christine (October 24, 2017). "WPSL's new commissioner Sparling takes over". GoalNation.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
External links
| Men's national teams | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's national teams | |||||||||
| Men's outdoor leagues |
| ||||||||
| Women's outdoor leagues |
| ||||||||
| Indoor and futsal competitions | |||||||||
| Cup competitions | |||||||||
| Other competitions | |||||||||
| College and university soccer | |||||||||
| Defunct Canadian leagues | |||||||||
| Defunct American leagues | |||||||||
| Defunct cup competitions | |||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small}
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National teams |
| ||||
| League system |
| ||||
| Domestic cups |
| ||||
| |||||
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.