The USL Super League will kick off play in August. Designated by the US Soccer Federation as a Division 1 women’s league (alongside the more established NWSL), the league will start play with eight clubs. Here is an update on each club. Beyond The 90' is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I see this and all I see are 4 teams that still need 24 months to be ready for launch, 2 teams that might actually be ready for launch and 2 that if there was actual organization within this thing would be ready for launch.
Why do I get the pit in my stomach feeling I always tune into that this league does not kick a ball in anger in August...or does in maybe January with a 'round robin' tournament just to say they played this year. When half the league is no where near ready when by this point in the game you should already have the entire back room technical support staff ready, team making feelers for sponsorship deals and tickets being sold, and let's not forget a 'commissioner who has gone into hiding' it gives me the impression they bit off more than they could chew to start this year.
Thanks for a timely summary, Kartik! To clarify, DC United --a MLS team- is supposed to launch a women's USL Superleague side and NOT a NWSL team? Would this be the only example of a MLS team associated with the USL Superleague?
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions about NC Courage and Racing! Perhaps it's a matter of scraping together the Franchise Fee for a USL Superleague team? I imagine at this point is MORE than $2-5 million (rumored USL League One fee) but less than $20 million (umored fee for a USL Championship team)?
David responded:
"NC Courage and North Carolina FC are under joint ownership and share a stadium in Cary, NC (aka, North Carolina Triangle area).
Racing and Louisville FC are under joint ownership and share a brand new stadium in Louisville, KY.
Both of the men’s teams are currently in USL Championship"
Very much looking forward to this league, and hoping that everyone gets it in gear in time. They can't afford to have this thing held back by a couple of clubs that might have a hard time getting it together.
I would also like to bring up the elephant in the room. Has there been any talk about Racing and Courage potentially moving to this league? It feels like a "natural" thing to do.
I see this and all I see are 4 teams that still need 24 months to be ready for launch, 2 teams that might actually be ready for launch and 2 that if there was actual organization within this thing would be ready for launch.
Why do I get the pit in my stomach feeling I always tune into that this league does not kick a ball in anger in August...or does in maybe January with a 'round robin' tournament just to say they played this year. When half the league is no where near ready when by this point in the game you should already have the entire back room technical support staff ready, team making feelers for sponsorship deals and tickets being sold, and let's not forget a 'commissioner who has gone into hiding' it gives me the impression they bit off more than they could chew to start this year.
Thanks for a timely summary, Kartik! To clarify, DC United --a MLS team- is supposed to launch a women's USL Superleague side and NOT a NWSL team? Would this be the only example of a MLS team associated with the USL Superleague?
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions about NC Courage and Racing! Perhaps it's a matter of scraping together the Franchise Fee for a USL Superleague team? I imagine at this point is MORE than $2-5 million (rumored USL League One fee) but less than $20 million (umored fee for a USL Championship team)?
David responded:
"NC Courage and North Carolina FC are under joint ownership and share a stadium in Cary, NC (aka, North Carolina Triangle area).
Racing and Louisville FC are under joint ownership and share a brand new stadium in Louisville, KY.
Both of the men’s teams are currently in USL Championship"
Very much looking forward to this league, and hoping that everyone gets it in gear in time. They can't afford to have this thing held back by a couple of clubs that might have a hard time getting it together.
I would also like to bring up the elephant in the room. Has there been any talk about Racing and Courage potentially moving to this league? It feels like a "natural" thing to do.