2023 USL W League season

Last updated

USL W League
Season2023
DatesMay 6 - July 2
(regular season)
July 6 - July 22
(playoffs)
Champions Indy Eleven
Regular Season title Minnesota Aurora FC
Matches played375
Goals scored1,464 (3.9 per match)
Biggest home win IND 16, STC 0 (June 30)
Biggest away win PFA 0, CHR 9 (May 21)
Highest scoring IND 16, STC 0 (June 30)
Longest winning run12 games
Minnesota Aurora FC
Tampa Bay United
Longest unbeaten run12 games
Minnesota Aurora FC
North Carolina Courage U23
Flint City AFC
Tampa Bay United
Longest winless run11 games
Patuxent Football Athletics
Longest losing run11 games
Patuxent Football Athletics
2022
2024
All statistics correct as of July 2, 2023.

The 2023 USL W League season is the 2nd season for the league. The regular season began on May 6 and ended on July 2. [1] [2] 16 teams qualified for the league playoffs, which began on July 6. [3]

Contents

Team changes

New teams

Standings

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Morris Elite SC 121011545+4931 [lower-alpha 1] 2.58 [lower-alpha 1] Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Long Island Rough Riders 1210114313+30312.58
3 Cedar Stars 128222917+12262.17
4 F.A. Euro 115242419+5171.55
5 Manhattan SC 11326132512111.00
6 Paisley Athletic FC 1215611281780.67
7 Westchester Flames 1220107453860.50
8 AC Connecticut 1211109382940.33
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Morris Elite SC wins the tiebreaker over Long Island Rough Riders on goal differential.

Mid Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1Eagle FC1211014010+30332.75Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Christos FC 129034217+25272.25
3 Northern Virginia FC 1160521243181.64
4 McLean Soccer 115064216+26151.36
5 Virginia Marauders FC 1130811312090.82
6 Patuxent Football Athletics 1100117655800.00
Source: USL

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Flint City AFC 129303814+24302.50Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Kalamazoo FC 125432319+4191.58
3 Detroit City FC 125341917+2181.50
4 Midwest United FC 1252515161171.42
5 AFC Ann Arbor 12426143117141.17
6 Cleveland Force SC 1210117191230.25
Source: USL

Heartland Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Minnesota Aurora FC 121200604+56363.00Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Chicago City SC 128132616+10252.08
3 Chicago Dutch Lions 117042419+5211.91
4 Bavarian United SC 115152018+2161.45
5 RKC Third Coast 113081043339 [lower-alpha 1] 0.82 [lower-alpha 1]
6 Green Bay Glory 1130812271590.82
7 Rochester FC 1210116312530.25
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 RKC Third Coast wins the tiebreaker over Green Bay Glory on head-to-head record.

Valley Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Indy Eleven 10811403+3725 [lower-alpha 1] 2.50 [lower-alpha 1] Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Racing Louisville FC 10811424+38252.50
3 Lexington SC 1031610177101.00
4 Kings Hammer FC 102175252070.70
5 St. Charles FC 101275534850.50
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Indy Eleven wins the tiebreaker over Racing Louisville FC on head-to-head record.

Southern Conference

South Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 North Carolina Courage U23 121110467+39342.83Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Asheville City SC 127142116+5221.83
3 Wake FC 126242117+4201.67
4 North Carolina Fusion 12516183113161.33
5 Charlotte Independence 1241712175131.08
6 Greenville Liberty SC 1230916271190.75
7 FC Carolinas 123095241990.75
Source: USL

South Central Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Tennessee SC 12822308+22262.17Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 12813268+18252.08
3 Tormenta FC 12633209+11211.75
4 Birmingham Legion WFC 125342320+3181.50
5 Southern Soccer Academy 124262018+2141.17
6 South Carolina United FC 1232715194110.92
7 North Alabama SC 1211105575240.33
Source: USL

