World Indoor Soccer League Explained

World Indoor Soccer League
Pixels:170
Country:United States
Mexico
Founded:1998
Folded:merged with MISL in 2001
Teams:9
Champions:Dallas Sidekicks

The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States-based indoor soccer league that operated from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.

History

After the demise of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, four of its teams decided to create a new indoor league to be called the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998. The teams complemented their schedules with games against international teams. In 1999, two more former CISL teams (the Houston Hotshots and Monterrey La Raza) joined the league, which then changed its name to World Indoor Soccer League.

The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was formed through a merger between the US-based Premier Soccer Alliance and an English Indoor Football League, resulting in a name change from the original Premier Soccer League Alliance in 1999. Initially, plans included a European Division with teams like London United and Manchester Magic, but this concept was scrapped due to conflicting rules and lack of approval from The Football Association.

In 2000, the World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) considered a groundbreaking move, attempting to become the first U.S. professional sports league to sell its naming rights. The proposed deal would have resulted in a rebranded league, potentially named "The Pepsi World Indoor Soccer League." However, the effort ultimately did not come to fruition.[1]

The WISL folded in December 2001 when Dallas, St. Louis, and San Diego agreed to join the MISL while the remaining teams, the Utah Freezz, the Sacramento Knights and the Houston Hotshots folded.

Champions

Season by Season

SeasonChampionScore / seriesRunner-Up
6 to 2 Sacramento Knights
7 to 6 Dallas Sidekicks
Monterrey La Raza6 to 5 (SO 3-1)Dallas Sidekicks
2-1 San Diego Sockers

By Team

Team Championships Runner Up Champions Runner Up
2 2 1998, 2001 1999, 2000
1 1 1999 1998
1 0 2000
0 1 2001

Annual awards

Most Valuable Player

Goalkeeper of the Year

Coach of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Defender of the Year

Presidents

Gordon Jago 1998–2001

Teams

TeamCity/AreaArena
Arizona ThunderArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Dallas SidekicksDallas, TexasReunion Arena
American Airlines Center (One Game)
Houston HotshotsThe Summit
Reliant Arena
Monterrey La RazaMonterrey, Nuevo León, MexicoGimnasio Nuevo León
Portland PythonsRose Garden
Sacramento KnightsSacramento, CaliforniaARCO Arena
San Diego SockersSan Diego Sports Arena
St. Louis SteamersFamily Arena
Utah FreezzE-Center

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soccer league to sell naming rights . 2008-07-26 . 2000-05-12. Dallas Business Journal . Cawley . Rusty.