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*New York Vendaval [[New York (state)|New York]] (2003)
*New York Vendaval [[New York (state)|New York]] (2003)
*Norcal Shockwaves [[California]] (1998–1999)
*Norcal Shockwaves [[California]] (1998–1999)
*North Shore Girls Soccer Club [[British Columbia]] (2016–2017)
*[[Northampton Laurels]] [[Pennsylvania]] (2006–2008)
*[[Northampton Laurels]] [[Pennsylvania]] (2006–2008)
*Northern California Blues [[California]] (2003–2004)
*Northern California Blues [[California]] (2003–2004)

Revision as of 18:15, 8 December 2021

Women's Premier Soccer League
File:Wpsllogo.png
Founded1998
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Divisions4 regions with 17 conferences and 13 divisions
Number of clubs135
Level on pyramid2 (Provisional)
Current championsAHFC Royals Women
(2021)
Most championshipsCalifornia Storm
(3 titles)
TV partnersEleven Sports
Websitewpslsoccer.com

The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is an amateur women's soccer league in the United States and Canada.[1] It is on the second level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, below National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The WPSL is the longest-running active women's soccer league as it enters its 23rd season in 2021 – the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WPSL is also the largest women's soccer league in the United States, North America and the world with 135 active teams.

The WPSL started as the Western Division of the W-League, before breaking away to form its own league in 1998. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association, an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). WPSL players consists of collegiate and post-collegiate players, who currently or have played across all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Former players of the WPSL have taken their playing careers to the next level by signing professional in the NWSL and top leagues overseas. WPSL Alumnae have also reached international status by making international rosters seen in the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympics. Notable alumnae include Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Heather Mitts, Julie Foudy, Shannon Boxx, and Leslie Osborne.

When Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) suspended play in 2012, WPSL moved forward with its ambitions toward professionalism and created the WPSL Elite League.[2] The Elite League was a pro-am league, with at least four fully professional teams, including three former WPS teams. The Elite league operated for just the 2012 season, disbanding in 2013 with the formation of the NWSL, which the three former WPS teams joined.

In 2021, the WPSL announced its second division, WPSL U21, which is scheduled to begin play in mid-2021.[3]

WPSL champions

Season Champions Runners-up
1998 Silicon Valley Red Devils Auto Trader Select
1999 California Storm San Diego Auto Trader
2000 San Diego W.F.C. California Storm
2001 Ajax of Southern California San Diego W.F.C.
2002 California Storm Ajax America Women
2003 Utah Spiders California Storm
2004 California Storm New England Mutiny
2005 F.C. Indiana California Storm
2006 Long Island Fury River Cities FC
2007 F.C. Indiana New England Mutiny
2008 Ajax America Women Arizona Rush
2009 Long Island Fury Ajax America Women
2010 Boston Aztec Ajax America Women
2011 Orange County Waves Chicago Red Stars
2012 Gulf Coast Texans Boston Aztec
2013 San Diego WFC SeaLions Houston Aces
2014 Beach Futbol Club Houston Aces
2015 Chicago Red Stars Reserves SoCal FC
2016 Boston Breakers Reserves San Diego WFC SeaLions
2017 Fire & Ice SC Gulf Coast Texans
2018 Seattle Sounders Women Pensacola FC Women
2019 Pensacola FC Women Utah Royals FC Reserves
2020 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 No National Champion

Staff

Executive committee

  • Sean Jones – president
  • Rich Sparling – commissioner
  • DeBray Ayala – vice-president
  • Brad Lund – vice-president

Front office

  • Beth Patterson – team services director
  • Nichole Singleton – communications director
  • Jeramie McPeek – social media director
  • Alex Simpson - team services manager
  • Dr. Vytas Ringus – medical director
  • David Simmons – referee coordinator

Associate commissioners

  • Jessica Mendez – east region
  • Kendra Halterman – south region
  • Matt Homonoff – central region
  • Macy Jo Harrison – west region

[4][5]

Former teams

See also

References

  1. ^ "Federal City FC Women bring WPSL to Washington, DC metro area". SoccerWire. May 6, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020. The WPSL is the top women's amateur operating league in the United States. Sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the WPSL is considered the 2nd tier of women's soccer within the United States behind the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
  2. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (February 9, 2012). "WPSL Elite League launches for 2012 with Flash, Breakers, Red Stars, FC Indiana". equalizersoccer.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  3. ^ "WPSL UNVEILS SECOND LEAGUE SET TO COMPETE IN 2021". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Staff Directory". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  5. ^ Scavuzzo, Christine (October 24, 2017). "WPSL's new commissioner Sparling takes over". GoalNation.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "The 2018 year in review: Looking to the future". Chattanooga FC Women. January 16, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
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