The USL W League (USLW) is a women's soccer league in the United States. It began play in May 2022 and follows the USL W-League, a similar league that existed from 1995 to 2015. It is currently not sanctioned by the US Soccer Federation, meaning that it does not have a position in the US soccer pyramid. As of the 2026 season, the current champions are Salmon Bay FC.
History The league was originally announced in 2021 by the United Soccer League with eight clubs, six of which would be women's sides for existing men's USL teams, and two of which would be entirely new franchises. At launch, the USL said the inaugural season would include at least 30 teams. The inaugural season began on May 6, 2022 with 44 teams across 20 states. By the 2023 season the league had grown to 65 teams, and by 2026 it had 96 teams. The growth of the league resulted in the development of a four-conference system, which was most recently (2026) divided into 15 divisions.
Format In the regular season of 10-12 games, teams play other teams within their division. Divisional standings are ordered by points won, with three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss; if two teams are tied on points, these tiebreakers are used:
Head-to-head record based on total points in league games. (If more than two tied teams have played each other an unequal number of times, this tiebreaker is skipped.) Total points per game (PPG) in league games. Goal difference in league games. If the number of games is unequal, the average goal difference is used. Goals scored in league games. Total points within division. If the number of games is unequal, then point percentages (points won divided by points possible) are used. Point percentage outside division in league games. FIFA Fair Play – team with fewest disciplinary points per game in league games. Lottery.
At the end of the regular season, the top team in each division, along with possible wild-card teams, enter the playoffs. These comprise a straightforward bracket, currently having 16 teams, with seeding based on PPG and possible adjustment made to avoid divisional rivals facing each other in early rounds. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament culminating in the USL W Final, which determines the season's champion.
Teams Current teams +Overview of USL W League teamsConferenceDivisionTeamCityStadium CapacityFoundedJoiningHead coachAffiliate team Chesapeake DivisionAnnapolis Blues FCAnnapolis, MarylandNavy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium34,00020242025Ashly KennedyAnnapolis Blues FC (USL2)Charlottesville Blues FCCharlottesville, VirginiaTheodose Stadium 5,000 2023 2024 Nick ReganCharlottesville Blues FC (USL2)Richmond Ivy SCRichmond, VirginiaCity Stadium6,000 2023 2024 Rob UkropRichmond Kickers (USL1)Virginia Atlantic FCNorfolk, VirginiaPowhatan Stadium2,80020252025Zach HansonVirginia Beach City FC (NPSL)Virginia Beach United FCVirginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach Sportsplex6,00020192025Chris MillsVirginia Beach United FC (USL2)Virginia Development AcademyWoodbridge, VirginiaHowison Park20152026 Metropolitan Division Cedar Stars Academy women Teaneck, New Jersey Capelli Sport Complex 500 2021 2022 vacantCedar Stars Rush (USL 2) Long Island Rough Riders women Uniondale, New York Mitchel Athletic Complex 1,000 1995 2022 Matt LannonLong Island Rough Riders (USL 2) Manhattan SC women New York, New York Icahn Stadium 5,000 2021 2022 vacant Manhattan SC (USL 2) Morris Elite SC women Union, New Jersey Roosevelt Stadium 2,500 2021 2022 Stephanie Savino Morris Elite SC (USL 2) New Jersey Copa FC Metuchen, New Jersey Falcon Field 1,500 2004 2025 TBD New Jersey Copa FC (USL 2) Paisley Athletic FC Kearny, New Jersey Harvey Field Complex 2021 2023 vacant Mid Atlantic Division Eagle FC women Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Mountain