A New Path for Women's Soccer

According to The Athletic, the USL is planning to launch a 30-team women’s pro-am league, which is set to take the field in 2022. The initiative is being led by Angela Hucles, who is a co-owner of future NWSL team Angel City FC, and a full-time director for women’s soccer who has yet to be announced.

Many of the league details have yet to be confirmed, but we do know some very important specifics already. The league will look to be owner-driven, and will plan to meet its lofty goal of a 30-team opening season by pulling from the 128 women’s sides associated with the USL Championship, League One, and League Two clubs. The league will not look to compete with the NWSL, but rather create a “stepping stone” between NCAA Soccer and the NWSL, which will benefit players and coaches. 

No matter which way you slice it, this is great for the development of the women’s game and will help strengthen not only the USWNT pipelines, but other national team pipelines around the world. Due to the vast size of the NCAA, many players struggle to gain attention, which makes it difficult to be drafted by an NWSL club. This league provides a new opportunity for players to develop further with more playing time and without having to sacrifice competitiveness. Meeting the growth of the NWSL with growth at the intermediate and lower levels will be essential in ensuring league longevity, and the continued deliverance of the most competitive women’s soccer league in the world. It will be interesting to see how many players can find success in this pro-am league, and move onto NWSL or UEFA Women’s Champions League sides afterwards.

Overall, this announcement is another reminder of the continued investment in the women’s game here in the United States.