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United Women's Soccer
FoundedDecember 16, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12-16)
CountryMetuchen, New Jersey, United States
Other club(s) fromCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of clubs39 (D1)
18 (D2)
Current championsSanta Clarita Blue Heat (2024)
Most championshipsSanta Clarita Blue Heat (3)
TV partnersEleven Sports
Websiteuwssoccer.com
Current: 2024 UWS season

United Women's Soccer (UWS) is a national pro-am women's soccer league in the United States. The league was founded in 2015 as a response to the dual problems of disorganization in the WPSL and of the folding of the original USL W-League. The league began play in May 2016[1] with eleven teams in two conferences.[2][3] The first league currently has 39 teams in 3 conferences and second league currently has 18 teams in 2 conferences.

History

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Background

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In the summer of 2015, disorganization and the inability to field teams led to many last-minute changes in the WPSL playoffs.[4][5] This, combined with a general lack of competitiveness due to rapid expansion, led to frustration from many long-time WPSL teams. The 2014 WPSL final four hosts ASA Chesapeake Charge elected to skip the 2015 WPSL playoffs altogether as did the entire Sunshine division,[4] Fire & Ice SC was a no-show,[6] and the New England Mutiny published a threatening response to how WPSL as a league was run and was regressing.[5]

Later that year, the USL W-League suddenly announced that it would be ceasing operations.[7] There had been no outward signs that the league or its teams were struggling, but the league had been contracting steadily over the preceding several years - from 30 teams in four divisions for 2012 to just 18 teams in three divisions for 2015 - and many of the teams that had left were recent finalists (Buffalo Flash, Vancouver Whitecaps Women, Pali Blues, Ottawa Fury Women, and several Washington D.C.-area teams) leaving relatively few flagship teams.

Founding

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Spearheaded by the New England Mutiny (a former member of the short-lived WPSL Elite), UWS's first five teams were leaked on December 15[1] ahead of the league's official announcement the next day;[8] UWS hopes to provide a true second division beneath the NWSL. Negotiations to create the league since the beginning of the WPSL/W-League offseason, with plans that the league will be a national league of two conferences. The eight founding teams, all in the northeastern US and eastern Canada, were the Mutiny, fellow WPSL breakaway Lancaster Inferno FC, the W-League teams Laval Comets, Long Island Rough Riders, New York Magic, North Jersey Valkyries, and Quebec Dynamo ARSQ looking for a new league, and the expansion team New Jersey Copa FC.[9]

UWS will be sanctioned through USASA,[10] as the W-League and WPSL were.

Rapid early growth

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Between founding and the beginning of the inaugural season, hints of the desired second Western conference came to light in late January and was made official on February 5, with the first five revealed teams being Real Salt Lake Women and Houston Aces (both previously of WPSL), and the Santa Clarita Blue Heat, the Colorado Storm, and the Colorado Pride (all previously of the W-League).[3][11]

On March 9, 2016, it was announced that the Canadian Soccer Association would not sanction teams in Laval & Quebec for play in UWS, leaving the league with only 11 teams for its inaugural season.[12][13]

On November 1, 2016, Grand Rapids FC announced they would add a women's team, which would begin play in 2017 in a new Midwest division of United Women's Soccer.[14] Three more Midwest teams (FC Indiana, Fort Wayne United Soccer Club, and the Detroit Sun FC) were announced a month later, with the desire to add more mentioned.[15] Further expansion ahead of the 2017 season included the Michigan Legends FC in Brighton,[16] Indy Premier SC in Noblesville,[17] the Syracuse Development Academy,[18] the So Cal Crush FC in Montrose,[19] and the Calgary Foothills WFC. On March 3, 2017, the Western New York Flash announced that they would establish a team for the 2017 season. This announcement came nearly two months after the organization, who had won the 2016 NWSL Championship, sold its NWSL franchise rights and roster which formed the North Carolina Courage.[20] In April, the rebranded Rochester Lancers team joined the Flash in Western New York with a UWS side, the Rochester Lady Lancers. They effectively replaced the Flash, which moved team operations to their original home of Buffalo, in Rochester.[21]

