New York, May 7 -- As the popularity of women's soccer grows, so have the opportunities for players looking to make the sport a career. The National Women's Soccer League was once the lone professional women's league in North America. But others have more recently jumped into the market, including the USL's Super League and the Northern Super League in Canada.
And now it appears lower-tier leagues are forming, too. The NWSL has asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a second-division league that would include at least six teams and possibly launch in 2026. The WPSL Pro also will launch next year as a second-tier league.
"I think this is what progress looks like," said Amanda Vandervort, president of the USL Super League. "I think the more options ...