We know that the USL Super League was delayed a year (so 2024-25 instead of 2023-24) but otherwise seems on track, while UWS has tabled their plans for a D3 league. In their place, is sounds like WPSL is hoping to launch their own D3 league with at least 10 teams in 2024. As a remember, the D3 standards require at least 6 teams, all with stadiums of at least 1k and primary owners worth at least $5m https://www.wpslsoccer.com/news/202...rofessional-division-iii-womens-soccer-league With us inching ever closer to these leagues starting, (not to mention the spectre of WISL as well at D2,) I thought it might be time to create a separate thread for the pro league discussion separate from an amateur-league-discussion-thread (i.e. W-League and the base UWS and WPSL).
First "big name" and big city I've seen attached to the USLSL; Heather Mitts is aiming too bring the USLSL to Philly https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/hea...ccer-usl-super-league-expansion-20231006.html The main reason she's aiming for USLSL over NWSL is the latter's lack of a development pathway.
Or she cannot afford the NWSL entry fee, and/or they are not interested adding Philly. She acts as if she had a choice.
That could certainly be true! (I find it hard to think NWSL doesn't want to be in Philly - it's the #4 media market in the country.) I do find it a bit odd that she's using the "no development path" as a reason/excuse... Sure, it's somewhat baked into the USL corporate structure, but there's nothing stopping NWSL teams from forming lower-division teams either.