The USL W League (USLW) is a
women's soccer
Women's association football, more commonly known as women's football or women's soccer, is the team sport of association football played by women. It is played at the professional level in multiple countries, and about 200 national teams partic ...
league in the United States. It began play in May 2022 and follows the
USL W-League USL W-League may refer to:
* USL W League
* USL W-League (1995–2015)
The USL W-League was a North American amateur women's soccer developmental organization. The league was a semi-professional, open league, giving college players the oppor ...
, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015. It is currently not sanctioned by the
US Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of soccer in the United States. It is a full member of FIFA and governs American soccer at ...
, meaning that it does not have a position in the
US soccer pyramid.
History
The league was originally announced in 2021 by the
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League (USL) is an organizer of various professional and amateur soccer leagues in the United States league system. It currently organizes its Championship, League One, and League Two for men, its Super League and W Leag ...
with eight clubs, six of which would be women's sides for existing men's USL teams, and two of which would be entirely new franchises.
At launch, the USL said the inaugural season would include at least 30 teams. The inaugural season began on May 6, 2022 with 44 teams across 20 states. By the
2023 season the league had grown to 65 teams. The growth of the league resulted in the development of a four-conference system, which is broken down into 10 divisions. Each team plays its divisional opponents to qualify for regional play-offs.
Teams
Current teams
Location map
Future clubs
Former teams
Champions
Finals
Awards
See also
*
Women's soccer in the United States
Women's soccer in the United States has developed quite differently from men's soccer. Until the 1970s, organized women's soccer matches in the U.S. existed only on a limited basis.
Since changes that started in the 1970's, the U.S. has beco ...
*
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
*
USL Super League
The USL Super League (USLS), officially known as the Gainbridge Super League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional women's soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system, alongside the National Women's Socce ...
References
External links
*
{{Major women's sport leagues in North America
Women's soccer leagues in the United States
Sports leagues established in 2021
2021 establishments in the United States
United Soccer League
Amateur association football competitions