USL Super League

Last updated

USL Super League
USL Super League.svg
Organizing body United Soccer League
First season 2024–25
CountryUnited States
Confederation CONCACAF
Number of clubs8
Level on pyramid 1
TV partners Peacock
Website uslsuperleague.com
Current: 2024–25 season

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.

Contents

The USLS was established in September 2021 as part of an effort to establish a youth-to-pro pathway for women's players within the USL system. Initially planned as a division two league, numerous USL clubs explored fielding women's teams in the league, with eight markets being decided upon. The USL would later successfully seek division one sanctioning by U.S. Soccer, marking the first time that two leagues occupied the top tier of the United States women's soccer league system. Its inaugural 2024–25 season commenced on August 17.

History

USL announced the formation of the Super League on September 21, 2021. [1] [2] Along with the pre-professional USL W League, which started in 2022, the USLS is part of the creation of a full pathway for women's soccer. [3] [4] Amanda Vandervort, former Chief Women’s Football Officer for FIFPro, the global player’s association, was appointed League President on October 12, 2021. [5]

In May 2022, United Soccer League announced that the Super League schedule will align with the "women’s international soccer calendar" with seasons running from August to June in order to "drive increased value." [6] To attempt to avoid the worst of winter weather, a mid-season break is planned. [7] The league said it planned to field 12 teams in the inaugural season. [7]

On January 31, 2022, MLS club D.C. United reversed their decision in establishing a club for the inaugural USL W League 2022 season, instead reportedly looking to join the USLS in the future. [8] On July 12, 2022, Santa Barbara Sky was announced as a USL expansion club, aiming to have a professional men's team in USL League One and a professional women's team. [9] On July 14, 2022, the USL announced a partnership with USL NOLA, a group which aims to bring a USL Championship team to the city by 2025 and a USLS team to New Orleans, Louisiana in the future. [10] On August 30, 2022, the USL announced that the JAXUSL ownership and executive group had acquired the rights to a USL Championship franchise in Jacksonville, Florida, to begin play by 2025 and a USLS team to begin play in the future. [11] On October 18, 2022, USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC announced their intentions to construct a new soccer-specific stadium and accompanying training facilities that would host their men's team and a potential professional women's soccer team. [12] On November 7, 2022, USL League Two club Real Central New Jersey announced that they and the USL were exploring the establishment of a team in the Super League. [13] On December 8, 2022, it was announced that USL League Two club Lane United FC acquired exclusive rights to pursue a Super League franchise in Lane County, Oregon. [14]

On May 16, 2023, USL Super League announced the initial eight markets that would be participating in their inaugural season, with an additional five that would be joining in later seasons, pending stadium projects. They also announced that they would be intending to launch as a first division league, as opposed to second division as had been previously announced. [15] The proposed divisional change would increase the minimum costs and standards for teams, market sizes, and staff, and would make the USL Super League the second top-division professional women's soccer league in the United States alongside the National Women's Soccer League.

In February 2024, the Super League announced that it had been granted Division I status by U.S. Soccer. [16] It also announced that a club based in Brooklyn, N.Y. would join the league beginning in 2024. [17] The league also updated the teams planned to participate in the inaugural season and those that were planned for future expansion. [18]

The league debuted on August 17, 2024 with two matches. In the first game, Carolina Ascent FC defeated DC Power FC 1-0. Vicky Bruce scored the first goal in league history in the 27th minute. In the second, Fort Lauderdale United FC tied Spokane Zephyr FC 1-1. [19] [20]

Competition format

The Super League schedule will run from "fall to summer", with the first season beginning in August 2024. [16] [21] This schedule is in line with many international leagues but is different than other American leagues which run from spring to fall. [7] The Super League will not use a college draft. [2]

Teams

Teams launched in the following markets for the 2024–25 USL Super League season. [18]

Current USL Super League teams
TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Brooklyn FC Brooklyn, New York Maimonides Park
7,000
2024
2024
 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Silva [22]
Carolina Ascent FC Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium
10,500
2023
2024
 Flag of England.svg Philip Poole [23]
Dallas Trinity FC Dallas, Texas Cotton Bowl Stadium
90,000
2023
2024
 Flag of Scotland.svg Pauline MacDonald [24]
DC Power FC Washington, D.C. Audi Field
20,000
2023
2024
 Flag of the United States.svg Phil Nana [25]
Fort Lauderdale United FC Fort Lauderdale, Florida [26] Training Facility at NSU
≈5,000 [27]
2023
2024
 Flag of England.svg Tyrone Mears [28]
Lexington SC Lexington, Kentucky Lexington SC Stadium
7,500
2023
2024
 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Dickey [29]
Spokane Zephyr FC Spokane, Washington One Spokane Stadium
5,100
2023
2024
 Flag of the United States.svg Jo Johnson [30]
Tampa Bay Sun FC Tampa, Florida Riverfront Stadium [31]
5,000
2023
2024
 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Denise Schilte-Brown [32]

