| USL W League | |
| Organiser: | United Soccer League |
| Country: | United States |
| Confed: | CONCACAF |
| First: | 2022 |
| Divisions: | 10 divisions |
| Teams: | 80 |
| Levels: | 4 (effective) |
| Champions: | North Carolina Courage U23 (2024) |
| Most Successful Club: | North Carolina Courage U23 Indy Eleven Tormenta FC (1 title) |
| Tv: | SportsEngine Play YouTube |
| Current: | 2024 USL W League season |
| American: | yes |
The USL W League (USLW) is a women's soccer league in the United States. It began play in May 2022 and follows the USL W-League, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015.[1] It is currently not sanctioned by the US Soccer Federation, meaning it doesn't have a position in the US soccer pyramid.
The league was originally announced in 2021 by the United Soccer League 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.[2] [3] At launch, the USL said the inaugural season would include at least 30 teams.[4] The inaugural season began on May 6, 2022 with 44 teams across 20 states.[5] [6] 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.[7]
| Conference | Division | Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | Head coach | Affiliate team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Division | AC Connecticut women[8] | Newtown, Connecticut | Trinity Health Stadium | 5,500 | 2011 | 2022 | vacant | AC Connecticut (USL 2) Hartford Athletic (USL Championship) | |
| Cedar Stars Academy women[9] | Teaneck, New Jersey | Capelli Sport Complex | 500 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Cedar Stars Rush (USL 2) | ||
| Long Island Rough Riders women[10] | Uniondale, New York | Mitchel Athletic Complex | 1,000 | 1995 | 2022 | Matt Lannon[11] | Long Island Rough Riders (USL 2) | ||
| Manhattan SC women[12] | New York, New York | Icahn Stadium | 5,000 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Manhattan SC (USL 2) | ||
| Morris Elite SC women[13] | Union, New Jersey | Union High School | unknown | 2021 | 2022 |  Stephanie Savino[14] | Morris Elite SC (USL 2) | ||
| Paisley Athletic FC[15] | Kearny, New Jersey | Harvey Field Complex | 2021 | 2023 | vacant | ||||
| Westchester Flames women[16] | New Rochelle, New York | City Park Stadium | 1,845 | 1999 | 2022 | vacant | Westchester Flames (USL 2) | ||
| Mid Atlantic Division | Charlottesville Blues FC[17] | Charlottesville, Virginia | TBD | 2023 | 2024 | TBD | None | ||
| Christos FC women[18] | Baltimore, Maryland | Moose Athletic Club | 1997 | 2022 | vacant | Christos FC (USL 2) | |||
| Eagle FC women[19] | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Mountain View High School | 1976 | 2022 | vacant | Eagle FC | |||
| Lancaster Inferno FC[20] | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Pucillo Field | 700 | 2008 | 2024 | Stephanie Cleaves | |||
| Northern Virginia FC women[21] | Leesburg, Virginia | Evergreen Sportsplex | 1,500 | 2021 | 2022 | Vacant | Northern Virginia FC (USL 2) | ||
| Patuxent Football Athletics women[22] | Patuxent, Maryland | Calverton School | 2018 | 2022 | vacant | Patuxent Football Athletics (USL 2) | |||
| Richmond Ivy SC[23] | Richmond, Virginia | City Stadium | 6,000 | 2023 | 2024 | Kimmy Cummings | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | ||
| Virginia Marauders FC women[24] | Winchester, Virginia | Winchester Sportsplex | 2023 | 2023 | Jane Dawber | Virginia Marauders FC (USL 2) | |||
| South Atlantic Division | Charlotte Eagles women[25] | Charlotte, North Carolina | Matthews Sportsplex | 5,000 | 2000 | 2024 | vacant | Charlotte Eagles (USL 2) | |
