There could soon be a second pro women's soccer league. Could that hurt the NWSL?
There may soon be another professional women’s soccer league in the United States.
The United Soccer League announced this week its intent to obtain Division I status from U.S. Soccer, putting the burgeoning USL Super League on par with the National Women’s Soccer League.
In its announcement, USL unveiled the first eight markets for the league’s inaugural season, which is to kick off next summer. Those initial markets are Charlotte, North Carolina; the Dallas and Fort Worth region in Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona.; Spokane, Washington; Tampa Bay, Florida; and Washington, D.C.
Officials said more may be announced in coming months. There are also plans for expansion in subsequent seasons in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana.; Jacksonville, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; and Oakland, California.
“Today marks a major milestone for the United Soccer League as we take another step in building an integrated women’s soccer network unlike any other,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement. “Our aim is to make the USL Super League globally recognized and admired for its financial stability, operational excellence, community building and high-level competition.”
The announcement came as a surprise to many in the soccer world. The league previously said its Super League would apply for Division II status with a 2023 launch. Now the launch has been delayed a year.
Pre-professional league has three North Jersey teams
It’s expected that this new league with kick off with up to a dozen teams in its inaugural season in August 2024 — and though there are no New Jersey or New York markets flagged in these initial plans, the USL footprint already runs deep in the region in women’s soccer.
In May 2022, the USL launched its pre-professional W League. The goal was to create a playing opportunity for athletes to develop between college and the pros. The W League’s Metropolitan Division has eight teams in the tri-state area, including three in New Jersey. The Jersey teams include Cedar Stars in South Hackensack, Morris Elite SC in Madison and Paisley Athletic in Kearny.
Cedar Stars and Morris Elite have long-established youth programs in their regions. Paisley was founded in 2021 and has already established itself as a force in North Jersey soccer. The roster includes local talent that, during the academic year, may be playing at top college programs in New Jersey and elsewhere.
On their websites, most W League teams reference the USL’s “path to pro” slogan, which aims to create a local, easy-to-navigate pipeline for athletes to make it pro. That’s for both boys and girls.
Soccer academies funneling young talent to the pros is a long established tradition outside the United States. However, in the U.S., the pathway is often criticized as difficult to navigate and exclusive. Critics have said existing American models are convoluted and follow a ‘pay-to-play’ model that, at its worse, widens inequity and limits access.
On the men’s side, USL offers athletes the USL Championship league, which is a Division II league that sits one level below Major League Soccer. Several existing USL Championship league teams are investing in a USL Super League team in their own markets.
Could new league have negative impact for pro women's soccer?
The creation of this new Super League has raised some questions about the future of women's soccer.
On one end, creating more opportunities for women and girls to play a sport at a competitive level should be celebrated. There’s also the reality that the U.S. already has the NWSL — raising questions whether a second Division I league would negatively impact this existing market.
An NWSL spokesperson this week said to The Athletic: “We welcome more opportunities for women to play professional soccer in the United States.” Super League president Amanda Vandervort was also optimistic, telling the outlet: “I think it’s an incredible moment in women’s soccer.”
Though the leagues are not identical — the Super League will follow the international fall-to-summer schedule and will not have a college draft — it’s hard not to compare to two and wonder.
The comparisons will surely continue, especially as we near August 2024.
Women & Sport is a NorthJersey.com column devoted to female athletes from the rec league level to those in college and the pros. If you've got a tip on an athlete from North Jersey who should be noted in the column, no matter how young they are or how old, please drop me a line at anzidei@northjersey.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Could USL Super League hurt the NWSL, women's soccer?