    Future teams

    The following teams are expected to join the league pending completion of stadium construction or upgrade projects, or other initiatives. [18]

    Planned USL Super League teams
    TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoining
    Indy Eleven [33] Indianapolis, Indiana Eleven Park (planned)20,000 (planned)20232025
    Sporting Club Jacksonville [34] Jacksonville, Florida Hodges Stadium 9,00020232025
    Madison Women's Pro Soccer [35] [36] Madison, Wisconsin Breese Stevens Field 5,00020232025
    USL Palm Beach [37] Palm Beach County, Florida TBA20232025
    Ozark United FC [38] [39] Rogers, Arkansas Ozark United Stadium (planned)5,00020232026
    Boise Pro Soccer [40] Boise, Idaho Les Bois Stadium6,225 (planned)2024TBA
    USL Chattanooga [41] East Ridge, Tennessee CHI Memorial Stadium 5,5002023TBA
    Oakland Soul SC [42] Oakland, California TBA2023TBA
    Phoenix Rising FC [43] Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium 10,0002023TBA
    FC Tucson [44] Tucson, Arizona TBA2023TBA

    Location map

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    Chattanooga
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    Indianapolis
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    Madison
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    Phoenix
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    Tucson
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    Boise
    class=notpageimage|
    USL Super League clubs
    Blue pog.svg Current club Red pog.svg Future club

    Media coverage

    2024-present

    On June 13, 2024, the league partnered with Peacock, making it the league's official streaming platform. This multi-year agreement expands the USL's partnership with NBCUniversal, allowing fans to stream all USL Super League matches on Peacock and enhancing youth and amateur sports coverage through NBC Sports Next's SportsEngine Play. [45]

    League leadership

    Overview of USL Super League executives
    TitleNameYears
    President [5] Amanda Vandervort2021–present
    Vice president [46] Missy Price2022–present
    Vice president of operations [47] Carrie Taylor2023–present

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    References

    1. ↑ "USL Announces New Professional Division II Women's Soccer League". uslsoccer.com. USLSoccer.com Staff. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
    2. 1 2 Yang, Steph (May 16, 2023). "USL announces new women's pro league to rival NWSL". The Athletic . Retrieved May 16, 2023.
    3. ↑ "USL announces new professional women's soccer league: USL Super League". espn.com. ESPN. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
    4. ↑ "USL launching women's Division II league with 'commitment to gender equity'". theathletic.com. The Athletic. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
    5. 1 2 "Amanda Vandervort Named USL Super League President". uslsoccer.com. USLSoccer.com Staff. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
    6. ↑ USLSoccer com Staff (March 15, 2022). "USL Super League to Align with International Women's Soccer Calendar and Kick Off in August 2023". USL Championship. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
    7. 1 2 3 "New women's USL league to play fall-to-summer". ESPN.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
    8. ↑ Steven Goff [@soccerinsider] (January 31, 2022). "D.C. United will not field a team in the USL W League (women's amateur) this year. But sources say they are planning to have a team in the USL Super League (women's second-tier pro) starting in 2023. #dcu" (Tweet). Retrieved July 15, 2022– via Twitter.
    9. ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (July 12, 2022). "Santa Barbara Sky FC to Join USL League One". USL League One. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
    10. ↑ USLChampionship com Staff (July 14, 2022). "Local group aims to bring USL club to New Orleans". USL Championship. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
    11. ↑ USLChampionship com Staff (August 30, 2022). "United Soccer League announces expansion plans for Jacksonville". USL Championship. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
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    33. ↑ "Indy Eleven Acquires Top-Tier Women's Professional Franchise as Part of USL Super League". Indy Eleven. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    34. ↑ Freeman, Clayton. "USL Super League earns top-flight soccer status, but Jacksonville kickoff must wait". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    35. ↑ "FAQs". Madison Women's Pro Soccer. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    36. ↑ "Madison Awarded Women's Pro Soccer Franchise in USL Super League". Forward Madison FC. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
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    38. ↑ Gill, Todd (February 19, 2024). "USL Super League gets D1 status as group plans for pro soccer in Arkansas". The Fayetteville Flyer. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
    39. ↑ https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/oct/03/northwest-arkansas-soccer-club-will-go-by-ozark/
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    45. ↑ USLSoccer com Staff (June 13, 2024). "USL Super League and Peacock Ink Multiyear Media Rights Agreement as Part of New and Expanded NBCUniversal Streaming & Technology Partnership". United Soccer League. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
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    47. ↑ "USL Super League Names Carrie Taylor Vice President of Operations". www.USLSuperLeague.com. USL Super League. July 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
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