The USL W-League was a North American amateur women's soccer developmental organization. The league was a semi-professional, open league, giving college players the opportunity to play alongside established international players while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league was administered by the United Soccer Leagues system (the USL), which also oversees the men's United Soccer League and Premier Development League. The W-League announced on November 6, 2015, that it would cease operation ahead of 2016 season.
After the popularity of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, though, USL began considerations for a new professional women's league; this effort eventually returned to the re-establishing of the league as the USL W League.
History The W-League's inaugural season was in 1995. Originally called the United States Interregional Women's League, it later changed its name to the W-League. Although at its inception some of the league's franchises were barely above amateur level, it provided a professional outlet for many of the top female soccer players in the country. With professionals driving the level of play, the league made a very strong debut performance.
From 1995 through the 1997 season the W-League was a single tier format (all teams at the same division). This changed before the 1998 season when the W-League became a two tier league. The top tier/division was called W-1 and lower division, W-2. This division was in effect through the 2001 season – the first year of the new US Women's first division league WUSA. The W-League returned to a single tier format in the 2002 season.
The W-League grew to a maximum of 41 teams for the 2008 season, but then began contracting rapidly. By the time the league suspended operations in 2015, there were three, six-team conferences. Of those 18 teams, eight went on to found United Women's Soccer (though the two Canadian teams were denied entry) and another seven joined the WPSL.
The revival of the W-League as the USL W League was announced on June 8, 2021, with eight founding teams due to begin play in 2022, none of which were revivals of teams from the original iteration of the W-League. Instead, many were associate with USL League One organizations.
Teams 127 unique teams participated in the W-League over the course of its history. Fifteen still existed (at varying levels of activity) as of 2019. Sortable full original team listNameState/Prov.First yearLast yearOther namesNotesAlabama Angels19961998 Albuquerque Crush2002 Arizona Heatwave19952005 founding team; inactive 1996–2000Arizona Strikers FC20142015Sedona FC Strikers (2014)final teamAsheville Splash20022004 Atlanta Classics19972000 Atlanta Silverbacks Women20052015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueAustin Lady Lone Stars19992000 Bay Area Breeze20132014 arrived from Women's Premier Soccer LeagueBraddock Road Stars Elite20142015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueBradenton Athletics20042008 Boston Renegades19952009Boston Tornado (1995)founding teamBuffalo FFillies19961998 Buffalo Flash20092010 left to Women's Professional SoccerCalgary Wildfire2004 Carolina Elite Cobras20122015Central SC Cobras (2012)final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueCary Lady Clarets20082009Carolina RailHawks Women (2008)Central Jersey Splash19971999 Central Florida Krush20052006 Charlotte Speed19971999Carolina Speed (1997)Charlotte Lady Eagles20002015 final teamChicago Cobras19962010Chicago Gaels (2005–2008)Chicago Red Eleven (2009–2010)Cincinnati Ladyhawks20002006 Cincinnati Leopards1995 founding teamCleveland Eclipse19962001 Cleveland Internationals Women20042010 left to Women's League SoccerCocoa Expos Women20062007 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueColorado Pride20142015 final team; left to United Women's SoccerColorado Rush Women20102015 final teamColorado Storm20142015 final team; left to United Women's SoccerColumbus Lady Shooting Stars20032004 Columbus Ziggx19951998 founding teamConnecticut Lady Wolves19951998 founding teamConnecticut Passion20082009 Dallas Lightning19951997Texas Lightning (1995)founding teamDayton Dutch Lions WFC20112015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueD.C. United Women20112012 left to National Women's Soccer League; spun off Washington Spirit ReservesDelaware Genies19972000 Denver Diamonds19962000 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueEdmonton Aviators Women2004 FC Indiana20082009 arrived from Women's Premier Soccer League; left to Women's League SoccerFinger Lakes Heartbreakers1998 Fort Wayne Fever20042009 Fredericksburg Impact20112013 Fredericksburg Lady Gunners20072008 Gulf Coast Chaos1997 Gulf Coast Texans2014 arrived from Women's Premier Soccer LeagueHamilton Avalanche20062014Hamilton FC Rage (2011–2012)K-W United FC (2013–2014)Hampton Road Piranhas19952013Virginia Beach Piranhas (2011–2013)founding teamHouston Tornadoes19992001 Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues20072010Jersey Sky Blue (2007–2008)Indiana Blaze19972001 Jackson Chargers19971999Jackson Calypso (1997–1998)Jacksonville Jade19992002 Kalamazoo Quest19981999 Kalamazoo Outrage20082010 Kansas City Mystics20012002 Kentucky Fillies20002002 Laval Comets20062015 