The National Women’s Soccer League will be kicking off its new season in a couple of weeks and has also completed a historic $240 million media rights deal as well. Women’s soccer is seeing unprecedented growth and another league is also looking forward to making its way.
According to Front Office Sports, the NWSL was founded in 2012 and since its establishment, the league has gradually drawn in incredible numbers of followers. As per the report, this season new franchises in Bay Area and Utah. The Bay Area team has also paid $50 million to the league for its inclusion. The league intends to grow to sixteen clubs by 2026.
The other league that has been going on an upward trajectory is the USL Super League. The League has recently announced that they want to compete at the top level of women’s professional soccer. The U.S. Soccer Federation has also given them the status of Division I.
DIVISION ONE! 1️⃣🧡
We are thrilled to announce that the USL Super League has received Division One sanctioning from @ussoccer. Our inaugural season kicks off in August.
➡️ https://t.co/2dQNv7X5wi pic.twitter.com/TJ4GS7pRoG
— USL Super League (@USLSuperLeague) February 9, 2024
The NWSL begins its new season in less than three weeks, fresh off record attendance and landmark $240 million media rights deals.
It’s a monumental time for women’s soccer—so much so that another pro league is preparing to launch.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 27, 2024
According to FOS, “The NWSL begins its new season in less than three weeks, fresh off record attendance and landmark $240 million media rights deals.
It’s a monumental time for women’s soccer—so much so that another pro league is preparing to launch.”
There were categories which had to be fulfilled in order to play and the USL Super League has checked those requirements as well. According to FOS, seventy-five percent of its club must play in metropolitan areas and the stadium capacity must be of at least 5,000.
The USL Super League will debut in August and there are eight teams competing. The teams are based in Tampa Bay, Spokane, Lexington, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Dallas–Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, and Washington, D.C.
The NWSL has shared their sentiments regarding the matter and said, “We congratulate the USL in their efforts to launch a professional league. As the most competitive women’s league in the world, there are limited roster spots available in the NWSL. More opportunities to compete professionally is a good thing and we’re interested to see how a new league might contribute to the continued growth of our game.”
Amanda Vandervort, USL Super League president, also shared, “We’re excited about where they are in their growth and development. And we’re excited to join the movement of women’s professional soccer. We’ve been really public about the opportunity to potentially have a U.S. Open Cup or create some sort of competition.”
