USL W-League

Countries	United States  Canada
Confederation	US Soccer
Founded	1995
Divisions	5
Number of teams	37
Promotion to	None
Relegation to	None
Levels on pyramid	Level 2
Current champions	Pali Blues (2009)
Most championships	Boston Renegades Long Island Lady Riders Pali Blues Raleigh Wings Vancouver Whitecaps Women (2 titles each)
TV partners	Fox Soccer Channel
Website	Official site in English
W-League 2009

The USL W-League is currently the second highest level of professional women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid.

The W-League and is recognized as North America’s main women’s developmental organization.^[who?] The W-League is also an open league, giving college players the opportunity to play alongside established international players while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is administered by the United Soccer Leagues system (the USL), which also oversees the men's USL First Division, USL Second Division and USL Premier Development League.

[edit] 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, and remains as such.

[edit] 2009 Teams

USA States with W-League teams are highlighted in red, Canadian Provinces with W-League teams are in dark red

[edit] Eastern Conference

[edit] Northeast Division

• Boston Renegades  MA (1996-, Boston Tornado 1995)
• Connecticut Passion  CT (2008-)
• Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues  NY (2009-, Jersey Sky Blue 2007-08)
• Long Island Rough Riders  NY (1995-)
• New Jersey Wildcats  NJ (1996-)
• New York Magic  NY (1997-)
• Washington Freedom Reserves  DC (2009-, Washington Freedom 2008)
• Western Mass Lady Pioneers  MA (2004-)

[edit] Atlantic Division

• Atlanta Silverbacks Women  GA (2005-)
• Cary Lady Clarets  NC (2009-, Carolina RailHawks Women 2008)
• Charlotte Lady Eagles  NC (2000-)
• Hampton Roads Piranhas  VA (1995-)
• Northern Virginia Majestics  VA (1999-)
• Richmond Kickers Destiny  VA (2004-)
• Tampa Bay Hellenic  FL (2008-)

[edit] Central Conference

[edit] Midwest Division

• Chicago Red Eleven  IL (2009-, Chicago Gaels 2005-08, Chicago Cobras 1996-2004)
• Cleveland Internationals Women  OH (2004-)
• FC Indiana  IN (2008-)
• Fort Wayne Fever  IN (2004-)
• Kalamazoo Outrage  MI (2008-)
• Minnesota Lightning  MN (2006-)
• West Michigan Firewomen  MI (2004-)

[edit] Great Lakes Division

• Buffalo Flash  NY (2009-)
• Hamilton Avalanche  ON (2006-)
• Laval Comets  QC (2006-)
• London Gryphons  ON (2004-)
• Ottawa Fury Women  ON (2000-)
• Quebec City Amiral SC  QC (2009-)
• Rochester Ravens  NY (2009-, Rochester Rhinos Women 2004-08, Rochester Ravens 1996-2003)
• Toronto Lady Lynx  ON (2005-)

[edit] Western Conference

• Colorado Force  CO (2009, Fort Collins Force 1997-2008)
• Los Angeles Legends  CA (2008-)
• Pali Blues  CA (2008-)
• Real Colorado Cougars  CO (2005-, Denver Lady Cougars 2001-04, Colorado Gold 2000)
• Seattle Sounders Women  WA (2001-)
• Vancouver Whitecaps Women  BC (2001-)
• Ventura County Fusion  CA (2008-)