Southeast Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Tampa Bay United 121200431+42363.00Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 FC Miami City 129122810+18282.33
3 Florida Elite SA 126152316+7191.58
4 Palm City Americanas 123272221+1110.92
5 Swan City SC 121292444205 [lower-alpha 1] 0.42 [lower-alpha 1]
6 Miami AC 12129856485 [lower-alpha 2] 0.42 [lower-alpha 2]
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Swan City SC wins the tiebreaker over Miami AC on goal differential.
  2. 1 2 Florida Elite match was forfeited 3–0 in favor of Florida Elite

Western Conference

Northwest Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 Oly Town FC 10820346+28262.60Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 United PDX 10721369+27232.30
3 Lane United FC 102261123128 [lower-alpha 1] 0.80 [lower-alpha 1]
4 PDX FC 1022614392580.80
5 Capital FC Atletica 101279271850.50
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Lane United FC wins the tiebreaker over PDX FC on goal differential.

Nor Cal Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGQualification
1 San Francisco Glens 1210114412+32312.58Advance to USL W League Playoffs
2 Oakland Soul SC 1210023713+24302.50
3 California Storm 129124612+34282.33
4 Stockton Cargo SC 127052923+6211.75
5 Olympic Club SC 1231893829100.83
6 Pleasanton RAGE 122289322380.67
7 Academica SC 1221915473270.58
8 Marin FC Sirens 1212916281250.42
Source: USL

Playoffs

Bracket

Conference SemifinalsConference FinalsSemifinalsFinal
        
Long Island Rough Riders 2
Morris Elite SC 3
Morris Elite SC 0
Eastern Conference
Eagle FC 6
Eagle FC 2
Christos FC 1
Eagle FC 1
North Carolina Courage U23 4
Tampa Bay United 3
Tennessee SC 2
Tampa Bay United 0
Southern Conference
North Carolina Courage U23 3
North Carolina Courage U23 3
FC Miami City 0
North Carolina Courage U23 1
Indy Eleven (a.e.t.)2
Minnesota Aurora FC 1
Chicago City SC 0
Minnesota Aurora FC 0
Central Conference
Indy Eleven 1
Flint City AFC 0
Indy Eleven 3
Indy Eleven 3
San Francisco Glens SC 2
San Francisco Glens SC 5
Oakland Soul SC 1
San Francisco Glens SC 2
Western Conference
California Storm 1
California Storm 1
Oly Town FC 0

Conference semifinals

July 6 Minnesota Aurora FC 1–0 Chicago City SC Atwood Stadium
Flint, Michigan
3:00 PM EDT
Report
Referee: Taylor Heemstra
July 6 Flint City AFC 0–3 Indy Eleven Atwood Stadium
Flint, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Report
Referee: Taylor Heemstra
July 7 Morris Elite SC 3–2 Long Island Rough Riders Mountain View Middle School
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
3:00 PM EDT
Report
July 7 Eagle FC 2–1 Christos FC Mountain View Middle School
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
Report
July 7 California Storm 1–0 Oly Town FC Davis Legacy Field
Davis, California
7:00 PM PDT
Report

Conference Finals

July 9 Eagle FC 6–0 Morris Elite SC Mountain View Middle School
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
5:30 PM EDT
Report

National Semifinals

USL W-League Championship Game

Championship MVP: Alia Martin (IND)

Awards

Individual awards

AwardWinnerTeamReasonRef.
Golden Boot Flag of the United States.svg Baylee DeSmit Christos FC 21 goals in 11 games [27]
Golden Glove Flag of the United States.svg Bailey Herfurth Tampa Bay United .096 Goals Against Average; 11 Shutouts [27]
Defender of the Year Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tianna Harris Minnesota Aurora FC 4 goals; 2 assists [28]
Assists Champion Flag of the United States.svg Katie Shea CollinsTennessee SC7 assists [28]
Young (U20) Player of the Year Flag of the United States.svg Mia Oliaro North Carolina Courage U23 5 goals; 5 assists [29]
Coach of the Year Flag of the United States.svg Michele Krzisnik Flint City AFC undefeated regular season [29]
Player of the Year Flag of Portugal.svg Nádia Gomes San Francisco Glens SC 16 goals, 8 assists [30]

