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No W-League-WPSL Elite League Super Cup on tap, but we can dream

Jeff Kassouf June 15, 2012 12

If you are like me you would far rather see WPSL and the USL W-League settle it’s long standing superiority debate on the field, instead of, say, Twitter. So one’s (read: my) eyes might light up seeing that the WPSL Elite League final four and the W-League final four will be played on the same weekend within driving distance of each other.

Hmmm. Go on…

The W-League final four playoffs will take place from July 27-29 in Ottawa, Ontario. That means the semifinals will be Friday, July 27 and the championship will take place on Sunday, July 29. Across the border, less than five hours down the road in Rochester, N.Y., the WPSL Elite League is slated to host its playoffs at Sahlen’s Stadium. The semifinals will be on Wednesday, July 25 (5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and the championship on Saturday, July 28 at 1 p.m.

And so I ask, is there any better time for a ‘Super (liberal application of the word) Cup’ of North American women’s soccer? I can’t think of one. Give the teams a day or two off to recover and play have the two champions face off either in one of those venues or on neutral ground.

The overwhelming answer from both sides is no surprise: There is no shot at this happening. It’s incredibly unfortunate, given that these sort of coincidences rarely – if ever – happen. Last year, the WPSL final (not Elite League, which didn’t exist at the time) was in Chicago and the W-League final four was in Seattle. Naturally, there are monetary excuses to that.

But this year is just too perfect.

Whether it would be the Pali Blues and Boston Breakers facing off for the ‘Super Cup’ (is that a prediction?) or another pair of teams, this should happen. W-League Commissioner Amanda Duffy reminds me that some college players will be flying straight from Ottawa to their training camps. Darn you, college training camps, always spoiling all the fun.

She said a ‘Super Cup’ of sorts has not been discussed. WPSL Elite League Commissioner Jerry Zanelli said they have proposed crossover games such as a duel of champions to the W-League but that USL wasn’t interested. Either way, it isn’t happening and it’s a darn shame.

Thus begins another year of debating which league is better without actually having teams really play each other (with the exception of a very rare friendly or two).

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POSTED IN » Analysis, W-League, WPSL
About the author: Jeff Kassouf View all posts by Jeff Kassouf

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  • http://twitter.com/Deegley Diane (DeeG)

    Neither of the two leagues want to end up as the loser and appear the “lesser” league. Both have aspirations of starting a pro league ( we’ll see how that goes over during the Summit) and being defeated in a play-off would hurt their ability to garner sponsors, draw fans, etc. I think it would be a great idea from a fan standpoint, but I can’t blame them for wanting to play their cards close.

    • http://www.facebook.com/bigjdunham Joshua Dunham

      The unfortunate thing is that having the leagues think this way, is actually detrimental to the sport.  So rather than working together to create a competition that can help increase the sport’s visibility, they want to compete against each other to prove who has the better model.  The Open Cup has done wonders for visibility of the Men’s game (see Cal FC beating Portland Timbers this year). I just wish the leagues could get past the “my plan is better than your plan” mentality and work on creating something that is good for the whole country.  Just my two cents.

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  • ToSeek

    So far as I know there have only been two matches between WPSL and W-League teams: the Breakers-DCU Women match earlier this year, and the Hall of Fame game between the then-W-League Washington Freedom and the WPSL CFC Passion when Mia Hamm and co. were inducted. Certainly it would be nice to see more, especially ones that count for something.

    • Pali Fan

      I went to a match last night between the Pali Blues (W-league) and San Diego Sea Lions (WPSL).  Pali Blues won 2-1 on 2 second half goals by Liz Bogus.  I think Pali also played the LA Vikings a few days ago, but without their starters.  Last night’s game was a good match.  It started out pretty evenly, but by the end, Pali was clearly dominating.  There was a decent crowd there.  The Sea Lions have a much more professional appearance than Pali, not counting the actual rosters.They had professional looking programs, concessions, signage.  They play in a beautiful stadium on a private high school campus in Del Mar.  I’ve been to several Pali games and those feel like you are attending a high school match.

      • WLeagueFan

        Pretty sure you were watching a “scrimmage” versus a “match” between the two.  

        • Pali Fan

          What is the difference?

          • WLeagueFan

            Not a regularly scheduled league match.   Each team is in a different league – San Diego, WPSL and Pali, WLeague.  Let’s call it a practice game for lack of better term than scrimmage.

          • Pali Fan

            Exhibition match–that is what the Sea Lions called it.  Whatever.  It was a good game.  And I didn’t have to drive 3 hours each way like I normally do to see Pali play.

  • Kt

    Why Wednesday-Saturday and not Friday-Sunday? 

  • Terry Lash

    Great idea Jeff.  Keep pushing it with the leagues.  Could USSF help mediate between the leagues??