Just a few years ago, the USL W League was launched and plenty of people wondered if it would deliver on its promises. The USL hasn’t always been a leader in women’s soccer and there were two other big women’s amateur leagues already in existence. Since then, the USL W has blossomed into one of the best women’s leagues in the country and is attracting the biggest names in preprofessional soccer. It’s a beautiful thing to see, as rivalries are being crafted and history is being made. Women’s soccer deserves the spotlight and leagues like the W League are putting the sport where it deserves to be.

As the USL Super League has rolled out as a professional, Division one league, the number of W League alums on the rosters is lengthy. It shows why an amateur league is so important, why “lower league” is no insult, but an important part of the developmental pathway. The W League is packed with women who will someday fill the rosters of professional leagues around the world, the work being done is vital to the future of the sport.

Join us as highlight match dates in the USL W League, this is a look at the future of women’s soccer!

-DV

Stockton Cargo vs Oakland Soul

Sat. 5/03, 7pm PT / 10pm ET at Knoles Field in Stockton, CA

The last time Oakland and Stockton played, almost exactly a year ago, it finished 0-0. Oakland finished 2nd in the NorCal Division last year and headed to the league playoffs. While Stockton were 4th and did not - I think they may want to change that this year and getting a win over a very good Oakland team would be a good start. But it won’t be easy, The Soul are coming back strong and they are looking to unseat the Cal Soccer Storm as division champions - if both come out strong, this should be a whopper to watch.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

FC Buffalo vs Flower City 1872

Mon. 5/19, 3pm PT / 6pm ET at All-High Stadium in Buffalo, NY

FC Buffalo is one to watch, the club is making strides to build a stadium and become a top-tier club. They have visibility and support in the community, and even my aunt sent me the announcement. Buffalo and Rochester are natural rivals in every sport due to their regional proximity.

Danielle Gawronski - Protagonist Soccer / The Super Show / W League Show

San Antonio Athenians vs AHFC Royals

Fri. 05/23, 5pm PT / 8pm ET at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex in San Antonio, TX

Soccer is big in Texas, maybe bigger than in most parts of the country and this is a matchup of two of the biggest cities in the states. San Antonio taking on Houston in back-to-back matches is a great way to prove that everything is bigger in Texas!

Dan Vaughn - Editor Protagonist Soccer / Super Show / W League Show

NC Courage U23s vs SG Tormenta FC

Fri. 05/03, 12pm PT / 3pm ET at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC

The 2024 defending champions host the 2022 champions. In 2024, the two teams drew to open the season which was the only blemish on the Courage’s title winning campaign. A week later, the Courage handed Tormenta their only loss of the year, which proved enough to keep South Georgia out of the playoffs despite a 9-1-2 record. Whichever team comes away with a win will be in the driver’s seat to win the South Atlantic region that has seen its champion advance to the title game each of the last three seasons.

Luke Martin - The Statesboro Herald / Stormwatch912

Fort Lauderdale United FC II vs Sporting Jax II

Sat. 5/31, 12pm PT / 3pm ET at AutoNation Field in Davie, FL

Fort Lauderdale United are in the middle of the first ever professional season in the USL Super League. Meanwhile, their second team is gearing up for the W League in which they will face Sporting Jax. The club from Jacksonville will play here as they prepare for life in the USL Super League starting next season. So, this becomes the first chance to take bragging rights that will be contested professionally next year. Need I say more?

James Knowles - RBLR Sports

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer Cincinnati

Sat. 05/31, 4pm PT / 7pm ET at Grand Park Championship Field in Indianapolis, IN

The Eleven won the Valley Division by 3 points over Kings Hammer in 2024, as Indy won their third straight division title. This match can go a long way in helping secure that title again. However there has been some turnover on the coaching side with “new” head coach Brandon Kim being named head coach after having the interim tag in 2024. Will this Indy team be able to repeat its prior successes? Honorable Mention to Indy’s pre-season friendly at Minnesota Aurora in what should be a great clash of two powerhouses on May 11th in a of the USL-W.

Brett Mullenix - KIT SZN / The USL Show

Cal Soccer Storm vs Oakland Soul

Sun. 06/01, 6pm PT / 9pm ET at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex in Davis, CA

There is no better division in the country than Nor Cal and these are two of the best clubs in that division. These two excel in every way, not only on the field, but off. Their matches are always close and, just like in a battle between two equals, you can never be sure who is going to win.