Western contraction period

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While UWS would see continued stability in the East and Midwest conferences, attempts to establish teams in the west would prove less successful. From 2017 to 2018, UWS grew from having just five teams west of the Mississippi River to having eleven, with the return of the Colorado Pride, joining of LA Galaxy OC academy, and four new teams in Texas, causing the West conference to split into a West and a Southwest conference. However, despite each conference adding a team for the 2019 season, each conference also lost two teams - including UWS founding member Real Salt Lake Women who rebranded as the Utah Royals Reserves in a return to WPSL - bringing the total number of teams west of the Mississippi to nine. Ahead of the 2020 season, four more UWS teams - Houston Aces, Colorado Pride, LAG OC, and the El Paso Surf - also left for WPSL,[22] bringing the total back down to five.

Further expansion and creation of League Two

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In the 2020 off-season, UWS continued to add more clubs to the league and expanding their reach, including the creation of the Southeast Conference.[23]

On February 6, 2020, UWS announced the creation of UWS League Two, a 2nd division focused on the U20-U23 age group.[24][25] League Two will consist of a mix of UWS reserve teams and clubs that will be seeking to join UWS in the future. It will feature a promotion and relegation relationship with UWS starting in 2021, though the nature of how clubs will move up and down is still under discussion.[26] The Midwest conference was the first announced for the new league, with the first four teams of said conference consisting of three independent sides as well as the reserves of Detroit Sun FC.[27]

League One

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As of May 6, 2024

Team Stadium City Founded First UWS Season
Eastern Conference
Albany Rush Albany, New York 2021[28] 2021
Black Mountain Torrent Pennsylvania 1978[29] 2024
Connecticut Rush New Haven, Connecticut 2021[30] 2021
Coppermine United Baltimore, Maryland 2022
Erie Commodores FC Erie Sports Center Erie, Pennsylvania 2021 2022
FC Berlin Buffalo State College Buffalo, New York 2022 2022
FC Buffalo All-High Stadium Buffalo, New York 2021 2021
Flower City 1872 Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium Rochester, New York 2023 [31] 2023
Hudson Valley Crusaders Saugerties, New York 2023[a]
2024[32]
Maine Footy TBD Portland, Maine 2023 2023
New England Mutiny Lusitano Stadium Ludlow, Massachusetts 1999 2016
New Jersey Copa FC Mercer County Community College Metuchen, New Jersey 2015 2016
New York Magic Mazzella Field New Rochelle, New York 1997 2016[33]
Sporting CT Middletown, Connecticut 2023
Steel City FC Founders Field (Chestwick) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2020 2020
Steel United Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 2010 2021[a]
2024[34]
Worcester Fuel FC[b] Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium Worcester, Massachusetts 2018 2018
Midwest Conference
Cap City Athletic 1847 TBD 2024
Chicago Rush TBD Chicago, Illinois 2023[35]
Cincinnati Sirens FC Fairfield Soccer Stadium Fairfield, Ohio 2023[36]
Edgewater Castle TBD Chicago, Illinois 2023
Elite 14 Performance (E14) TBD Southeast, Michigan 2024[37]
Firebirds SC TBD Lombard, Illinois 1994 2024[38]
Futsal Factory Academy Dexter High School Dexter, Michigan 2014 2023
Indiana Union Grand Park Event Center Indianapolis, Indiana 2017 2017
Michigan Burn The Sports Academy Chesterfield Township, Michigan 2006 2023[39]
Michigan Hawks Corner Ballpark Detroit, Michigan 2020 2022[c]
Michigan Jaguars FC Novi, Michigan 2022
Michigan Legends FC Legacy Center Brighton, Michigan 2017 2017[d]
Michigan Stars FC Michigan Stars Sports Center Washington Township, Michigan 2021 2021
Nationals FC TBD Rochester, Michigan 2016 2022
Pass FC Northview High School Grand Rapids, Michigan 2001 2024[40]
Rockford Raptors Soccer Club Mercyhealth Sportscore Loves Park, Illinois 1994 2024[41]
Troy City WFC Troy, Michigan 2024 2024[42]
West Conference
Calgary Foothills WFC Calgary Soccer Centre Calgary, Alberta 2015 2017
FC Arizona Bell Bank Park Mesa, Arizona 2017 2022
Los Angeles SC TBD Los Angeles, California 1951 2022
Santa Clarita Blue Heat College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, California 2008 2016
Players SC College of the Canyons Las Vegas, Nevada 1989 2024[43]
  1. ^ a b UWS League Two
  2. ^ Previously played as Worcester Smiles
  3. ^ Previously played as Corktown AFC Hawks in 2022
  4. ^ Team was on hiatus from 2020–2023

