August 20 – The USL Super League, the new Division One professional women’s soccer league in the USA that rivals the NWSL, kicked off this weekend with the league announcing sell-out crowds in all three opening day matches.
The Super League, part of the United Soccer League’s family of pro and elite amateur leagues, was announced in September 2021, and received Division One sanctioning from the US Soccer Federation in February of this year.
It launches with an eight team first season with inaugural clubs Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr FC, and Tampa Bay Sun FC. It plans to be at 20 clubs by 2026.
The three-match opening day saw full venues in Charlotte, North Carolina, Spokane, Washington, and Tampa, Florida. All the clubs are franchised start-ups.
“What we saw, both on and off the field, during the USL Super League’s Inaugural Weekend is a testament to the talent of the players, the passion of the fans, and the commitment of our owners,” said Amanda Vandervort, USL Super League President.
“This was a terrific moment for our league and for our sport. It’s a step forward for the women’s soccer movement that we are all part of and we cannot thank the fans enough for their support.”
Carolina Ascent FC were the only team to record a win, 1-0 against DC Power FC in the league’s historic first game. A crowd of 10,553 at American Legion Memorial Stadium set a new record for a professional women’s soccer match in the Carolinas.
Spokane Zephyr filled the 5,000 capacity ONE Spokane Stadium for a 1-1 draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC, while Tampa Bay Sun packed out their renovated 5,000 capacity Riverfront Stadium for a 1-1 draw with Dallas Trinity.
As befits their top tier status, the new league has also opened with a topflight of broadcasters with Peacock in the US, DAZN in Europe and ESPN in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
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