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.
 | |
| Founded | December 16, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Country | Metuchen, New Jersey, United States |
| Other club(s) from | Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of teams | 39 (D1) 18 (D2) |
| Current champions | Santa Clarita Blue Heat (2024) |
| Most championships | Santa Clarita Blue Heat (3) |
| TV partners | Eleven Sports |
| Website | uwssoccer.com |
| Current: 2024 UWS season | |
History
editBackground
editIn 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
editSpearheaded 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
editBetween 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
editWhile 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
editIn 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
editAs of May 6, 2024[update]
League Two
editAs of April 23, 2024[update]
| 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
editUWS National Championship
edit| 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
editNotes
edit- ^ UWS League One
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ O'Connell, Brian (December 16, 2015). "United Women's Soccer Launches w/ NE Mutiny on Board". MassLive. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "WPSL 2015". BigSoccer Forum.
- ^ a b NewEnglandMutiny (July 17, 2015). "New England Mutiny's WPSL East semifinal on Saturday moved to Connecticut". MassLive. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "WPSL 2015 playoffs". BigSoccer Forum.
- ^ "W-League". Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
- ^ "New women's league plans to launch". Paul Kennedy. SoccerAmerica. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ^ "Finding A Footprint: United Women's Soccer will be an East-West loop". Charles Cuttone. BigAppleSoccer.com. February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ "UWS To Form National Pro-Am Women's Soccer League In 2016". December 16, 2015.
- ^ "United Women's Soccer Announces West Conference". United Women's Soccer. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "March 2016". Facebook. Laval Comètes. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "To say we're unhappy". Twitter. UWS Soccer. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season". November 2016.
- ^ "United Women's Soccer announces four-team expansion". December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Michigan Legends F.C. Added To Midwest Conference". January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "Indy Premier Soccer Club Joins United Women's Soccer". February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "UWS East Welcomes Syracuse Development Academy". February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Admin (February 18, 2017). "So Cal Crush F.C. Joins United Women's Soccer". uwssoccer.com.
- ^ Admin (March 7, 2017). "Western New York Flash Join United Women's Soccer". United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (April 8, 2017). "IN DUPLICATE: Lancers return with men's and women's teams". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Home | Women's Premier Soccer League".
- ^ "United Women's Soccer Expands To Southeast". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "United Women's Soccer Launches League Two". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "UWS League Two website". United Women's Soccer. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (February 19, 2020). "UWS League Two will provide more playing opportunities… and implement promotion/relegation – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "UWS League Two Midwest Conference". United Women's Soccer. February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Albany Rush Added to East Conference". January 5, 2021.
- ^ Ward, Jonathan (February 22, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Back Mountain Torrent Promoted to UWS". Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Rush UWS | CT Rush Soccer". www.leagueathletics.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021.
- ^ "FC 1872 Launch". March 28, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ward, Jonathan (May 6, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: UWS Welcomes Back The New York Magic". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "We are excited to join the UWS for the summer of 2023". www.ChicagoRushSoccer.com. Chicago Rush soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "UWS welcomes Cincinnati Sirens". www.UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ward, Jonathan (March 12, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Firebirds SC Join United Women's Soccer". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ "The Michigan Burn Soccer Clug announces new UWS Pro-Am team". www.MichiganBurnSoccer.com. Michigan Burn Soccer. December 9, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ward, Jonathan (March 8, 2024). "EXPANSION NEWS: Rockford Raptors Join United Women's Soccer". UWSSoccer.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UWS expansion in Nevada". www.RenoVikings.com. Reno Vikings. February 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Expansion News: Baltimore Lady Warriors Join UWS-2". United Women's Soccer. April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Expansion News: MSI Soccer Joins UWS2 for 2024". United Women's Soccer. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Ward, Jonathan (February 29, 2024). "Expansion News: Steel United Hudson Valley Joins UWS2". United Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Lightner, Ben. "LCFC Joins United Women's Soccer League One". www.LivoniaCityFC.com. United Women's Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "UWS Provides Update on 2020 Season". United Women's Soccer. June 9, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