League Two

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As of April 23, 2024

Team Stadium City Founded First UWS Season
West Conference
Epic FC 2024
Primero De Mayo Sacramento, California 2023
Racing Sacramento Sacramento, California 2023
Reno Vikings TBD Reno, Nevada 2023 2023[44][a]
2024
Sacramento United Sacramento, California 2023
East Conference
Albany Rush II TBD Albany, New York 2021 2023
Baltimore Lady Warriors[45] TBD Baltimore Maryland 2024 2024
HV Crusaders II TBD Saugerties, New York
Maine Footy II TBD Portland, Maine 2023
MSI Pro[46] Walt Whitman High School Rockville, Maryland 2024
New England Mutiny 2 Lusitano Stadium Ludlow, Massachusetts 2020 2021
Ole FC Connecticut
Sporting CT II Middletown, Connecticut 2023
Steel United Hudson Valley[47] Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 2010 2024

Former members

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Team Stadium City Founded First UWS Season Last UWS Season Notes
AFC Ann Arbor Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan 2014 2019 2019 Joined USL W League
Atlanta Panthers SC Franklin Gateway Sports Complex Marietta, Georgia 2016 2021 2022
BC United Endicott, New York 2023 2023
FC Austin Elite Round Rock Multipurpose Complex Round Rock, Texas 2016 2018 2022 Folded
Bat Country FC Round Rock Multipurpose Complex Round Rock, Texas 2017 2020 2021 Joined WPSL
Brooklyn City FC Steinberg Athletic Complex Brooklyn, New York 2017 2020 2022 Joined NY Metropolitan Women's Soccer League
Chicago Mustangs Harper College Palatine, Illinois 2012 2021 2022
Colorado Pride Washburn Field Colorado Springs, Colorado 1994 2016 2019 Joined WPSL
Colorado Storm Sports Authority Stadium Parker, Colorado 2014 2016 2016
Connecticut Fusion Farmington Sports Arena Farmington, Connecticut 2018 2018 2022
Dallas International FC Greenhill School Field Addison, Texas 2020 2020 2020
Detroit City FC Keyworth Stadium Hamtramck, Michigan 2019 2020 2021 Joined USL W League
Detroit Sun FC Ultimate Soccer Arenas Pontiac, Michigan 2016 2017 2019
El Paso Surf Socorro Athletic Complex El Paso, Texas 2018 2018 2019 Joined WPSL
FC Birmingham TBA Birmingham, Alabama 2020 2022 2022 Joined WPSL
FC Indiana Newton Park Lakeville, Indiana 2003 2017 2017 Independent
FC Wichita Stryker Soccer Complex Wichita, Kansas 2020 2021 2022
Fort Wayne United FC Gryphons Hefner Stadium Fort Wayne, Indiana 2016 2017 2018
Genesee FC Atwood Stadium Flint, Michigan 2018 2018 2018
Gretna Elite Academy UNO Caniglia Field Omaha, Nebraska 2018 2021 2022
HAR FC Houston Sports Park Houston, Texas 2018 2018 2018