[edit] 2010 expansion teams

• North Jersey Valkyries  NJ

[edit] Former Members

• Alabama Angels  AL (1996-98)
• Albuquerque Crush  NM (2002)
• Arizona Heatwave  AZ (1995, 2001-05)
• Asheville Splash  NC (2002-04)
• Atlanta Classics  GA (1997-2000)
• Austin Lady Lone Stars  TX (1999-2000)
• Bradenton Athletics  FL (2004-08)
• Buffalo Fillies  NY (1996-98)
• Calgary Wildfire  AB (2004)
• California Storm  CA (1997, Sacramento Storm 1995-96)
• Carolina Dynamo  NC (2004-06, 2008, Greensboro Twisters 2002-03, Piedmont Spark 1999-2001)
• Central Jersey Splash  NJ (1997-99)
• Central Florida Krush  FL (2005-06)
• Charlotte Speed  NC (1998-99, Carolina Speed 1997)
• Cincinnati Ladyhawks  OH (2000-06)
• Cincinnati Leopards  OH (1995)
• Cleveland Eclipse  OH (1996-01)
• Cocoa Expos Women  FL (2006-07)
• Columbus Lady Shooting Stars  OH (2003-04)
• Columbus Ziggx  OH (1995-98)
• Connecticut Lady Wolves  CT (1995-98)
• Dallas Lightning  TX (1996-97, Texas Lightning 1995)
• Delaware Genies  DE (1997-2000)
• Denver Diamonds  CO (1996-2000)
• Edmonton Aviators Women  AB (2004)
• Finger Lakes Heartbreakers  NY (1998)
• Fredericksburg Lady Gunners  VA (2007-08)
• Gulf Coast Chaos  MS (1997)
• Houston Tornadoes  TX (1999-2001)
• Indiana Blaze  IN (1997-01)
• Jackson Chargers  MS (1998-99, Jackson Calypso 1997)
• Jacksonville Jade  FL (1999-2002)
• Kalamazoo Quest  MI (1998-99)
• Kansas City Mystics  MO (2001-02)
• Kentucky Fillies  KY (2000-02)
• Laval Dynamites  QC (1997-01)
• Lehigh Valley Cougars  PA (1996)
• Madison Freeze  WI (1996-97)
• Maryland Pride  MD (1996-02, Baltimore Bays 1995)
• Mass Bay Crusaders  MA (1995)
• Memphis Mercury  TN (2001-02)
• Miami Gliders  FL (1998-99)
• Michigan Hawks  MI (2006-08, Detroit Jaguars 2004-05)
• Mile High Edge  CO (2005-07, Mile High Mustangs 2001-2004)
• Montreal Xtreme  QC (2004)
• New Brunswick Power  NJ (2000)
• New Hampshire Lady Phantoms  NH (1998-2006)
• New Jersey Lady Stallions  NJ (1998-2003)
• Norcal Shockwaves  CA (1996-97)
• North Texas Heat  TX (1999-2000)
• Northern Kentucky TC Stars  KY (2002-03)
• Oklahoma Outrage  OK (2000-02)
• Orlando Ladyhawks  FL (1998)
• Philadelphia Frenzy  PA (1996-97, Pennsylvania Freedom 1995)
• Portland Rain  OR (2001)
• Raleigh Wings  NC (1998-2000)
• Rhode Island Lady Stingrays  RI (1996, 2004, Rhode Island Rays 1997-02, Rhode Island Stingrays 2005)
• Rockford Dactyls  IL (1995-2000)
• San Diego Sunwaves  CA (2007, San Diego Gauchos Women 2005-06)
• San Diego Top Guns  CA (1995)
• San Francisco Night Hawks  CA (1996-97, San Francisco Vikings 1995)
• Silicon Valley Red Devils  CA (1996-97)
• South Jersey Banshees  NJ (2001-06)
• Southern California Nitemares  CA (1995-96)
• Springfield Sirens  MA (1999-01)
• St. Louis Archers  MO (2004)
• Sudbury Canadians  ON (2004-06)
• Tampa Bay Xtreme  FL (1997-02)
• Texas Odyssey  TX (2001)
• Toronto Inferno  ON (1999-2004)
• Tulsa Roughnecks  OK (1995)
• Vermont Lady Voltage  VT (2005-08)
• West Virginia Illusion  WV (2008)
• Wichita Lady Blues  KS (1995)
• Windy City Bluez  IL (2001-04)

[edit] 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

• 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 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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Soccer
• United Soccer Leagues
• W-League