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WPSL PRO

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WPSL PRO
Organizing bodyWomen's Premier Soccer League
Founded2023
First season2026 (proposed)
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramidDivision II (proposed)
Websitewpslpro.com

The WPSL PRO is a planned professional women's soccer league at the second level of the United States league system, setting one level below the National Women's Soccer League and USL Super League.

History

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Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced the formation of the WPSL PRO on February 8, 2023. The league was planned as a Division III Professional League, that would start in 2025. The WPSL announced that WPSL PRO will help provide new avenues of development for players, coaches, and staff. The league plans for ten teams the first year, with a goal of 24 teams by 2030.[1]

In August 2023, WPSL PRO announced they had received their first five letters of intent (LOIs). The teams were Oklahoma City FC, Sioux Falls City FC,[2] SouthStar FC, Austin Rise FC, and The Town FC.[3] In February 2024, Georgia Impact FC signed their LOI, becoming the sixth team to do so. With Georgia Impact FC joining WPSL PRO, it will become the first team with a youth to professional pipeline in the league. In addition, by becoming the sixth team, Georgia Impact FC puts the WPSL PRO in a position to meet the minimal sanctioning guidelines.[4] Later in February 2024, AC Houston Sur signed a LOI with WPSL PRO, becoming the seventh overall team and third team from Texas to commit to the new league.[5] Two days later, WPSL PRO announced the eighth team has signed the LOI, welcoming Dakota Fusion FC to the league. Dakota Fusion FC is the first team to announce they would officially start in the 2026 season.[6] In July 2024, WPSL PRO announced they had received their ninth LOI from a group led by Gina Prodan Kelly to set up a team in Northeast Ohio.[7] In August 2024, WPSL PRO received their tenth LOI from Soda City FC, announcing their intent to bring a professional women's soccer team to South Carolina.[8] In September 2024, WPSL Pro announced three more LOIs, the first from Wichita, Kansas, the second Indios Denver FC from Denver, Colorado, and the third from Southern California.[9][10][11] On January 8, 2025 WPSL Pro announced a 14th team had singed a letter of intent. Northern Colorado Rain FC signed the LOI with plans to start in the WPSL Pro league in 2026.[12] On March 12, 2025, WPSL Pro announced Real Central NJ had announced they would join the league for the 2027 season.[13][14] In April 2025, Cleveland Soccer Group announced that they would join WPSLPro after not being selected as an expansion city for the National Women's Soccer League. This makes Cleveland the 16th team to announce their intention to join the league.[15]

Division II

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In April 2025 WPSL announced that WPSL Pro would launch in 2026 as a Division II league instead of the originally planned Division III.[16][17]

Teams

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Current teams

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Teams planned to launch in the following markets for the 2026 WPSL PRO League season.[18]

Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Head coach
AC Houston Sur Houston, Texas The Village School 250 2021 2026 United States Jonathan Giraldo
Austin Rise FC Austin, Texas House Park 6,000 2023 2026 Mexico Rogerio Celaya
Cleveland Pro Soccer Cleveland, Ohio South Gateway Stadium 10,000 2025 2026
Dakota Fusion FC Moorhead, Minnesota Jim Gotta Stadium 3,000 2016 2026
Georgia Impact SC Atlanta, Georgia Tommy Baker Field 4,000 2024 2026 Scotland Robert Roddie
Indios Denver FC Denver, Colorado Pinnacle Athletic Complex 2,000 2019 2026
Northern Colorado Rain FC Windsor, Colorado TicketSocket Park 6,500 2024 2026
Oklahoma City FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mustang High School 600 2007 2026 United States Daniel Gibson
Sioux Falls City FC Sioux Falls, South Dakota Bob Young Field 5,000 2022 2026 United States Dale Weiler
SoCal WPSL Pro Southern California 2024 2026
Soda City FC Columbia, South Carolina WC Hawkins Stadium Irmo 3,000 2018 2026
SouthStar FC Addison, Texas Mean Green Soccer Stadium 1,500 2019 2026 United States Casey Loyd
The Town FC Moraga, California Saint Mary's Stadium 5,500 2024 2026
FC Wichita Wichita, Kansas Stryker Soccer Complex 6,100 2024 2026

Future teams

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Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining
Real Central NJ Lawrence Township, New Jersey Ben Cohen Field 1,000 2000 2027

Location map

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WPSL PRO is located in the United States
AC Houston Sur
AC Houston Sur
Georgia Impact SC
Georgia Impact SC
Indios Denver FC
Indios Denver FC
Northern Colorado Rain FC
Northern Colorado Rain FC
WPSL SoCal
WPSL SoCal
Soda City FC
Soda City FC
SouthStar FC
SouthStar FC
WPSL PRO
Current club Future club

League leadership

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Title Name
President Sean Jones
Vice president DeBray Ayala
Vice president Brad Lund
Commissioner Kendra Halterman

References

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  1. ^ "The WPSL announces new professional Division III women's soccer league". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 28, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Sioux Falls City FC joins professional league". Dakota News Now. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "WPSL Pro moves into next phase with five teams signing LOIs". Women's Premier Soccer League. August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "WPSL PRO: Georgia Impact submits LOI". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 6, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "AC Houston Sur expands WPSL PRO's reach in Texas as third club to submit LOI ahead of 2025 Launch". WPSL Pro. February 20, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Ostler, Gabriel (February 29, 2024). "Dakota Fusion FC Looks to Bring Professional Women's Sports to Fargo-Moorhead". Valley News. Fargo, North Dakota. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "WPSL Pro moves into Northeast Ohio ahead of 2025 launch". WPSL Pro. July 11, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Pro's tenth LOI market widens league footprint on Atlantic Coast". WPSL Pro. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "WPSL PRO receives official Letter of Inten from sports investment group in Wichita". WPSL PRO. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "WPSL PRO secures Denver market with twelfth LOI submission". WPSL PRO. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "THE LOI MARKET REACH EXPANDS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR WPSL PRO". WPSL PRO. September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "Northern Colorado Rain FC joins WPSL PRO as 14th LOI Club". WPSL PRO. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "REAL CENTRAL NJ SOCCER ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL TEAM IN WPSL PRO". WPSL PRO. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "REAL CENTRAL NJ JOINS WPSL PRO – BRINGING PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER TO CENTRAL JERSEY!". Real Central NJ. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "Cleveland eyes WPSL Pro after not getting in NWSL". Sports Business Journal. April 23, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  16. ^ https://wpslpro.com/wpsl-pro-to-launch-as-division-ii-league-in-2026-backed-by-cleveland-soccer-group-and-new-stadium-investment
  17. ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44691581/wpsl-pro-launching-second-tier-womens-league
  18. ^ "Teams". WPSL Pro. Retrieved August 30, 2024.