Dan Vaughn - Editor Protagonist Soccer / Super Show / W League Show

Long Island Rough Riders vs Morris Elite SC

Sun. 06/01, at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY

Long Island and Morris Elite ended 2024 first and second in the Metropolitan Division. The Rough Riders were knocked out in the 2024 Conference Finals 3-0 by eventual champions NC Courage U23.

Morris Elite, from Madison, N.J., will need to get the better of Long Island in 2025 if the team hopes to make the jump into the playoffs.

Dan Creel - Protagonist Soccer / This Week In Soccer

Santa Clarita Blue Heat SC vs OC Sporting

Wed. 06/07, 6pm PT / 9pm ET at Pete Reese Field in Santa Clarita, CA

USL had originally founded the W League in 1995 and it ran until 2015 - “We played at the W League from 2008 to 2015…then we started playing at the UWS in 2016, the first year!” Said a club contact. While SC Blue Heat were in United Women’s Soccer, they accumulated 6 Western Conference Titles, 3 National Championships, and 2 Runners-up, “So, USL asked us to come back, and here we are.”

When asked which club in their division they would consider the toughest or maybe a bit of a rivalry, they said “OC was in the UWS for 3 seasons and always was an amazing rivalry!” This sounds more like a friendly tet-a-tet than a proper derby, and there’s always room for those too. So, much like SC Blue Heat, we’re looking forward to their first match, of three, against an “old” foe, OC Sporting on June 7th.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

San Antonio Athenians vs Lonestar SC

Wed. 06/04, 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex in San Antonio, TX

Lonestar has long been a dominant force in Women’s soccer in central Texas, due to the DA academy back in the day, but could their reign be coming to an end? Athenians have been trying to build a legacy in San Antonio, where they are a fan favorite. Athenians always find international and top talent to put on the roster. Dallas Trinity’s Enzi Broussard was once in purple. If both teams bring a strong roster, this is a battle.

Danielle Gawronski - Protagonist Soccer / The Super Show / W League Show

NC Courage U23s vs Carolina Ascent II

Fri. 06/07, 12pm PT / 3pm ET at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC

I love this matchup. These are both developmental sides for two competent and well-run professional clubs, who play in the NWSL and USL Super League, respectively. I think this matchup will show who is winning the recruitment game in North Carolina and I’m all for it! Now can we get a Women's Open Cup already?

Dan Vaughn - Editor Protagonist Soccer / Super Show / W League Show

Richmond Ivy vs Annapolis Blues

Wed. 06/11, 4pm PT / 7pm ET at City Stadium in Richmond, VA

I mean, c’mon, we are talking about two teams in their respective markets that outdraw some men's sides. This game has the makings of being a long-lasting rivalry between two sides that will surely be challenging for the division.

Elliot Barr - River City 93 Podcast / Walkin’ 90 Podcast

Lane United FC vs FC Olympia

Wed. 06/18, 7pm PT / 10pm ET at Civic Park in Eugene, OR

FC Olympia won the Northwest Division last year by going undefeated with 9 wins and a draw: the second best team in the division, United PDX, is gone and so are Capital FC, one of the historically strong competitors in the division. This leaves Oregon soccer stalwart, Lane United, as their “old guard” rival and these two teams clash in matchweek one. The last time Oly visited Eugene, the hosts were battered 0-5 and I’m sure that didn’t sit well with them; neither did finishing dead last in 2024. Lane United won’t want to miss the playoffs again and should be setting off on the front foot to exact some revenge.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

Salmon Bay FC vs West Seattle Rhodies

Wed. 06/18, 7pm PT / 10pm ET at Southwest Athletic Complex in Seattle, WA

These two Pacific Northwest newcomers play their inaugural match, against each other, in the first week of the season at the Southwest Athletic Complex - it could set the pace for the division and set the stage for a great inter-city rivalry. I don’t expect much to write home about from that first game, however, because there has been a limited amount of preseason, with many players just now being set free from their collegiate programs for the summer. Instead, circle June 18th when the two Seattle teams meet again, but at Interbay Stadium instead, and by then both squads should be running like finely tuned machines.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

Lancaster Inferno vs Eagle FC

Wed. 06/18, 4pm PT / 7pm ET at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster, PA

Inferno joined the USL W League last year and immediately became a local rival with Eagle FC in the Mid Atlantic Division. Eagle FC only has two regular season losses since it joined USL W in 2023, and defeated Inferno 1-0 in their only meeting last season. In 2025 the clubs will face each other three times, but only once in Lancaster. It will be Blue Out Night on June 18th, with fans encouraged to go all-blue to support the home side.