| Fayetteville Fury[26] | Fayetteville, North Carolina | TBD | 2021 | 2024 | TBD | Fayetteville Fury (NISL) | |||
| North Carolina Courage U23[27] | Cary, North Carolina | WakeMed Soccer Park | 2022 | 2022 | vacant | North Carolina Courage (NWSL) | |||
| North Carolina Fusion U23 women[28] | Browns Summit, North Carolina | Macpherson Stadium | 3,000 | 2018 | 2022 | vacant | Salem City FC (USL 2) | ||
| South Carolina United Bantams women[29] | Columbia, South Carolina | Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Center | 2,000 | 2012 | 2022 | Sandy Burris[30] | South Carolina United Bantams (USL 2) | ||
| South Georgia Tormenta FC | Statesboro, Georgia | Optim Sports Medicine Field | 5,300 | 2021 | 2022 | Jim Robbins[31] | Tormenta FC (USL 1) | ||
| Carolina Ascent FC (W League)[32] | Charlotte, North Carolina | American Legion Memorial Stadium | 10,500 | 2023 | 2024 | TBD | Carolina Ascent FC (USL Super League) | ||
| Wake FC women[33] | Holly Springs, North Carolina | Ting Stadium | 1,800 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Wake FC (USL 2) | ||
| Great Lakes Division | AFC Ann Arbor women[34] | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Hollway Field, Ann Arbor | 1,300 | 2014 | 2022 | vacant | AFC Ann Arbor (USL 2) | |
| Cleveland Force SC women[35] | Cleveland, Ohio | DiSanto Field | 2,400 | 2018 | 2023 | vacant | Cleveland Force SC (USL 2) | ||
| Detroit City FC women[36] | Hamtramck, Michigan | Keyworth Stadium | 7,933 | 2012 | 2022 | Sam Piraine | Detroit City FC (USL Championship) | ||
| Flint City AFC[37] | Flint, Michigan | Atwood Stadium | 11,000 | 2022 | 2022 | Aaron Roy[38] | Flint City Bucks (USL 2) | ||
| Kalamazoo FC women[39] | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Mayors Riverfront Park | 2016 | 2022 | vacant | Kalamazoo FC (USL 2) | |||
| Michiana FC Lionesses[40] | Granger, Indiana | TBD | 2019 | 2024 | Shek Borkowski | Michiana FC Lions (USL 2) | |||
| Midwest United FC women[41] | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Aquinas College | 1,500 | 2016 | 2022 | vacant | Midwest United FC (USL 2) | ||
| Heartland Division | Bavarian United SC women[42] | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Heartland Value Fund Stadium | 2,000 | 2011 | 2023 | vacant | Bavarian United SC (USL 2) | |
| Chicago City SC women[43] | Chicago, Illinois | ITW David Speer Academy | 2013 | 2022 | vacant | Chicago City SC (USL 2) | |||
| Chicago Dutch Lions FC women[44] | Lisle, Illinois | Benedictine University Stadium | 3,000 | 2020 | 2022 | vacant | Chicago Dutch Lions FC (USL 2) | ||
| Minnesota Aurora FC[45] | Eagan, Minnesota | TCO Stadium | 5,600 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | |||
| River Light FC women[46] | Aurora, Illinois | TBD | 2020 | 2024 | TBD | River Light FC (USL 2) | |||
| RKC Third Coast women[47] | Racine, Wisconsin | Pritchard Park Multi-Purpose Field | 1,534 | 2023 | 2023 | John Burke[48] | RKC Third Coast (USL 2) | ||
| Rochester FC women[49] | Rochester, Minnesota | Rochester Regional Stadium | 5,000 | 2018 | 2023 | vacant | Rochester FC (USL 2) | ||
| Valley Division | Indy Eleven women[50] | Indianapolis, Indiana | Grand Park | 1,000 | 2021 | 2022 | Paul Dolinsky[51] | Indy Eleven (USL Championship) | |
| Lexington SC women[52] | Lexington, Kentucky | Bell Soccer Complex | 3,370 | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | Lexington SC (USL Championship) | ||
| Kings Hammer FC women[53] | Cincinnati, Ohio | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Kings Hammer FC (USL 2) | ||||