Houston Aces Houston Sports Park Houston, Texas 2012 2016 2019 Joined WPSL
KC Courage Rockhurst University Kansas City, Missouri 2014 2021 2022 Joined WPSL
Keystone FC TBD Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 2022 2023
Kongo SC Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex Ogden, Utah 2013 2021 2022
LA Galaxy OC Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California 2018 2018 2020
Lancaster Inferno FC Pucillo Field Millersville, Pennsylvania 2008 2016 2023
Lansing United East Lansing Soccer Complex Lansing, Michigan 2018 2018 2021
Livonia City FC Schoolcraft College Livonia, Michigan 2015 2023[48] 2023
Long Island Rough Riders Hofstra University Soccer Stadium Hempstead, New York 2003 2016 2021 Joined USL W League
Midwest United FC Aquinas College Kentwood, Michigan 2016 2017 2021 Joined USL W League
MSC Peoria Eastside Centre Pekin, Illinois 2020 2020 2021
Muskegon Risers SC Kehren Stadium Muskegon, Michigan 2014 2020 2022
New Jersey Teamsterz FC Don Ahern Veterans Stadium Bayonne, New Jersey 2020 2021 2021
New York Surf Reinhart Field Bronx, New York 2015 2017 2018
North Jersey Valkyries DePaul Catholic High School Wayne, New Jersey 2009 2016 2016
North Texas Image Old Panther Field Duncanville, Texas 1964 2016 2018
Puerto Rico Pride FC Lake Brantley High School Altamonte Springs, Florida 2017 2020 2020
Queen City United SC University of Regina Field Regina, Saskatchewan 1987 2019 2020
RBFC Elite TBD Riverside, Illinois 2022 2023
Real Salt Lake Women Ute Field Salt Lake City, Utah 2008 2016 2018 Folded after Utah Royals FC Reserves formed
Rochester Lady Lancers Marina Auto Stadium Rochester, New York 2017 2017 2022
SASA Impact FC Riel Recreation Park St. Albert, Alberta 2021 2021 2022 Joined St. Albert Women’s Soccer League
Scorpions SC Medway High School Medway, Massachusetts 2021 2021 2023
Side FC 92 Case Community RiverCity Parks Tulsa, Oklahoma 1992 2021 2022
SoCal Crush FC Crescenta Valley High School La Crescenta-Montrose, California 2017 2017 2018
Sporting Nebraska FC TBD Papillion, Nebraska 2008 2022 2022
Springfield Demize Cooper Sports Complex Springfield, Missouri 2003 2021 2021
St. Louis Scott Gallagher West Community Stadium St. Louis, Missouri 2020 2021 2022
Syracuse Development Academy Solvay High School Solvay, New York 2004 2019 2021
Toledo Villa FC Northview High School Rossford, Ohio 2017 2017 2017
Vikings Gold Lake Tahoe, California 2023 2023
Vikings Northstars Lake Tahoe, California 2023 2023
Western New York Flash All-High Stadium Buffalo, New York 2008 2017 2018

