There are officially two first-division women’s professional soccer leagues in the United States.
On Friday, U.S. Soccer officially sanctioned the USL Super League to launch as a top-flight league in August alongside the National Women’s Soccer League, which has been the only first-division league in the U.S. since kicking off in 2013. The decision was finalized at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
The USL Super League will launch its 2024–25 season with eight teams, the minimum required by U.S. Soccer’s Pro Licensing Standards. In conjunction with the sanctioning news, USLSL announced a franchise in Brooklyn for the inaugural season to reach eight teams. Franchises in Phoenix, Ariz., and Tucson, Ariz., which USLSL previously announced for the inaugural season, are now listed by the league as markets for future seasons.
“This is a tremendous moment for the USL Super League and for women’s sports,” USL Super League president Amanda Vandervort said in a statement. “Receiving Division One sanctioning further showcases the work that our ownership groups, our clubs, and the league are doing to create a professional environment for top-level talent to compete. This is a crucial step toward realizing our vision to be a global leader in women’s soccer on and off the field. We cannot wait to see our clubs take the field when we kick off in August 2024.”