| Racing Louisville FC Academy[54] | Louisville, Kentucky | Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center | 2020 | 2022 | vacant | Racing Louisville FC (NWSL) | |||
| St. Charles FC women[55] | St. Charles, Missouri | Lutheran High School | 2020 | 2023 | vacant | St. Charles FC (USL 2) | |||
| South Central Division | Asheville City SC women[56] | Asheville, North Carolina | Greenwood Field | 3,000 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Asheville City SC (USL 2) | |
| Athens FC[57] | Athens, Georgia | TBD | 1972 | 2024 | TBD | Athens FC (USL2) | |||
| Birmingham Legion WFC[58] | Birmingham, Alabama | Dunnavant Valley Fields – Field Four | 2023 | 2023 | vacant | Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship) | |||
| Chattanooga Red Wolves SC women | Chattanooga, Tennessee | CHI Memorial Stadium | 5,500 | 2019 | 2022 | Luke Winter[59] | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL 1) | ||
| Greenville Liberty SC | Greenville, South Carolina | Paladin Stadium | 10,000 | 2021 | 2022 | Julie Carlson[60] | Greenville Triumph SC (USL 1) | ||
| Southern Soccer Academy women[61] | Marietta, Georgia | Marathon Soccer Park | 1,000 | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Southern Soccer Academy (USL 2) | ||
| Tennessee SC women[62] | Brentwood, Tennessee | Ravenwood High School | 2012 | 2022 | Dalton Kaufman[63] | Tennessee SC (USL 2) | |||
| Southeast Division | Brevard SC Riptide[64] | Melbourne, Florida | Melbourne Central Catholic High School | 2023 | 2024 | Christofer Felber | Brevard SC (USL2) | ||
| Brooke House FC[65] | Maitland, Florida | TBD | 2022 | 2024 | Lawrie Dudfield | Brooke House FC (USL2) | |||
| Florida Elite Soccer Academy women[66] | Mandarin High School Stadium | 1,000 | 2014 | 2022 | vacant | Florida Elite Soccer Academy | |||
| Miami AC women[67] | Miami, Florida | Miami Dade College | 2021 | 2022 | vacant | Miami AC | |||
| Palm City Americanas[68] | Palm City, Florida | Football Farm | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | ||||
| Swan City SC women[69] | Lakeland, Florida | Lake Myrtle Sports Complex | 1,500 | 2016 | 2023 | vacant | Swan City SC | ||
| Tampa Bay United SC women[70] | Tampa, Florida | Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay | 300[71] | 2011 | 2022 | vacant | Tampa Bay United SC | ||
| TLH Reckoning[72] | Tallahassee, Florida | Gene Cox Stadium | 5,500 | 2023 | 2024 | TBD | None | ||
| Lone Star Division | AC Houston Sur women[73] | Houston, Texas | The Village School | 2021 | 2024 | vacant | AC Houston Sur (USL2) | ||
| AHFC Royals women | Houston, Texas | Campbell Road Sports Park | 2017 | 2024 | vacant | AHFC Royals (USL2) | |||
| Challenge SC women | Tomball, Texas | TBD | 1987 | 2024 | vacant | ||||
| Lonestar SC women | Austin, Texas | TBD | 2004 | 2024 | vacant | ||||
| San Antonio Athenians SC[74] | San Antonio, Texas | Soccer Central | 2016 | 2024 | vacant | ||||
| Northwest Division | Capital FC Atletica[75] | Salem, Oregon | John Chambers Field | 500 | 2017 | 2023 | vacant | Capital FC | |
| Lane United FC women | Eugene, Oregon | New Civic Stadium | 2,500 | 2013 | 2023 | vacant | Lane United FC | ||
| FC Olympia women | Olympia, Washington | A G West Black Hills High School | 1,000 | 2021 | 2023 | vacant | FC Olympia | ||
| Tacoma Galaxy[76] | Tacoma, Washington | Bellarmine Preparatory School | 2024 | 2024 | TBD | Tacoma Stars (USL2) | |||
| United PDX women[77] | Portland, Oregon | Westside Christian High School | 2018 | 2023 | Eric McClellan[78] | United PDX | |||
