USL delays launch of professional Women's Super League until 2024 as it builds W League platform

January 11 – The United Soccer League (USL) has pushed back the start of its new women's professional league to 2024.

Originally scheduled to kick off in 2023, the USL Super League will now open in August 2024 and follow the international match schedule from winter to summer.

The USL said the date change is “to ensure the strongest foundation for a positive and lasting impact.”

Together with the announcement of the date, the USL unveiled a new plan for its women's leagues under the title "Move into High Gear: The Bold Next Phase of the Women's Soccer Strategy. the USL".

The USL said the strategy outlines the path "to build, operate and grow the most comprehensive and powerful ecosystem in women's football". This includes player development from youth to professional, the launch of the professional USL Super League, further expansion of the pre-professional USL W League, and the growth of the USL Academy for girls.

“Our vision is to be a global leader in women's football on and off the pitch,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis.

“The fully integrated women's journey we are building is transformational for the USL and for the game, providing thousands of additional opportunities for players, coaches, referees, executives, partners and fans of women's football professional and throughout the American Football Pyramid.We have the committed ownership, infrastructure and expertise to build a long-term, viable business that brings the excitement of women's football to more fans and more communities across the country."

The Super League will be the top tier of the USL women's ecosystem and the postponement of the launch date gives clubs time to finalize stadiums, infrastructure and commercial platforms for long-term commercial success . The USL has announced that it will announce the creation of founding clubs in the coming months.

"Our ambition is to be a leader in women's football," said Amanda Vandervort, President of the USL Super League.

"The USL Super League is a central part of our strategy that will dramatically increase opportunities in women's professional soccer in America. We want to have the greatest impact possible, and we are committed to taking the time to ensure that the league and our clubs are set up for long-term success."

The USL Women's League structure is built on the huge success of the W League which launched with 44 clubs in 2022 and will grow to 65 clubs in 2023, with a target of 100 by 2026. Nearly 20 players who played in the W League last season have signed professional contracts for the 2023 season.

The USL Academy Cup and League are also important in the structure of the player journey. A pilot Girls' Academy Division was launched in 2021 and will expand to 38 teams participating in the 2023 USL Academy Cup. The USL said its new Academy League will include up to six women's divisions in 2023 and will grow to more than 12 divisions by 2026.

“The foundation of the path is just as vital as the top of the pyramid,” Vandervort said. “We believe we can help fill the existing voids in the development of talented players. The W League gives more players a chance to play longer in competitive environments, and the Academy will develop elite young players not just for college, but for an eventual professional career as well."

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