Women's Premier Soccer League
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Confederation | US Soccer |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Divisions | 11 |
| Number of teams | 70 |
| Levels on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | None |
| Relegation to | None |
| Current champions | Gulf Coast Texans (2012) |
| Most championships | California Storm (3 titles) |
| Website | Official site in English |
 WPSL 2013 |
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The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
There are both professional/senior teams and amateur teams in the WPSL. An organization has to choose to be one or the other due to NCAA regulations, since collegiate players cannot play on pro teams.
The WPSL started as the Western Division of the W-League, before breaking away to form its own league in 1997. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
The WPSL is unique in that it is one of the few women's leagues to spawn a men's league, rather than the other way around: the Men's Premier Soccer League, later the National Premier Soccer League, was created as an offshoot of the WPSL in 2003. According to the official WPSL website, the WPSL is the largest (in terms of number of teams) women's soccer league in the world.
When WPS suspended play for the 2012, WPSL moved forward with its ambitions toward professionalism and created the WPSL Elite League.[1] Officially, the Elite League was a pro-am league, though the vast majority of team (including three former WPS teams) were fully professional. At the same time, an U-20 league was also created,[2] further expanding the WPSL structure. Teams in the U-20 will mostly be associated with existing WPSL teams, but some will be stand-alone organizations.
2013 Teams
Pacific Conference
North Division
- California Storm Elk Grove
CA - California Storm Sacramento CA
- Central California HEAT CA
- Elk Grove CA
- North Bay FC Wave CA
- San Francisco Nighthawks CA
- West Coast Wildkatz CA
South Division
- Ajax America Women CA
- Beach Futbol Club CA
- Los Angeles Vikings CA
- San Diego WFC SeaLions CA
Big Sky Conference
North Division
- Phoenix Del Sol
AZ - Real Salt Lake Women
UT - St. George United UT
- Tucson Soccer Academy AZ
- Utah Starzz UT
South Division
- American Eagles Soccer Club
TX - FC Tulsa Spirit
OK - Fort Worth Panthers TX
- Houston Aces TX
- Houston South Select TX
- Oklahoma Football Club OK
- Texas Football Club TX
Northwest Conference
- AC Seattle
WA - Emerald City FC WA
- Eugene Metro Futbol Club
OR - Issaquah Soccer Club WA
- Oregon Rush OR
- Spokane Shine WA
- THUSC Diamonds OR
- Westside Timbers OR
Sunshine Conference
Southeast Conference
- Alabama FC
AL - Georgia Revolution
GA - Gulf Coast Texans
FL - Knoxville Lady Force
TN - MIssissippi Fuego FC
MS
Midwest Conference
- Des Moines Menace
IA - FC Milwaukee Nationals
WI - Fire & Ice FC
IL - Fort Wayne FC
IN - Indiana United IN
- Kansas City Shock
KS - Madison 56ers WI
- Ohio Galaxies
OH - Quad City Eagles IL
Northeast Conference
New England Division
- Boston Aztec
MA - Boston Breakers College Academy (WPSL) MA
- CFC Passion
CT - New England Mutiny MA
- Seacoast United Mariners
NH - Seacoast United Phantoms NH
Mid-Atlantic Division
- Empire United Buffalo
NY - FC Westchester NY
- Syracuse Lady Knights NY
- Tri-City Celtics NY
- United FC Binghamton NY
- Yankee Lady FC CT
Tri-State Division
- Buxmont Torch FC
PA - FC Bucks PA
- FC Lehigh Valley Lady Sonic PA
- Long Island Fury NY
- New Jersey Blaze
NJ - New York Athletic Club NY
South Atlantic Division
- ACF Torino USA
MD - ASA Chesapeake Charge MD
- Lancaster Inferno PA
- Lions Swarm MD
- Philadelphia Fever PA
- Tidewater Sharks
VA
WPSL - League Champions (1998-current)
| Season | Champion | Coach | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Silicon Valley Red Devils | ||
| 1999 | California Storm | ||
| 2000 | San Diego WFC SeaLions | ||
| 2001 | Ajax America Women | ||
| 2002 | California Storm | ||
| 2003 | Utah Spiders | ||
| 2004 | California Storm | ||
| 2005 | F.C. Indiana |  Shek Borkowski |
California Storm |
| 2006 | Long Island Fury |  Paul Riley |
|
| 2007 | F.C. Indiana | Shek Borkowski |
New England Mutiny |
| 2008 | Ajax America Women |  Brian Boswell |
Arizona Rush |
| 2009 | Long Island Fury | Paul Riley |
Ajax America Women |
| 2010 | Boston Aztec | Mike Kersker |
Ajax America Women |
| 2011 | Orange County Waves | Chicago Red Stars | |
| 2012 | Gulf Coast Texans | Aztec MA |
Former Teams
- Albuquerque Crush
(2002) - Albuquerque Lady Asylum NM (2007–2008)
- Arizona Sahuaros (2003)
- Arkansas Comets
AR - Auto Trader Select SC (1998–1999)
- Bay Area Breeze CA
- Brevard County Cocoa Expos FL (2008)
- Central California Gold (2004)
- Clermont Phoenix FL
- Colorado Springs United
CO (2007–2008, Colorado Springs Sabers 2006) - Elk Grove Pride (2002–2005)
- Everton FC America (2005)
- Fort Lauderdale Fusion (2006)
- FC Austin TX
- FC Dallas TX
- FC Indiana (2005–2007)
- F.C. Metro Magic
MO (2009–2010, FC St. Louis 2006-2008) - FC Sacramento Thunder (1998–1999)
- FC St. George UT
- FC Virginia (2006)
- Foothill FC (2000)
- Houston Stars (2003–2005)
- Houston Tornadoes (2003)
- Las Vegas Shooters
(1998–1999, 2001) - Las Vegas Tabagators (2004–2006)
- Maryland Capitols FC MD
- Maryland Pride MD (2004–2007, 2009-2010)
- Massachusetts Stingers MA (2004–2007)
- Memphis Mercury (2006)
- Michigan Phoenix
(2006) - Mississippi Fuego FC U23 MS (2012)
- New England Mutiny Reserves
- New York Vendaval (2003)
- Norcal Shockwaves (1998–1999)
- Northampton Laurels PA (2006–2008)
- Northern California Blues (2003–2004)
- Orlando Falcons FL (2006–2007)
- Ohio Premier Women's SC OH
- PAO ST. Louis MO (2011) no games played
- Phoenix U23 AZ (2012)
- Portland Rain OR
- Real Del Mar (1998)
- Real Shore FC (2007)
- Reno Zephyrs (1999)
- Rhode Island Rays
(2003–2006) - River Cities FC (2006–2007)
- Rochester Reign (2004)
- St. Louis Archers (2005)
- St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite (2009–2010)
- San Francisco Skyhawks (1998–1999)
- San Joaquin Valley Quest (2003)
- Silicon Valley Red Devils (1998–2000)
- Spokane Shine WA (2010-)
- Sonoma County Sol CA (2006–2008)
- Sonoran Thunder (2002–2003)
- Steel City Sparks PA (2004–05)
- Tampa Bay Elite (2006–2007)
- Tennessee Lady Blues (2006)
- Vancouver Angels
(2000) - West Texas Pride F.C. TX
References
- ^ "WPSL Elite League launches for 2012 with Flash, Breakers, Red Stars, FC Indiana". EqualizerSoccer.com. 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^ "THE WOMEN'S PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (WPSL) ANNOUNCED NEW U-20 LEAGUE". wpsl.info. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
External links
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