WPSL PRO explained

American:yes
Organiser:Women's Premier Soccer League
Founded:2023
Country:United States
Confed:CONCACAF
Teams:12
Levels:Division III

The WPSL PRO is a planned professional women's soccer league at the third level of the United States league system, setting two levels below the National Women's Soccer League and USL Super League.

History

Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced the formation of the WPSL PRO on February 8, 2023. The league is planned as a Division III Professional League, that will start in 2025. The WPSL announced that WPSL PRO will help provide new avenues of development for players, coaches, and staff. The league plans for ten teams the first year, with a goal of 24 teams by 2030.[1]

In August 2023, WPSL PRO announced they had received their first five letters of intent (LOIs). The teams were Oklahoma City FC, Sioux Falls City FC,[2] SouthStar FC, Austin Rise FC, and The Town FC.[3] In February 2024, Georgia Impact FC signed their LOI, becoming the sixth team to do so. With Georgia Impact FC joining WPSL PRO, it will become the first team with a youth to professional pipeline in the league. In addition, by becoming the sixth team, Georgia Impact FC puts the WPSL PRO in a position to meet the minimal sanctioning guidelines.[4] Later in February 2024, AC Houston Sur signed a LOI with WPSL PRO, becoming the seventh overall team and third team from Texas to commit to the new league.[5] Two days later, WPSL PRO announced the eighth team has signed the LOI, welcoming Dakota Fusion FC to the league. Dakota Fusion FC is the first team to announce they would officially start in the 2026 season.[6] In July 2024, WPSL PRO announced they had received their ninth LOI from a group led by Gina Prodan Kelly to set up a team in Northeast Ohio.[7] In August 2024, WPSL PRO received their tenth LOI from Soda City FC, announcing their intent to bring a professional women's soccer team to South Carolina.[8] In September 2024, WPSL Pro announced three more LOIs, the first from Wichita, Kansas, the second Indios Denver FC from Denver, Colorado, and the third from Southern California.[9] [10] [11]

Teams

Current Teams

Teams planned to launch in the following markets for the 2025 WPSL PRO League season.[12]

TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoiningHead coach
AC Houston SurHouston, Texas20212025Jonathan Giraldo
Austin Rise FCAustin, Texas6,00020232025 Rogerio Celaya
Georgia Impact FCAtlanta, GeorgiaTommy Baker Field2025 Robert Roddie
Indios Denver FCDenver, Colorado20192025
Northeast OhioCleveland, Ohio20242025
Oklahoma City FCOklahoma City, Oklahoma20072025 Daniel Gibson
Sioux Falls City FCSioux Falls, South DakotaBob Young Field20222025 Dale Weiler
SoCal WPSL ProSouthern California20242025
Soda City FCColumbia, South Carolina20182025
SouthStar FCAddison, TexasMean Green Soccer Stadium20192025 Casey Loyd
The Town FCMoraga, CaliforniaSaint Mary's Stadium2025
Wichita WPSL PROWichita, Kansas20242025

Location map

League leadership

TitleName
PresidentSean Jones
Vice presidentDeBray Ayala
Vice presidentBrad Lund
CommissionerKendra Halterman

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The WPSL announces new professional Division III women's soccer league . February 28, 2023 . Women's Premier Soccer League . August 30, 2024.
  2. News: . August 23, 2024 . Sioux Falls City FC joins professional league . Dakota News Now . August 30, 2024.
  3. Web site: WPSL Pro moves into next phase with five teams signing LOIs . August 22, 2023 . Women's Premier Soccer League . August 30, 2024.
  4. Web site: WPSL PRO: Georgia Impact submits LOI . February 6, 2024 . Women's Premier Soccer League . August 30, 2024.
  5. Web site: AC Houston Sur expands WPSL PRO's reach in Texas as third club to submit LOI ahead of 2025 Launch . February 20, 2024 . WPSL Pro . August 30, 2024.
  6. News: Ostler . Gabriel . February 29, 2024 . Dakota Fusion FC Looks to Bring Professional Women's Sports to Fargo-Moorhead . Valley News . Fargo, North Dakota . August 30, 2024.
  7. Web site: WPSL Pro moves into Northeast Ohio ahead of 2025 launch . July 11, 2024 . WPSL Pro . August 30, 2024.
  8. Web site: Pro's tenth LOI market widens league footprint on Atlantic Coast . August 23, 2024 . WPSL Pro . August 30, 2024.
  9. Web site: 2024-09-04 . WPSL PRO receives official Letter of Inten from sports investment group in Wichita. 2024-09-12 . WPSL PRO . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2024-09-12 . WPSL PRO secures Denver market with twelfth LOI submission . 2024-09-12 . WPSL PRO . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2024-09-24 . THE LOI MARKET REACH EXPANDS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR WPSL PRO . 2024-10-01 . WPSL PRO . en-US.
  12. Web site: Teams . WPSL Pro . August 30, 2024.