USL W-League
Founded | 1995 |
---|---|
Folded | 2015 |
Country | United States Canada |
Confederation | CONCACAF |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | None |
Relegation to | None |
Last champions | Washington Spirit Reserves |
Most championships | Los Angeles Blues (4 titles) |
The USL W-League was a North American women's soccer developmental organization.[1] The W-League was also an 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 the league will cease operation ahead of 2016 season.[2][3]
Contents
1 History
2 Teams
3 Past champions
4 References
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.[4] Of those 18 teams, eight went on to found United Women's Soccer[5] (though the two Canadian teams were denied entry) and another seven joined the WPSL[6][7]
Teams
127 unique teams participated in the W-League over the course of its history, 22 still existed (at varying levels of activity) as of Spring 2016; one has since been revived.
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[8]
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W-League member(alt.name/merger†)
WUSA / WPS / NWSL
WPSL-WLS-UWS
inactive / exhibition / other
(*) 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
- W-1: Boston Renegades 5–1 Vancouver Whitecaps Women
- 2000
- W-1: Chicago Cobras 1–1 (4–2 PSO) Raleigh Wings
- W-2: Springfield Sirens 2–1 Charlotte Lady Eagles
- W-1: Chicago Cobras 1–1 (4–2 PSO) Raleigh Wings
- 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
- W-1: Raleigh Wings 4–3 Boston Renegades
- 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
^ Jenna Pel, Onwards and Upwards: A Conversation With the W-League's Melanie Fitzgerald Part 1, http://www.allwhitekit.com/?p=746, May 6, 2010
^ "W-League". Archived from the original on 19 November 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Equalizer Soccer – USL W-League, once top flight, folds after 21 seasons".
^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
^ "UWS To Form National Pro-Am Women's Soccer League In 2016". United Women's Soccer.
^ "WOMEN'S PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE – THE LARGEST NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE IN THE WORLD".
^ "NEW TEAMS, NEW CITIES, NEW STATES".
^ http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/usl-w.html
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