WPSL PRO

Last updated

WPSL PRO
Organizing body Women's Premier Soccer League
Founded2023
CountryUnited States
Confederation CONCACAF
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid Division III
Website wpslpro.com

The WPSL PRO is a planned professional women's soccer league at the third level of the United States league system, setting two levels below the National Women's Soccer League and USL Super League.

Contents

History

Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced the formation of the WPSL PRO on February 8, 2023. The league is planned as a Division III Professional League, that will start in 2025. The WPSL announced that WPSL PRO will help provide new avenues of development for players, coaches, and staff. The league plans for ten teams the first year, with a goal of 24 teams by 2030. [1]

In August 2023, WPSL PRO announced they had received their first five letters of intent (LOIs). The teams were Oklahoma City FC, Sioux Falls City FC, [2] SouthStar FC, Austin Rise FC, and The Town FC. [3] In February 2024, Georgia Impact FC signed their LOI, becoming the sixth team to do so. With Georgia Impact FC joining WPSL PRO, it will become the first team with a youth to professional pipeline in the league. In addition, by becoming the sixth team, Georgia Impact FC puts the WPSL PRO in a position to meet the minimal sanctioning guidelines. [4] Later in February 2024, AC Houston Sur signed a LOI with WPSL PRO, becoming the seventh overall team and third team from Texas to commit to the new league. [5] Two days later, WPSL PRO announced the eighth team has signed the LOI, welcoming Dakota Fusion FC to the league. Dakota Fusion FC is the first team to announce they would officially start in the 2026 season. [6] In July 2024, WPSL PRO announced they had received their ninth LOI from a group led by Gina Prodan Kelly to set up a team in Northeast Ohio. [7] In August 2024, WPSL PRO received their tenth LOI from Soda City FC, announcing their intent to bring a professional women's soccer team to South Carolina. [8] In September 2024, WPSL Pro announced three more LOIs, the first from Wichita, Kansas, the second Indios Denver FC from Denver, Colorado, and the third from Southern California. [9] [10] [11]

Teams

Current Teams

Teams planned to launch in the following markets for the 2025 WPSL PRO League season. [12]

TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoiningHead coach
AC Houston Sur Houston, Texas 20212025Jonathan Giraldo
Austin Rise FC Austin, Texas House Park 6,00020232025 Flag of Mexico.svg Rogerio Celaya
Georgia Impact FC Atlanta, Georgia Tommy Baker Field 2025 Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Roddie
Indios Denver FC Denver, Colorado 20192025
Northeast Ohio Cleveland, Ohio 20242025
Oklahoma City FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mustang High School 20072025 Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Gibson
Sioux Falls City FC Sioux Falls, South Dakota Bob Young Field 20222025 Flag of the United States.svg Dale Weiler
SoCal WPSL Pro Southern California 20242025
Soda City FC Columbia, South Carolina 20182025
SouthStar FC Addison, Texas Mean Green Soccer Stadium 20192025 Flag of the United States.svg Casey Loyd
The Town FC Moraga, California Saint Mary's Stadium 2025
Wichita WPSL PRO Wichita, Kansas 20242025

Future teams

TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoining
Dakota Fusion FC Moorhead, Minnesota Jim Gotta Stadium 3,00020162026

Location map

Usa edcp location map.svg
Blue pog.svg
AC Houston Sur
Blue pog.svg
Georgia Impact FC
Blue pog.svg
Indios Denver FC
Blue pog.svg
WPSL NE Ohio
Blue pog.svg
WPSL SoCal
Blue pog.svg
Soda City FC
Blue pog.svg
SouthStar FC
Blue pog.svg
WPSL Wichita
WPSL PRO
Blue pog.svg Current club Red pog.svg Future club

League leadership

TitleName
PresidentSean Jones
Vice presidentDeBray Ayala
Vice presidentBrad Lund
CommissionerKendra Halterman

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References

  1. "The WPSL announces new professional Division III women's soccer league". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 28, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  2. "Sioux Falls City FC joins professional league". Dakota News Now. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. "WPSL Pro moves into next phase with five teams signing LOIs". Women's Premier Soccer League. August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  4. "WPSL PRO: Georgia Impact submits LOI". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 6, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  5. "AC Houston Sur expands WPSL PRO's reach in Texas as third club to submit LOI ahead of 2025 Launch". WPSL Pro. February 20, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  6. Ostler, Gabriel (February 29, 2024). "Dakota Fusion FC Looks to Bring Professional Women's Sports to Fargo-Moorhead". Valley News. Fargo, North Dakota. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. "WPSL Pro moves into Northeast Ohio ahead of 2025 launch". WPSL Pro. July 11, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. "Pro's tenth LOI market widens league footprint on Atlantic Coast". WPSL Pro. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  9. "WPSL PRO receives official Letter of Inten from sports investment group in Wichita". WPSL PRO. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  10. "WPSL PRO secures Denver market with twelfth LOI submission". WPSL PRO. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  11. "THE LOI MARKET REACH EXPANDS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR WPSL PRO". WPSL PRO. September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. "Teams". WPSL Pro. Retrieved August 30, 2024.