All-League Teams

First Team

F: Samantha Dewey (IND), Baylee DeSmit (IND), Nádia Gomes (SFG)
M: Bella Gaetino (FCA), Mia Oliaro (NCC), Nia Christopher (EFC), Katie Shea Collins (TEN)
D: Laurel Ansbrow (NCC), Tianna Harris (MNA), Elle Piper (SFG)
G: Bailey Herfurth (TBU)

Second Team

F: Claire Manning (MOR), Mariah Lee (OLY), Giana Riley (CAL)
M: Hannah Adler (MNA), Kennedy Barschel (CHI), Alia Martin (IND), Lauren Martinho (NCC)
D: Madison Cox (TBU), Carly Smith (EFC), Grace Bahr (IND)
G: Nona Reason (IND)

[31]

Divisional Players of the Year [32]
DivisionPlayerTeam
Great Lakes Flag of the United States.svg Bailey Korhorn Kalamazoo FC
Heartland Flag of the United States.svg Maya Hansen Minnesota Aurora FC
Metropolitan Flag of the United States.svg Claire Manning Morris Elite SC
Mid Atlantic Flag of the United States.svg Baylee DeSmit Christos FC
NorCal Flag of Portugal.svg Nádia Gomes San Francisco Glens SC
Northwest Flag of the United States.svg Mariah Lee Oly Town FC
Southeast Flag of the United States.svg Carissa Boeckmann Tampa Bay United
South Atlantic Flag of the United States.svg Mia Oliaro North Carolina Courage U23
South Central Flag of the United States.svg Katie Shea Collins Tennessee SC
Valley Flag of the United States.svg Samantha Dewey Indy Eleven

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League Two</span> American development soccer league

USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is an amateur / semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league featured 122 teams for 2023, split into eighteen regional divisions across four conferences. USL League Two is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Championship</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Solomon Asante is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights. With Phoenix Rising FC, he was named the 2019 and 2020 USL Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP). With Indy Eleven, Asante became the first player in USL Championship history to record 50 career goals and career assists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Rising FC</span> American soccer team

Phoenix Rising Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2014 as Arizona United Soccer Club, the team is a member of the USL Championship. They won the league championship in 2023, defeating the Charleston Battery 3–2 on penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw in regulation time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romario Williams</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1994)

Romario Garfield Williams is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship side Indy Eleven. He is named after the legendary Brazilian footballer, Romário.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asheville City SC</span> American amateur soccer team

Asheville City SC is an American amateur soccer team based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 2016, the men's team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The women's team was founded in 2017 and played in the Women's Premier Soccer League until joining the newly-formed USL W League for the 2022 season. The team colors are blue and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDX FC</span> Association football league in the U.S.

PDX Football Club is an American soccer club from Portland, Oregon, United States. The men's club was established in 2017, currently plays in USL League Two, and previously played in the National Premier Soccer League's West Region, Northwest Conference. The women's club was established in 2023 and currently plays in USL W League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League One</span> American professional soccer league

USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2024, the league has 12 teams who play 22 regular season games, followed by playoffs. All teams also participate in the USL Cup, adding an additional eight games, followed by knockout rounds.

The 2018 USL season was the eighth season of the United Soccer League and second under Division II sanctioning. The previous season, the USL had provisional Div. II sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation along with the North American Soccer League, but was given full sanctioning for the 2018 season with a two-year deadline to meet the full requirements set by U.S. Soccer.

Cameron Lindley is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship. Having played college soccer for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he joined Orlando City in 2018 after his Homegrown rights were traded from Chicago Fire.

The 2019 Indy Eleven season was the club's sixth season of existence, their sixth consecutive season in the second tier of American soccer, and their second season in the league now named the USL Championship. The season covers the period from October 21, 2018 to the beginning of the 2020 USL Championship season.

