NWSL Rival League to Launch in At Least 8 U.S. Markets

A new women’s soccer league is about to give the NWSL a run for its money.

The USL Super League has announced the initial eight geographic markets for its first season, which will kick off in August, 2024.

“The USL Super League will sit at the top of our women’s pyramid with strong ownership groups, modern stadiums, and passionate fans that will deliver immediate viability and long-term sustainability,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. 

The league will seek first-division status through U.S. Soccer’s sanctioning process — which would put it on par with the National Women’s Soccer League. The USL operates multiple other leagues, including the second-division men’s league, the USL Championship.

The USL Super League will establish teams in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lexington, Phoenix, Spokane, Tampa Bay, Tucson, and Washington, D.C. The league has also tapped Chattanooga, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Madison, and Oakland for future years, pending stadium projects in those cities.

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“The USL Super League helps address the opportunity gap between men’s and women’s professional soccer in the United States,” the league said in a statement. “There are currently 101 professional men’s soccer teams and 12 professional women’s soccer teams in the United States.”

Those figures will change soon: The NWSL is adding teams in Salt Lake City and the Bay Area, with Boston reportedly on the horizon. Meanwhile, MLS is reportedly set to announce a new team in San Diego.