final team; left to United Women's SoccerLaval Dynamites19992001 Lehigh Valley Cougars1996 London Gryphons20042014 Long Island Rough Riders19952015 founding team; final team; left to United Women's SoccerLos Angeles Legends20082009 Los Angeles Strikers20112013 merged with Pali Blues (2014)Madison Freeze19961997 Maryland Pride19952002Baltimore Bays (1995)founding team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueMass Bay Crusaders1995 founding teamMemphis Mercury20012002 Miami Gliders19981999 Michigan Hawks20042008Detroit Jaguars (2004–2005)Mile High Mustangs20012007Mile High Edge (2001–2004)Minnesota Lightning20062009 Montreal Xtreme2004 New Brunswick Power2000 New Hampshire Lady Phantoms19982006 New Jersey Lady Stallions19982004 New Jersey Rangers20082012 New Jersey Wildcats19962015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueNew York Magic19972015 final team; left to United Women's SoccerNorcal Shockwaves19961997 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueNorth Texas Heat19992000 Northern Kentucky TC Stars20022003 Northern Virginia Majestics19992012 North Jersey Valkyries20102015 final team; left to United Women's SoccerOklahoma Outrage20002002 Orlando Ladyhawks1998 Ottawa Fury FC20002014 Piedmont Spark19992008Greensboro Twisters (2002–2003)Carolina Dynamo (2004–2006, 2008)inactive 2007Pali Blues20082014Los Angeles Blues (2014)merged with Los Angeles Strikers (2014)Philadelphia Frenzy19951997Pennsylvania Freedom (1995)founding teamPortland Rain2001 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueQuebec City Amiral SC20092015Quebec Dynamo ARSQ (2014–2015)final team; left to United Women's SoccerRaleigh Wings19982000 Real Colorado CougarsColorado Gold (2000)Denver Lady Cougars (2001–2005)Rhode Island Rays19952004Rhode Island Lady Stingrays (1996, 2004)Rhode Island Stingrays (1995)founding team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueRichmond Kickers Destiny20042009 Rochester Ravens19962012 Rockford Dactyls19952000 founding teamSacramento Storm19951997California Storm (1997)founding team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSan Diego Gauchos Women20052007San Diego Sunwaves (2007)San Diego Top Guns1995 founding teamSan Francisco Nighthawks19951997San Francisco Vikings (1995)founding team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSanta Clarita Blue Heat20082015Ventura County Fusion (2008–2009)final team; left to United Women's SoccerSeattle Sounders Women20012015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSilicon Valley Red Devils19961997 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSouth Jersey Banshees20012006 Southern California Nitemares19951996 founding teamSpringfield Sirens19992001 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSt. Louis Archers2004 left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueSudbury Canadians20042006 Tampa Bay Hellenic20082010 left to Women's Premier Soccer League; merged with VSI Tampa Bay FC (2013)Tampa Bay Xtreme19972002 Texas Odyssey2001 Toronto Inferno19992004 Toronto Lady Lynx20052014 Tulsa Roughnecks1995 founding teamVancouver Whitecaps Women20012012Vancouver Breakers (2001–2002)Vermont Lady Voltage20052008 Victoria Highlanders Women20112012 VSI Tampa Bay FC20122013VSI Tampa Flames (2012)merged with Tampa Bay Hellenic (2013)Washington Freedom20062008 left to Women's Professional Soccer, spun off Washington Freedom FuturesWashington Freedom Futures20092010Washington Freedom Reserves (2009)Washington Spirit Reserves20132015 final team; left to Women's Premier Soccer LeagueWestern Mass Lady Pioneers20042009 West Virginia Illusion2008 Wichita Lady Blues1995 founding teamWindy City Bluez20012004
(*) indicates championship
Past champions
For 1998 through 2001 the W-League was divided into two divisions: W-1 (the top division) W-2 (the lower division). The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of titles a club has won if they have won multiple titles. Click on year for W-League season summaries. 2015 Washington Spirit Reserves 2–1 Colorado Pride 2014 Los Angeles Blues (4) 6–1 Washington Spirit Reserves 2013 Pali Blues (3) 1–0 Laval Comets 2012 Ottawa Fury Women 1–1 (4–3 PSO) Pali Blues 2011 Atlanta Silverbacks Women 6–1 Ottawa Fury Women 2010 Buffalo Flash 3–1 Vancouver Whitecaps Women 2009 Pali Blues (2) 2–1 Washington Freedom Reserves 2008 Pali Blues 2–1 FC Indiana 2007 Washington Freedom 3–1 Atlanta Silverbacks Women 2006 Vancouver Whitecaps Women (2) 3–0 Ottawa Fury Women 2005 New Jersey Wildcats 3–0 Ottawa Fury Women 2004 Vancouver Whitecaps Women 0–0 (4–2 PSO) New Jersey Wildcats 2003 Hampton Roads Piranhas 1–0 Chicago Cobras 2002 Boston Renegades (2) 3–0 Charlotte Lady Eagles 2001 W-1: Boston Renegades 5–1 Vancouver Whitecaps Women W-2: Charlotte Lady Eagles 3–1 Memphis Mercury 2000 W-1: Chicago Cobras 1–1 (4–2 PSO) Raleigh Wings W-2: Springfield Sirens 2–1 Charlotte Lady Eagles 1999 W-1: Raleigh Wings (2) 3 -2 Chicago Cobras (OT) W-2: North Texas Heat 5–1 Springfield Sirens 1998 W-1: Raleigh Wings 4–3 Boston Renegades W-2: Fort Collins Force 3–1 Hampton Roads Piranhas 1997 Long Island Lady Riders (2) 2–1 Chicago Cobras (OT) 1996 Maryland Pride 3–0 Dallas Lightning 1995 Long Island Lady Riders 3–0 Southern California Nitemares
References