The 2021 USL League Two season is the 27th season of the USL League Two, the top pre-professional soccer league in the United States, since its establishment in 1995. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shakeem "Shak" Adams is an American professional soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL W League</span> Womens professional soccer league in the United States

The USL W League (USLW) is a pre-professional women's soccer league in the United States which began play in May 2022. It follows the USL W-League, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Super League</span> Professional womens soccer league in the United States

The USL Super League (USLS) is a future Division I professional women's soccer league in the United States. The league will be owned and operated by the United Soccer League. Originally planned to launch in August 2023, it is now slated to begin play in August 2024.

The 2022 USL League Two season is the 28th season of USL League Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexington SC</span> American USL soccer club

Lexington Sporting Club is an American professional soccer team based in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2021 as an expansion side in USL League One, the team currently plays its home matches at Toyota Stadium at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, while its permanent stadium is being constructed.

The 2022 USL W League season is the first season of USL W League.

The 2023 USL League Two season is the 29th season of USL League Two, a semi-professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.

The 2024 USL W League season is the 3rd season for the league. The regular season will begin on May 4 and will end on June 30. 80 teams will participate, playing in 4 conferences and 12 divisions.

References

  1. "W League unveils full 2023 season schedule". uslwleague.com. USL W League. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. "USL W League announces 2023 Divisional Alignment". uslwleague.com. USL W League. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. "W League announces expanded playoff structure for the 2023 season". uslwleague.com. USL W League. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "USL W League unveils NorCal Division; includes six new expansion clubs to compete in 2023 season". USL W League. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. "Academica SC Joins USL". Academica Soccer Club. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. "Bavarian United SC set to join USL League Two and USL W League". USL Communications staff. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  7. "Birmingham Legion announced as latest expansion side to compete in 2023 season". USL Communications staff. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  8. "California Storm Announces USL W League Expansion Team". California Storm. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 "USL W League solidifies westward expansion with creation of Northwest Division". USL W League. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  10. "Cleveland Force SC joins USL W League for the 2023 season". USL Communications staff. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  11. "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.
  12. "USL W League welcomes Lexington Sporting Club as expansion side for 2023". USLWLeague.com Staff. October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  13. "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.
  14. USLWLeague.com Staff (May 24, 2022). "USL W League Welcomes Oakland Soul as 2023 Expansion Team". USWLeague.com. USWLeague.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  15. "USL W League welcomes Paisley Athletic FC as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  16. "USL W League welcomes Palm City Americanas as expansion side for 2023". USL Communications staff. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  17. "PDX FC announced as final expansion side for the 2023 W League season". USL Communications staff. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  18. "RKC Soccer Club to join USL League Two and USL W League". USL Communications staff. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  19. "Rochester FC joins W League and USL League Two as expansion side". USL Communications staff. July 29, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  20. USLWLeague.com Staff (June 14, 2022). "St. Charles FC joining USL League Two and W League". USWLeague.com. USWLeague.com. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  21. "SF Glens To Join USL W League For 2023 Season". SFGlens.com. San Francisco Glens. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  22. 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.
  23. "USL W League 2023 Expansion Side Stockton Cargo Soccer Club unveil identity and crest". USLWLeague.com Staff. August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  24. "Swan City SC joining USL League Two and W League in 2023". USL Communications staff. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  25. "United PDX to join League Two and W League in 2023". USL W League. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  26. "Virginia Marauders FC joining USL League Two and W League in 2023". USL Communications staff. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  27. 1 2 "Christos FC's Desmit wins Golden Boot, TBU's Herfurth earns Golden Glove". USL W League. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Minnesota's Tianna Harris awarded Defender of the Year, Tennessee's Katie Shea Collins earns Assists Champion". USL W League. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Mia Oliaro named Young player of the Year, Flint City's Michele Krzisnik named Coach of the Year". USL W League. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  30. "SF Glens Nadia Gomes Named USL W League Player of the Year". USL W League. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  31. "USL W League announces 2023 Team of the Year". USL W League. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  32. "USL W League announces 2023 Divisional Players of the Year". USLWLeague.com Staff. July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.