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This is the USL Super League: Everything you need to know about the new first-division professional women’s soccer league
The USL Super League kicks off in August, becoming the second first-division women's professional soccer league in the United States.
The USL Super League kicks off in a couple of weeks, bringing an entirely new dimension to women’s professional soccer in the United States.
What is the USL?
The USL Super League is a new, first-division professional women’s soccer league. There will be eight teams competing in its initial season, and they join the National Women’s Soccer League as first-division women’s pro leagues in the U.S.Those teams are:
- Brooklyn FC
- Carolina Ascent FC
- Dallas Trinity FC
- DC Power FC
- Fort Lauderdale United FC
- Lexington SC
- Spokane Zephyr FC
- Tampa Bay Sun FC
How is it different from the NWSL?
As a league operating under the USL, there are established pipelines through the USL W-League and academy clubs. Additionally, there won’t be a college draft and all players will be free agents.Initially, the USL Super League had announced its launch with the intention to be a second-division league before changing course. It was a move made to minimize the potential for club operations that are below professional standard. Principal owners for each club must have a net worth of $15 million as opposed to $7.5 million, and combined net worth of the ownership group must be at least $25 million.
Just three of the league’s teams reside in markets or states where there are currently NWSL teams: Washington D.C., Charlotte, North Carolina and New York. Although it’s worth noting that the North Carolina Courage are located in Cary, NC – a roughly 2.5 hour drive. Similarly, NJ/NY Gotham FC plays its games at RedBull Arena in New Jersey.
Additionally, the Super League will operate without a salary cap in hopes that it can compete on the global market. Currently, the NWSL has a salary cap of $2.75 million per team, but blockbuster signings continue to rise, with a number pushing past the $1 million marker.
The league’s season also runs somewhat opposite to the NWSL. While the NWSL runs from spring to fall, the Super League intends to run a schedule that aligns with the “women's international soccer calendar” from fall to summer.
It’s a similar schedule to that of the Women’s Super League in the UK. Some have speculated that the league will operate as a sort of feeder system for the NWSL, while also offering up more opportunities to play pro soccer in the U.S. Over 150 additional roster spots will be created for professional players in the U.S.
“Today, there are 14 professional women’s soccer teams in the country,” league commissioner Amanda Vandervort told The Athletic. “There’s a delta there that needs to be filled — because if we don’t, we’re gonna fall behind. And last week, the first NWSL signing in the USL Super League was announced, with the Kansas City Current loaning midfielder Sophie Braun to Spokane Zephyr FC. The loan is set to last through the remainder of the NWSL season. Currently, players are not represented through a union, as the USL Players Association does not yet represent the women in the Super League. But Vandervort told The Athletic that she embraces the players’ right to organize.
“We don’t know how the women will choose to organize, so we’re excited about having those conversations with the players when they do organize,” she said. “Obviously, given my experience with FIFPro and that kind of union movement, I’m a big advocate for having players’ voices at the table as we build this league.” Where can I watch? In June, the league announced that it had signed a multi-year deal with Peacock, making it the home of the USL Super League.
All 115 matches will be available to stream on Peacock for fans in the United States. “NBC Sports and Peacock have raised the bar for soccer coverage in the United States, and their commitment to the USL Super League is a testament to what we are building,” Vandervort said in a release. “It affirms the Super League’s integral role in elevating women’s soccer and bringing more opportunities for players, coaches, and fans in the women’s game.”
Play begins on Saturday, Aug. 17 with a 7pm ET matchup between Carolina Ascent FC and DC Power FC. You can view the full schedule here.