| Nor Cal Division | Academica SC women[79] [80] | Turlock, California | Academica Field | 600 | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | Academica SC | |
| California Storm (W League)[81] | Sacramento, California | Davis Legacy Soccer Club | TBA | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | California Storm | ||
| Marin FC Siren | Greenbrae, California | TBA | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | Marin FC | |||
| Oakland Soul SC[82] | Oakland, California | Merritt College Soccer Stadium | 3,451 | 2022 | 2023 | Jessica Clinton | Oakland Roots SC | ||
| Olympic Club SC women | San Francisco, California | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | Olympic Club | ||||
| Pleasanton RAGE | Pleasanton, California | Stanford Medicine Sports Complex | TBA | 2022 | 2023 | vacant | |||
| San Francisco Glens women[83] | San Francisco, California | Skyline College | 1,000 | 2022 | 2023 | Mike Sharabi[84] | San Francisco Glens | ||
| Stockton Cargo SC[85] [86] | Stockton, California | San Joaquin Delta College Soccer Field | TBA | 2021 | 2023 | vacant | |||
| Mountain Division | Albion SC Colorado[87] | Lafayette, Colorado | TBD | 2021 | 2024 | vacant | Albion SC Boulder County (USL2) | ||
| Colorado International Soccer Academy | Parker, Colorado | TBD | 2012 | 2024 | vacant | Colorado International Soccer Academy (USL2) | |||
| Colorado Storm[88] | Denver, Colorado | 1967 | 2024 | TBD | |||||
| Flatirons Rush | Arvada, Colorado | TBD | 2019 | 2024 | vacant | Flatirons Rush (USL2) | |||
| Northern Colorado Rain FC[89] [90] | Windsor, Colorado | TicketSmarter Stadium | 6,000 | 2023 | 2024 | TBD | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL1) |
| Playoff champions | Regular season champions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | South Georgia Tormenta FC[102] | Minnesota Aurora FC | |
| 2023 | Indy Eleven[103] | Minnesota Aurora FC | |
| 2024 | North Carolina Courage U23[104] | Florida Elite Soccer Academy |
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | South Georgia Tormenta FC[105] | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Minnesota Aurora FC[106] | TCO Stadium | 6,489 | |
| 2023 | Indy Eleven[107] | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | North Carolina Courage U23[108] | IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium | 5,419 | |
| 2024 | North Carolina Courage U23 | 3–2 | Colorado Storm | WRAL Soccer Park |
| width=5% | Season | width=15% | MVP | width=14% | Golden Boot | width=14% | Golden Glove | width=14% | Assist Champion | width=14% | Coach of the Year | width=14% | Young Player of the Year | width=14% | Defensive Player of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Amy Andrews (Tormenta FC)[109] | Amy Andrews (Tormenta FC)[110] | Sydney Martinez (Tormenta FC) | Treva Aycock (Southern Soccer Academy)[111] | Nicole Lukic (Minnesota Aurora FC)[112] | Christian Brathwaite (Greenville Liberty SC)[113] | |||||||||
| 2023 | Nádia Gomes (San Francisco Glens SC)[114] | Baylee DeSmit (Christos FC)[115] | Bailey Herfurth (Tampa Bay United) | Katie Shea Collins (Tennessee SC)[116] | Mia Oliaro (North Carolina Courage U23)[117] | Michele Krzisnik (Flint City AFC) | |||||||||
| 2024 | Anna Haddock (Tennessee SC)[118] | Luciana Setteducate (Long Island Rough Riders)[119] | Gabrielle Schriver (Detroit City FC)[120] | Stephanie Cleaves (Lancaster Inferno)[121] | Abby Droner (Paisley Athletic FC)[122] | Georgia Brown (Florida Elite Soccer Academy)[123] |