The U.S. Soccer Federation granted Division One sanctioning to the USL Super League on Friday. With Division One sanctioning, the USL Super League, a women's professional soccer league, will be on the same level as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The USL Super League is set to kick off in August of this year to expand the game of women’s soccer to more communities in the United States. The league will have eight initial teams and is set to expand in later years.
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The eight initial teams will be located in Brooklyn, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Lexington, Kentucky; Spokane, Washington; Tampa Bay, Florida; and Washington, D.C. As of now, Spokane and Tampa Bay are the only teams to reveal their names and crests as Spokane Zephyr FC and Tampa Bay Sun FC. The rest of the teams will announce their names in the coming months.
At least eight other markets are looking to join the league in future years upon the completion of stadiums and club development initiatives.
The USL Super League will operate on the international calendar and emphasizes a connected women’s pathway from youth to professional. The goal is to advance opportunities for athletes, referees, coaches and front office staff while uniting communities and creating a growing culture surrounding the sport of soccer in the United States.
National partnerships, competition format and more information on the USL Super League and its inaugural season will be announced in the coming weeks. For now, it is safe to say that women’s soccer is growing in the United States.