Founded | May 16, 2023 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Stadium | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
Capacity | 10,500 | ||
Head coach | Philip Poole | ||
League | USL Super League | ||
Website | https://www.carolinaascent.com/ | ||
Carolina Ascent Football Club is an American women's soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a member of the USL Super League, a new Division I league operated by the United Soccer League, which debuted in August 2024. The club also features an affiliate team in the USL W League , which began play in summer 2024.
Charlotte was named as one of the eight team locations in the USL Super League on May 16, 2023. [1] The team name was announced on March 21, 2024. [2] The Ascent named USWNT assistant coach, Philip Poole, as the head coach in January 2024. [3]
The club announced its plans for a USL W League affiliate on December 13, 2023. [4] The team follows the Charlotte Independence women's team which featured in the 2022 and 2023 W League seasons. [5] Erika Duncan, who was an assistant coach with the W League's Charlotte Independence during its two seasons, served as the W League team's inaugural head coach for the 2024 W League season before transitioning to her role as assistant coach for the Super League team. [6]
Carolina made history by playing in the inaugural match of the USL Super League, where Vicky Bruce scored the league's and the club's first-ever goal. Renee Guion also become the first player in the league to receive a yellow card. Carolina secured a 1-0 victory against DC Power FC. During their second game, Carolina tied 1-1 against Lexington SC.
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Sleeve sponsor | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024–present | Capelli Sport | Nucor | Novant Health | N/A | [7] |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
As of August 9, 2024*
Front office | |
---|---|
Position | Name |
CEO & Managing Partner | Jim McPhilliamy |
Technical staff | |
Head Coach | Philip Poole |
Season | League | Division | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. | Pos. | ||||
USL W | South Atlantic | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 36 | 10 | +26 | 22 | 3rd | Did not qualify | |
2024–25 | USL Super League | - | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 21 | 1st | - |
Charlotte Lady Eagles is an American women's soccer team, founded in 2000. Between 2002 and 2015 the Lady Eagles were a member of the United Soccer Leagues USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada, and a member of the W-2 League between 2000 and 2002.
North Carolina FC is an American professional soccer team in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 2006, the team previously was named the Carolina Railhawks.
Robyn Jones Horner is an American soccer coach and former player. She played as a goalkeeper.
Charlotte Independence is an American soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina that plays in the USL League One, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.
South Georgia Tormenta FC, or simply Tormenta FC, is an American soccer organization based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2015, the club fields a professional team in USL League One, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as well as a pre-professional team in USL League Two called Tormenta FC 2 and a pre-professional team in USL W League. The team colors are midnight navy, sky blue, silver, and magenta. The team's crest shows an ibis. Tormenta FC's USL League One team and the W-League team both emerged victorious in 2022, becoming national champions in their respective leagues.
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.
Greenville Triumph SC is a professional soccer team based in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. The club began play in USL League One in 2019.
Charlotte FC is an American professional men's soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference. The team is owned by David Tepper, who was awarded the expansion franchise on December 17, 2019. It began play in the 2022 MLS season as the league's 28th franchise. Charlotte FC plays at Bank of America Stadium, which it shares with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League, a team also owned by Tepper; the stadium capacity is reduced to 38,000 for most matches.
Capelli Sport is an American sportswear and footwear company based in New York, United States. Founded in 2011 by Lebanese-American George Altirs, Capelli Sport also has locations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa under Capelli Europe GmbH, and in China under GMA Shanghai.
The USL W League (USLW) is a women's soccer league in the United States. It began play in May 2022 and follows the USL W-League, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015. It is currently not sanctioned by the US Soccer Federation, meaning it doesn't have a position in the US soccer pyramid.
The USL Super League (USLS) is a professional women's soccer league in the highest level of the United States league system, alongside the National Women's Soccer League. Organized by the United Soccer League (USL), it operates as its premier league for women above the pre-professional USL W League. The league consists of eight clubs who annually play four round-robins – two in the fall and two in the spring – to earn four places in a playoff tournament that determines the league's champion. Additional clubs are expected to join the league in the future. Clubs in the league have no cap on salaries or squad sizes, while minimum salaries are around US$35,000 to 37,000. There is no draft system, and squads are primarily built with free agents. The league's matches are streamed nationally on Peacock.
Vermont Green Football Club is an American soccer team based in Burlington, Vermont that began play in USL League Two in the 2022 season. The club mission is centered on environmental justice with the goal of becoming a net zero soccer club. They are also a member of One Percent for the Planet, donating 1% of the club's annual revenues to approved environmental partners. VGFC's environmental mission has drawn coverage from BBC Sport, The Guardian, and the Men in Blazers podcast.
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 club fields 2 professions and 3 amateur teams across the United States soccer league system - USL League One, USL Super League, United Premier Soccer League, USL W League, & USL Academy. The 2 professional teams play at Lexington SC Stadium, a brand-new 7,500 Soccer-specific stadium that open in September 2024 for the USL Super League squad's inaugural home match. Prior to LSC Stadium opening, the USL1 and USLW teams played at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Kentucky while Lexington SC stadium was being built.
Spokane Zephyr FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Spokane, Washington, United States. It is a member of the USL Super League, a new Division I league operated by the United Soccer League, and debuted in August 2024. Zephyr FC is owned by Aequus Sports, which also operates Spokane Velocity FC of USL League One, another stadium tenant.
Tampa Bay Sun FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Tampa, Florida, United States. The team is an inaugural member of the USL Super League, a new Division I league operated by the United Soccer League, and debuted in 2024. Sun FC is owned by real estate developer and investor Darryl Shaw, Bern's Steak House owner David Laxer, and former BluePearl executive Jeff Fox.
Brooklyn Football Club is a planned American professional soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. First announced in 2023, the club fields a women's team in USL Super League in 2024, and will field a men's team in USL Championship beginning in 2025.
The 2024–25 season of Dallas Trinity FC is the team's inaugural season as a professional women's soccer team and as well as the first for the USL Super League (USLS), one of two leagues to be in the top tier of women's soccer in the United States. In November 2024, Copa Tejas announced that as a Division I team Dallas Trinity FC would be included in the Copa Tejas Shield beginning in 2025. Because of the USL Super League fall to spring schedule the entire 2024-25 season standings will be used for the 2025 Shield.
The 2024–25 season of Carolina Ascent FC is the team's inaugural season as a professional women's soccer team and as well as the first for the USL Super League (USLS), one of two leagues to be in the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
The 2024-25 season of DC Power FC is the team's inaugural season as a professional women's soccer team and as well as the first for the USL Super League (USLS), one of two leagues to be in the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Lexington Sporting Club fields 2 women's sides within the USL's structure – a professional team in the USL Super League and a pre-professional team in the USL W League. Former New Zealand international Michelle Reyner serves as the Women's Sporting Director.