On the verge of the Women’s Premier Soccer League Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas this weekend, it is an appropriate time to take a look at the landscape of division two women’s soccer in the United States. The W-League will enter 2011 with a reduced number of teams, 27, while the WPSL goes into 2011 with 53 teams.
Of note in the WPSL is the addition of the Bay Area Sol and and Orange County Sol in the West Region, as well as long-time W-League model franchise Tampa Bay Hellenic jumping over to WPSL.
Of note in the W-League is western expansion (LA Strikers and Victoria Highlanders) as well as the removal of the Washington Freedom Futures. A new ownership group has bought into the D.C.-area market, but that group has nothing to do with the Freedom. Per the public document from the 2011 NSCAA Convention, the team is being referred to as Washington FC. However, it is unclear whether or not that will be the teams official name. The W-League has not yet revealed its conference and divisional alignment, although the Midwest Division has dissolved.
Here is how everything breaks down:
W-League:
Atlanta Silverbacks
Charlotte Lady Eagles
Colorado Force
Colorado Rush
Dayton Dutch Lions
Fredericksburg Impact
Hampton Roads Piranhas
Hamilton Avalanche
LA Strikers
Laval Comets
London Gryphons
Long Island Rough Riders
New Jersey Rangers
New Jersey Wildcats
New York Magic
North Jersey Valkyries
Northern Virginia Majestics
Ottawa Fury
Pali Blues
Quebec City Admiral
Rochester Ravens
Santa Clarita Blue Heat
Seattle Sounders
Toronto Lady Lynx
Vancouver Whitecaps
Victoria Highlanders
Washington FC
WPSL:
West Region: Bay Area Sol, Clovis Sidekicks, North Bay Wave, Portland Rain, Sacramento Storm, San Francisco Nighthawks, Spokane Widows, Ajax America Women, Claremont Stars, LAFC Chelsea, Orange County Sol, San Diego Sea Lions, Ventura County
South Region: Brandon FC, FSA Freedom, Miami Kickers, Palm Beach United, South Florida Strikers, Tampa Bay Hellenic
East Region: Albany Alleycats, ASA Chesapeake Charge, Boston Breakers Reserves, Boston Aztec 23, Buxmont Torch, Connecticut Passion, Jersey Select, Long Island Fury, Millburn Magic, New England Mutiny, New York AC, Seacoast United SC, SoccerPlus CT Reds, South Jersey United
Midwest Region: Carmel United, Chicago Eclipse, Classics Hammers FC, FC Metro Magic, FC Milwaukee, Fort Wayne FC, Iowa Rush, Madison 56ers, Ohio Premier, St. Louis Scott Gallagher, St. Paul/Minneapolis
Southwest Region: Arizona Rush, FC St. George, Salt Lake City Sparta, So. Cal Rush, Utah Starzz, Fort Worth Panthers, Houston South Select, Oklahoma Alliance, Tulsa Spirit