View High School 1976 2022 vacant Eagle FCLancaster InfernoLancaster, PennsylvaniaPucillo Field 700 2008 2024 Stephanie CleavesLoudoun United FCLeesburg, VirginiaSegra Field5,00020262026 vacantLoudoun United FC (USL Championship) Northern Virginia FC women Leesburg, Virginia Evergreen Sportsplex 1,500 2021 2022 Vacant Northern Virginia FC (USL 2) Patuxent Football Athletics women Patuxent, Maryland Calverton School 2018 2022 vacantPatuxent Football Athletics (USL 2) Northeast Division AC Connecticut women Hartford, Connecticut Trinity Health Stadium 5,500 2011 2022 vacant AC Connecticut (USL 2)Hartford Athletic (USL Championship)Hartford Athletic women20252026 vacantHartford Athletic (USL Championship)Hudson Valley CrusadersNewburgh, New YorkKaplan Field1,00020212025Mitchell KazanjianNew England MutinyLudlow, MassachusettsLusitano Stadium3,00019992026Federico MolinariVermont Green FCBurlington, VermontVirtue Field2,50020252026 vacantVermont Green FC (USL League Two) Great Forest DivisionFC BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkCoyer Field3,00020212025Greg MargolisFC Buffalo (USL2) Cleveland Force SC women Cleveland, Ohio DiSanto Field 2,400 2018 2023 vacant Cleveland Force SC (USL 2) Erie Sport Center Erie, Pennsylvania Erie Sports Center 2025 2025 TBD Erie (USL2)Flower City 1872Rochester, New YorkRochester Community Sports Complex Stadium13,76820232025Antonio La GambaFlower City Union (NPSL)Pittsburgh Riveters SCPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHighmark Stadium5,00020242025Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship)Steel City FCCheswick, PennsylvaniaFounders Field1,50020142025Tom 'Tommo' OvendenSteel City FC (USL2) Great Lakes Division AFC Ann Arbor women Ann Arbor, Michigan Hollway Field 1,300 2014 2022 vacant AFC Ann Arbor (USL 2) Detroit City FC women Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium 7,933 2012 2022 David Dwaihy Detroit City FC (USL Championship) Kalamazoo FC women Kalamazoo, Michigan Soisson-Rapacz Clason Field 2,200 2016 2022 vacantKalamazoo FC (USL 2) Midwest United FC women Grand Rapids, Michigan Aquinas College 1,500 2016 2022 vacant Midwest United FC (USL 2)Union FC MacombUtica, MichiganBarnabo Field5,00020242025TBDUnion FC Macomb (USL2) Heartland DivisionEdgewater Castle FCChicago, IllinoisWinnemac Stadium4,50020172026 vacantEdgewater Castle FC (USL League Two) Minnesota Aurora FC Eagan, Minnesota TCO Stadium 5,600 2021 2022 vacantRally Madison FCMadison, WisconsinBreese Stevens Field 5,0002025 2026Giuliano OlivieroForward Madison (USL League One)River Light FC womenAurora, IllinoisSpartan Stadium1,15020202024TBDRiver Light FC (USL 2) RKC Third Coast women Racine, Wisconsin Pritchard Park Multi-Purpose Field 1,534 2023 2023 John Burke RKC Third Coast (USL 2) Rochester FC women Rochester, Minnesota Rochester Regional Stadium 5,000 2018 2023 vacant Rochester FC (USL 2)Rockford Raptors FCRockford, IllinoisWedgbury Stadium2,50019942026 VacantRockford Raptors FC (USL League Two)Sioux Falls City FCSioux Falls, South DakotaBob Young Field5,00020222025TBD Valley DivisionDayton Dutch Lions FCDayton, OhioDOC Stadium3,50020092025TBDDayton Dutch Lions FC (USL2) Indy Eleven women Indianapolis, Indiana Grand Park 1,000 2021 2022 Paul Dolinsky Indy Eleven (USL Championship) Racing Louisville FC Academy Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center 2020 2022 vacantRacing Louisville FC (NWSL)Toledo Villa FCToledo, OhioPaul Hotmer Field57520242025TBDToledo Villa FC (USL2) Lone Star Division AHFC Royals women Houston, Texas Campbell Road Sports Park 1,000 2017 2024 vacant AHFC Royals (USL2) Challenge SC women Tomball, Texas The Woodlands Christian Academy 1987 2024 vacant Hill Country LincesSan Marcos, TexasSan Marcos Baptist Academy19962026 VacantHill Country Lobos (USL League Two) Lonestar SC women Austin, Texas Beck Stadium