| American: | yes |
| Organiser: | United Soccer League |
| First: | 2024–25 |
| Country: | United States |
| Confed: | CONCACAF |
| Teams: | 8 |
| Levels: | Division I |
| Tv: | Peacock |
| Current: | 2024–25 season |
The USL Super League (USLS) is a professional women's soccer league in the highest level of the United States league system, alongside the National Women's Soccer League. Organized by the United Soccer League (USL), it operates as its premier league for women above the pre-professional USL W League. The league consists of eight clubs who annually play four round-robins – two in the fall and two in the spring – to earn four places in a playoff tournament that determines the league's champion. Additional clubs are expected to join the league in the future. Clubs in the league have no cap on salaries or squad sizes, while minimum salaries are around US$35,000 to 37,000. There is no draft system, and squads are primarily built with free agents. The league's matches are streamed nationally on Peacock.
The USLS was established in September 2021 as part of an effort to establish a youth-to-pro pathway for women's players within the USL system. Initially planned as a division two league, numerous USL clubs explored fielding women's teams in the league, with eight markets being decided upon. The USL would later successfully seek division one sanctioning by U.S. Soccer, marking the first time that two leagues occupied the top tier of the United States women's soccer league system. Its inaugural 2024–25 season commenced on August 17.
USL announced the formation of the Super League on September 21, 2021.[1] [2] Along with the pre-professional USL W League, which started in 2022, the USLS is part of the creation of a full pathway for women's soccer.[3] [4] Amanda Vandervort, former Chief Women’s Football Officer for FIFPro, the global player’s association, was appointed League President on October 12, 2021.[5]
In May 2022, United Soccer League announced that the Super League schedule will align with the "women’s international soccer calendar" with seasons running from August to June in order to "drive increased value."[6] To attempt to avoid the worst of winter weather, a mid-season break is planned.[7] The league said it planned to field 12 teams in the inaugural season.[7]
On January 31, 2022, MLS club D.C. United reversed their decision in establishing a club for the inaugural USL W League 2022 season, instead reportedly looking to join the USLS in the future.[8] On July 12, 2022, Santa Barbara Sky was announced as a USL expansion club, aiming to have a professional men's team in USL League One and a professional women's team.[9] On July 14, 2022, the USL announced a partnership with USL NOLA, a group which aims to bring a USL Championship team to the city by 2025 and a USLS team to New Orleans, Louisiana in the future.[10] On August 30, 2022, the USL announced that the JAXUSL ownership and executive group had acquired the rights to a USL Championship franchise in Jacksonville, Florida, to begin play by 2025 and a USLS team to begin play in the future.[11] On October 18, 2022, USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC announced their intentions to construct a new soccer-specific stadium and accompanying training facilities that would host their men's team and a potential professional women's soccer team.[12] On November 7, 2022, USL League Two club Real Central New Jersey announced that they and the USL were exploring the establishment of a team in the Super League.[13] On December 8, 2022, it was announced that USL League Two club Lane United FC acquired exclusive rights to pursue a Super League franchise in Lane County, Oregon.[14]
On May 16, 2023, USL Super League announced the initial eight markets that would be participating in their inaugural season, with an additional five that would be joining in later seasons, pending stadium projects. They also announced that they would be intending to launch as a first division league, as opposed to second division as had been previously announced.[15] The proposed divisional change would increase the minimum costs and standards for teams, market sizes, and staff, and would make the USL Super League the second top-division professional women's soccer league in the United States alongside the National Women's Soccer League.
In February 2024, the Super League announced that it had been granted Division I status by U.S. Soccer.[16] It also announced that a club based in Brooklyn, N.Y. would join the league beginning in 2024.[17] The league also updated the teams planned to participate in the inaugural season and those that were planned for future expansion.[18]
The league debuted on August 17, 2024 with two matches. In the first game, Carolina Ascent FC defeated DC Power FC 1-0. Vicky Bruce scored the first goal in league history in the 27th minute. In the second, Fort Lauderdale United FC tied Spokane Zephyr FC 1-1.[19] [20]
The Super League schedule will run from "fall to summer", with the first season set to begin in August 2024.[21] This schedule is in line with many international leagues but is different than other American leagues which run from spring to fall. The Super League will not use a college draft.[2]
Teams launched in the following markets for the 2024–25 USL Super League season.
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | Head coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn FC | Brooklyn, New York | ||||||
| Carolina Ascent FC | Charlotte, North Carolina | Philip Poole[22] | |||||
| Dallas Trinity FC | Dallas, Texas | Cotton Bowl Stadium | Pauline MacDonald[23] | ||||
| DC Power FC | Washington, D.C. | Audi Field |  Frédéric Brillant[24] | ||||
| Fort Lauderdale United FC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida[25] | Training Facility at NSU | Tyrone Mears[26] | ||||
| Lexington SC | Lexington, Kentucky |  Michael Dickey[27] | |||||
| Spokane Zephyr FC | Spokane, Washington | One Spokane Stadium | Jo Johnson[28] | ||||
| Tampa Bay Sun FC | Tampa, Florida | Riverfront Stadium[29] |  Denise Schilte-Brown[30] |
The following teams are expected to join the league pending completion of stadium construction or upgrade projects.
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, Indiana | Eleven Park (planned) | ||||
| Sporting Club Jacksonville | |||||
| Madison, Wisconsin | |||||
| USL Palm Beach[31] | |||||
| USL Arkansas | USL Arkansas Stadium | ||||
| East Ridge, Tennessee | |||||
| Oakland Soul SC | |||||
| Phoenix, Arizona | |||||
| Tucson, Arizona | |||||
On June 13, 2024, the league partnered with Peacock, making it the league's official streaming platform. This multi-year agreement expands the USL's partnership with NBCUniversal, allowing fans to stream all USL Super League matches on Peacock and enhancing youth and amateur sports coverage through NBC Sports Next's SportsEngine Play.[32]
| Title | Name | Years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Amanda Vandervort | 2021–present | |
| Vice president[33] | Missy Price | 2022–present | |
| Vice president of operations[34] | Carrie Taylor | 2023–present |