John Howard-Fusco - Protagonist Soccer / The Super Show / W League Show

Detroit City FC vs AFC Ann Arbor

Sat. 06/21, 4pm PT / 7pm ET at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, MI

Most recently, Detroit City FC’s Women were runners-up in their inaugural season in the MASL W - while I’m not sure how many players will transition over to their outdoor season, DCFC Women are already building a legacy and a baseline of winning. Historically, however brief that may be, Detroit have also built themselves up in this league - improving year after year; from 5th in 2022, to 3rd in 2023, and winning the Central Conference / Great Lakes Division in 2024 with 10 wins, 2 Draws, and no losses in regular season play. Detroit have also dominated AFC Ann Arbor over that time; outscoring them 19 to 4 through three years of competition. Ann Arbor won the first game they ever faced eachother, 1-0 in 2022 and have lost 5 straight since then. Maybe this will be the year that changes for Ann Arbor… by the end of June we’ll have a good idea who’s looking at playoffs and who’s looking at reporting back to their college programs early.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

MN Aurora FC vs Riverlight FC

Sun. 06/22, 2pm PT / 5pm ET at TCO Stadium in Eagan, MN

Aurora are looking for a conference championship four-peat, and to continue their 3-season long regular unbeaten streak. They have a new head coach this season, Jen Larrick, but a strong roster with many returning players. River Light was one of only two teams to hold Aurora to a draw last season, and this matchup is toward the end of the campaign. Will the visitors shine through and pull off an upset? They’ve got about as good of a chance as anyone.

Andrew Nelson - Ballpark Nation / Moin Moin Moin

Pittsburgh Riveters SC vs Steel City FC

Fri. 06/27, 4pm PT / 7pm ET at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA

Its the dawn of a new era for women’s soccer in Pittsburgh. The Riverhounds organization is launching their first entry into the women’s game with the Pittsburgh Riveters, while local grassroots club Steel City FC make the leap from the UWS to the W League at the same time - giving us a first-ever Steel City Derby.

The two close the Riveters season at beautiful Highmark Stadium in what’s sure to be one of the most-attended matches, league-wide, in 2025.

Colton Coreschi - Pittsburgh Sports Now / Pittsburgh Soccer Now

Asheville City SC vs Greenville Liberty

Sat. 06/28, 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET at Greenwood Field in Asheville, NC

I don’t know if this has unlocked “derby” status yet - but it is, at the very least, a burgeoning rivalry. These two have been duking it out since the W League started and have split the series all time with three wins each, three losses each, and a draw. Liberty won their division first, back in 2022 and outscored Asheville 9-3 that season. However, Asheville have finished in 2nd for the last two years in a row and it was Liberty who have missed out on playoffs - they have outscored Greenville 5-4 since then too. If all of that it too hard to track, its this simple, these are two great squads who don’t take prisoners and this game will matter, one way or another, at the end of the season.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

San Francisco Glens vs Oakland Soul

Sun. 06/29, 2pm PT / 5pm ET at Treasure Island Stadium in San Francisco

Soul’s marquee rivalry has proven to be with the SF Glens. This time, the two sides only play once in the regular season, which will be the season finale at the Glens’ new stadium on Treasure Island. It makes for a fun away-day for Soul fans, while the match always seems to determine the fate of NorCal Division.

Jonathan Comeaux - Oakland Roots Blog

Sioux Falls City FC vs River Light FC

Sun. 06/29, 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, SD

2024 was River Light’s debut season, they finished 2nd in the Central Conference, Heartland Division, scoring 49 goals and only allowing 11 during the regular season; they were up for anybody they played.

Sioux Falls City FC joins this absolutely stacked division in 2025, but don’t worry for them… they’ll be fine! This squad went unbeaten in regular season play last year, in the WPSL, where they won the Central Northern Division and only allowed a single goal against during the season. It was a bit of shock, of course, when they saw three past them in the regional semis - they then went out on penalties.

So, the new kids on block ain’t so new and they’ll be looking make their mark in a new league this season. So, when River Light FC visit Sioux Falls City FC on the last day of the regular season, I promise a playoff spot will be on the line!

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The C Podcast

Edited by Joshua Duder
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