WISL drafts Berling-Manuel to spearhead launch of second-tier U.S. pro-women's league

September 23 – The fledgling second-tier women's professional league in the United States, the Women's Independent Soccer League (WISL), has appointed Lynn Berling-Manuel as General Manager.

Berling-Manuel is well known in the United States and especially in the coaching community. She was previously CEO of United Soccer Coaches (renamed the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) until last December when she started her own consulting business.

The WISL aims to begin play in 2024 and will fill a gaping void in the development structure of American women's soccer. While European leagues, with significant financial support from federations and major men's clubs, have embraced women's professional football, rapidly expanding their leagues, the United States lags behind.

American women's football is based on youth and progression to college football, but the WISL points out that there are still too few opportunities to advance to professional football.

"By 2024, there will still be and will only be 14 clubs in Division I (the NWSL)," the league said. "The WISL will play an important role in providing more pro-eligible players with the opportunity to play at the professional level."

WISL petitions the United States Soccer Federation for Division II sanction.

"Leading the development of WISL is an exciting new challenge," said Berling-Manuel.

"Its business model follows the global standard of a league of independent clubs rather than franchises. What is important to WISL is that it is founded on a vision, mission and core cultural values. It has been a rewarding opportunity to help the league find its 'why' in the often complicated landscape of American football."

Launched in 2021, the first club to announce it will join the league is Los Angeles Force, which has a men's team currently playing in the third-tier National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). NISA and WISL are associated leagues.

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