Rally Madison FC

Last updated

Rally Madison FC
Rally Madison FC.svg
FoundedAugust 2023(2 years ago) (2023-08)
Ground
OwnerBig Top Events
ChairmanConor Caloia
ManagerLiz Lawrence
Coach Giuliano Oliviero
League USL W League
Website rallymadisonfc.com

Rally Madison FC is a women's soccer club based in Madison, Wisconsin. Owned by Big Top Events, it is the sister club of Forward Madison FC, and plans to commence play in the USL W League in the 2026 season. The club also holds franchise rights for a future team in the professional USL Super League. Its home ground is Breese Stevens Field.

Contents

History

Big Top Events were awarded franchise rights for the burgeoning USL Super League in 2023. [1] [2] Though the planned professional team was supported by Madison's municipal government, who sought a $4 million grant from the Wisconsin government to upgrade Breese Stevens Field, [3] the club failed to procure the necessary upgrades to meet U.S. Soccer's Division I standards. [4] [5]

Rally Madison's entry into the amateur USL W League was announced at halftime during a Forward Madison USL League One game in August 2025. [6] Prior to the club's branding launch at The Slyvee in December, [7] it operated under the placeholder name USL W League Madison, [8] [9] and hired Giuliano Oliviero from the Milwaukee Wave as its first ever head coach. [10] Among the club's first ever player signings were Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart record goalscorer Sonoma Bever, [11] Muskego High School defender Elsa Maurer, [9] Milwaukee Panthers forward Addison Werth, [12] and Rockford Raptors goalkeeper Malia Zillman. [13]

Culture and branding

The name Rally Madison FC was chosen through public consultation, [6] [14] and honours both the women's suffrage movement, and Wisconsin's ratification of the nineteenth amendment – the first state to do so. [7] The club's crest was designed by Madison-based advertising agency Shine United, [5] and depicts a bust of Wisconsin , the statue atop the Wisconsin State Capitol, adorned with a crown depicting the Flag of Madison's cross. [7] The club's main supporters' group is The Flock, who originate from Forward Madison. [4] [5]

Stadium

Breese Stevens Field1.jpg
The club's home ground is Breese Stevens Field (pictured).

Rally Madison's home ground is Breese Stevens Field in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, which they share with Forward Madison. Its first season of play in 2026 will coincide with the stadium's hundredth anniversary, opened in May 1926. [6] [14]

Organization

Rally Madison is owned by Big Top Events, who also own the Forward Madison men's soccer team and the Madison Mallards collegiate summer baseball team. [8] [15] Conor Caloia leads the club through his role as chief operating officer, while Liz Lawrence manages the club as its technical director. [10]

Team

Giuliano Oliviero serves as Rally Madison's head coach, while Tenzin Rampa and technical director Liz Lawrence serve as assistant coaches. [10] [16] [17] William Banahene serves as its goalkeeper coach. [18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.Squad correct as of December 12, 2024. [19]

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Malia Zillman
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sonoma Bever
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Addison Werth
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jessica Fernau
— DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Else Maurer

Seasons

List of Rally Madison FC seasons
SeasonLeaguePldWDLGFGAGDPosPlayoffs
2026 USLW Future season

See also

References

  1. ↑ Peek, Jenny (16 May 2023). "Madison to be home to Wisconsin's first professional women's soccer team". Wisconsin Public Radio . Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Radcliffe, J.R. (17 May 2023). "New top-tier professional women's soccer league to include team in Madison". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Eric (9 May 2024). "Breese Stevens eyes new seats, new playing surface, to attract high-level sports". Isthmus . Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 Chappell, Robert (16 August 2025). "Women's soccer coming to Madison". Madison365 . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Rodriguez, Ashley (16 August 2025). "Women's soccer is coming to Madison in 2026". The Capital Times . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Wells, Stephanie (13 September 2025). "Madison to welcome USL W League team in 2026". The Badger Herald . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "USL W League Madison Announces Team Name, "Rally Madison FC"". Rally Madison FC. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  8. 1 2 Jones, Kyle (16 August 2025). "Madison's women's soccer team to take field in May 2026, 3 years after initial announcement". Channel 3000 / News 3 Now . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 "USL W League Madison signs Maurer to roster". The Waukesha Freeman . 5 December 2025. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Jones, Kyle (23 October 2025). "USL W League Madison names first head coach, technical director". Fox 47 Madison . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  11. ↑ Jones, Kyle (2 October 2025). "Star Edgewood High School grad becomes first USL W League Madison signing". Channel 3000 / News 3 Now . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Madison USL Women's teams adds forward Addison Werth". Madison365 . 11 December 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Madison's USL Women's team adds 16-year-old goalkeeper". Madison365 . 6 November 2025. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 Thompson, Chad (16 August 2025). "New soccer team: Women's USL W League team to play in Madison by 2026". WKOW 27 News . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  15. ↑ Popke, Michael (5 December 2025). "Women's sports get down to business". In Business Madison. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  16. ↑ Jones, Kyle (4 November 2025). "Tibetan National Team head coach joins USL W League Madison coaching staff". Channel 3000 / News 3 Now . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  17. ↑ Chappell, Robert (4 November 2025). "Tenzin Rampa joins USL W League Madison as assistant coach". Madison365 . Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Madison USL women's team adds Milwaukee Wave keeper William Banahene to coaching staff". Madison365 . 10 December 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "Roster". Rally Madison FC. 12 December 2025. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
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