UWS National Championship

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Season Champions Score Runner–up
2016 Santa Clarita Blue Heat 2–1 (AET) New Jersey Copa FC
2017 Grand Rapids FC 3–1 (AET) Santa Clarita Blue Heat
2018 Houston Aces 1–0 (AET) Lancaster Inferno FC
2019 LA Galaxy OC 1–0 Calgary Foothills WFC
2020 Season cancelled because of COVID-19 Pandemic[49]
Regional Showcase Tournaments were held.
2021 Santa Clarita Blue Heat (2) 5–0 Connecticut Fusion
2022 Chicago Mustangs 2-1 Calgary Foothills WFC
2023[50] Michigan Jaguars FC 0–0 (4–2 PK) Santa Clarita Blue Heat
2024[51] Santa Clarita Blue Heat (3) 2–2 (6–5 PK) New England Mutiny

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ UWS League One

References

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  1. ^ a b Conor, Ryan (December 15, 2015). "After struggles with former league, New England Mutiny helping form new United Women's Soccer league". MassLive. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  2. ^ O'Connell, Brian (December 16, 2015). "United Women's Soccer Launches w/ NE Mutiny on Board". MassLive. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "New league, new coach: Former BYU-Hawaii soccer coach to guide RSL Women". Sean Walker. KSL. January 23, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "WPSL 2015". BigSoccer Forum.
  5. ^ a b NewEnglandMutiny (July 17, 2015). "New England Mutiny's WPSL East semifinal on Saturday moved to Connecticut". MassLive. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "WPSL 2015 playoffs". BigSoccer Forum.
  7. ^ "W-League". Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "New women's league plans to launch". Paul Kennedy. SoccerAmerica. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  9. ^ "Finding A Footprint: United Women's Soccer will be an East-West loop". Charles Cuttone. BigAppleSoccer.com. February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  10. ^ "UWS To Form National Pro-Am Women's Soccer League In 2016". December 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "United Women's Soccer Announces West Conference". United Women's Soccer. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "March 2016". Facebook. Laval Comètes. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  13. ^ "To say we're unhappy". Twitter. UWS Soccer. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season". November 2016.
  15. ^ "United Women's Soccer announces four-team expansion". December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  16. ^ "Michigan Legends F.C. Added To Midwest Conference". January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "Indy Premier Soccer Club Joins United Women's Soccer". February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "UWS East Welcomes Syracuse Development Academy". February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  19. ^ Admin (February 18, 2017). "So Cal Crush F.C. Joins United Women's Soccer". uwssoccer.com.
  20. ^ Admin (March 7, 2017). "Western New York Flash Join United Women's Soccer". United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  21. ^ Lewis, Michael (April 8, 2017). "IN DUPLICATE: Lancers return with men's and women's teams". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  22. ^ "Home | Women's Premier Soccer League".
  23. ^ "United Women's Soccer Expands To Southeast". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "United Women's Soccer Launches League Two". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "UWS League Two website". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  26. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (February 19, 2020). "UWS League Two will provide more playing opportunities… and implement promotion/relegation – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "UWS League Two Midwest Conference". United Women's Soccer. February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  28. ^ "Albany Rush Added to East Conference". January 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Ward, Jonathan (February 22, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Back Mountain Torrent Promoted to UWS". Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "Connecticut Rush UWS | CT Rush Soccer". www.leagueathletics.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "FC 1872 Launch". March 28, 2023.
  32. ^ Ward, Jonathan (January 22, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Hudson Valley Crusaders Joins United Women's Soccer". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  33. ^ Ward, Jonathan (May 6, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: UWS Welcomes Back The New York Magic". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  34. ^ Ward, Jonathan (January 26, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Steel United New Jersey Joins UWS League One". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "We are excited to join the UWS for the summer of 2023". www.ChicagoRushSoccer.com. Chicago Rush soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  36. ^ "UWS welcomes Cincinnati Sirens". www.UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  37. ^ Ward, Jonathan (January 25, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: E14 Joins UWS; Elite Soccer Performance To Take Players to the Next Level". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  38. ^ Ward, Jonathan (March 12, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Firebirds SC Join United Women's Soccer". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  39. ^ "The Michigan Burn Soccer Clug announces new UWS Pro-Am team". www.MichiganBurnSoccer.com. Michigan Burn Soccer. December 9, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  40. ^ Ward, Jonathan (January 25, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Pre-Professional Soccer Returns to Grand Rapids as Pass FC Joins UWS". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  41. ^ Ward, Jonathan (March 8, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Rockford Raptors Join United Women's Soccer". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  42. ^ "EXPANSION NEWS: Troy City WFC Joins for 2024 as UWS Midwest Expansion Franchise". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  43. ^ Ward, Jonathan (January 26, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Viva Las Vegas! UWS Expands in the West". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  44. ^ "UWS expansion in Nevada". www.RenoVikings.com. Reno Vikings. February 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  45. ^ "Expansion News: Baltimore Lady Warriors Join UWS-2". United Women's Soccer. April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  46. ^ "Expansion News: MSI Soccer Joins UWS2 for 2024". United Women's Soccer. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  47. ^ Ward, Jonathan (February 29, 2024). "Expansion News: Steel United Hudson Valley Joins UWS2". United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  48. ^ Lightner, Ben. "LCFC Joins United Women's Soccer League One". www.LivoniaCityFC.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  49. ^ "UWS Provides Update on 2020 Season". United Women's Soccer. June 9, 2020.
  50. ^ Vigil-Zuniga, Justin (July 25, 2023). "Jaguars beat Blue Heat in penalties for UWS title". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Santa Clarita, California. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  51. ^ Ward, Jonathan (July 21, 2024). "UWS National Championship Final: Santa Clarita Blue Heat vs. New England Mutiny". United Women's Soccer. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
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