Women's soccer in the United States

Women's soccer in the United States
U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty J. Walsh attends U.S. Soccer Federation, the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association, and the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association, for a ceremonial collective bargaining agreement signing, post-USWNT match at Audi Field.
CountryUnited States
Governing bodyU.S. Soccer
National team(s)Women's national team
Nickname(s)USWNT
Clubs18 Professional
Club competitions
International competitions
Olympics (National Team)
FIFA Women's World Cup (National Team)
CONCACAF Women's Championship (National Team)
Audience records
Single matchClub - 35,038[1] Chicago Red Stars v Bay FC (NWSL)
(June 8, 2024)
National - 90,185[2]
USWNT v China (1999 Women's World Cup)
(July 10, 1999)
Season1,366,581[3]

Women's soccer in the United States has developed quite differently from men's soccer. Until the 1970s, organized women's soccer matches in the U.S. existed only on a limited basis.[4][5][6]

Since changes that started in the 1970's, the U.S. has become one of the top countries in the world of women's soccer. In the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, there were 58 US-based players, the most of any country and in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, there were 61 US-based players, the second of any country.[7] In addition the national team has been ranked #1 in the world after their back-to-back Women's World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019[8] and once again after winning the 2024 Olympics.[9]

Until 2024, The highest women's professional soccer league in the United States is the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which was established in 2012 as a successor to Women's Professional Soccer and was run by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)[10] before becoming independently governed in 2020.[11] The league began with eight teams in 2013[10] and reached its current membership of 14 teams in 2024.[12] Beginning in 2024, the NWSL was joined by the USL Super League as a Division I professional soccer league.[13] USL Super League launched in August 2024 with eight teams playing in a fall to spring schedule.[14] The expansion of professional women's soccer is planned to continue in 2025 with the establishment of WPSL PRO a Division III league, designed to enhance the pathway from amateur to professional.[15]

Amateur soccer has been the backbone of women's soccer in America since the 1950, with the Craig League based in Missouri.[16] The amateur landscape includes both players who compete in NCAA[5] and those who compete in the summer leagues USL W League, Women's Premier Soccer League, and United Women's Soccer.

  1. ^ Herrera, Sandra (June 9, 2024). "Chicago Red Stars set NWSL attendance record at Wrigley Field, open door to future special events". Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Longman, Jere (May 27, 2015). "Refusing to Wilt, U.S. Wins Soccer Title - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "2023 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved October 16, 2023. (NWSL)
  4. ^ "A Level Playing Field: Why the USA Is So Strong in Women's Soccer". NBC. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Litterer, David (August 17, 2011). "Women's Soccer History in the USA: An Overview". The American Soccer History Archives. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  6. ^ "History Of The U.s. Women's Soccer Team". Livestrong.com. May 26, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  7. ^ Asli Pelit, Emily Caron (August 5, 2023). "World Cup Knockout Rosters Reveal Euro Leagues' Jump". Sportico; The Business of Sports. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "World champions USA back on top" (Press release). FIFA. July 10, 2015. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "Latest Women's World Ranking". August 16, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Bell, Jack (April 13, 2013). "Another Attempt at Women's Circuit, but With a Twist". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Linehan, Meg (January 21, 2021). "NWSL news galore: Sacramento is in, the USSF is out, Utah investigation buried". The Athletic. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Announces Expansion to Bay Area, California". www.NWSLSocer.com. National Women's Soccer League. April 3, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  13. ^ "New women's top tier league given green light by US Soccer". France 24. February 9, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (February 15, 2024). "USL Super League: What we know and what we don't ahead of August 2024 launch – Equalizer Soccer". The Equalizer.
  15. ^ "The WPSL announces new professional Division III women's soccer league". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 28, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  16. ^ Dent, Mark (June 12, 2015). "Thirty Years Before Abby Wambach Was Even Born, These Women Pioneered Soccer in America". Slate. Retrieved July 3, 2015.