Latest news with #USLSuperLeague
Axios
3 days ago
- Sport
- Axios
Dallas Trinity FC faces must-win game to end first season
Dallas Trinity FC could be on the brink of making the playoffs in their first season. Why it matters: Dallas is becoming a hub for professional soccer, with the professional women's soccer team, FC Dallas and another men's team on the way. The region is also preparing to host the FIFA Men's World Cup next year. The latest: Dallas Trinity is fifth in the USL Super League, with 11 wins, seven draws and nine losses. They face top-ranked Carolina Ascent FC at 7pm Saturday in Fair Park. The must-win game marks the end of the regular season. State of play: The team has steadily built a fanbase. Nearly 5,000 fans, on average, attend the home matches at the Cotton Bowl. The upstart USL Super League rivals the National Women's Soccer League. The Dallas Trinity name and logo were rolled out last May, just a couple of months before the season kicked off in August. The big picture: Dallas has the fifth strongest soccer economy among U.S. cities, per the latest ranking from the Sports Business Journal. The ranking measures fan enthusiasm, venue development and brand investment. Youth soccer involvement plays a large role in the growth of the sport in the region. Zoom in: Dallas Trinity officials regularly visit youth teams to drum up support for the team and the sport. The players hang out after matches to sign autographs, and kids have the opportunity to meet the professionals and walk with them on the pitch. What they're saying: The goal during next year's World Cup is to pitch the Dallas region as a possible host site for the 2031 Women's World Cup. "It's very important for us to make sure that we show FIFA that Dallas embraces women's sports, women's soccer, and cares about all constituents within the community," Dallas Trinity founder and chief operating officer Trip Neil tells Axios. Threat level: Dallas Trinity must win Saturday to advance to the playoffs. Dallas has won, lost and drawn in three meetings with Carolina. Carolina and Tampa Bay Sun FC have already clinched a playoff berth. Zoom out: Spokane Zephyr FC and Fort Lauderdale United FC are also in contention for the remaining two playoff spots. Two semifinal matches start June 7, and the first-ever USL Super League Final is the weekend of June 14. If you go: There is a pre-match concert before Saturday night's game and a fireworks show afterward for fan appreciation night.
7NEWS
14-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Matildas blow with Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry to sit out two-match series with Argentina
The Matildas have suffered yet another brutal blow to the team with superstar vice-captain Ellie Carpenter to sit out of the upcoming two-match series against Argentina in Australia. Carpenter has been granted personal leave and, in more bad news for the 23-player squad, West Ham midfielder Katrina Gorry has also been ruled out of the series with personal leave. Australian captain Sam Kerr was again not named and high-profile striker Manchester City's Mary Fowler is also out as she recovers from her knee injury. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold (lower leg) and midfielder Tameka Yallop (hamstring) have also been ruled out of the friendlies due to injury. Football Australia did not got into further detail about their absence. The absence of the high-profile stars is sad news for fans who were hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite players. The two-match series will kick off in Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) on May 30 with another game in Canberra (GIO Stadium) on June 2. While Kerr is still missing, Football Australia has named Amy Sayer, who has successfully completed her rehabilitation following an ACL injury sustained in May 2024. Goalkeeper Jada Whyman is also back in the squad after an extended injury layoff, while Morgan Aquino earns a recall following consistent performances in the USL Super League. The Matildas will look to build on their strong results against South Korea last month, having won both matches. Australia are yet to name a new coach, who had been expected to take the reins from interim coach Tom Sermanni for these upcoming games. Joe Montemurro was reported as the leading contender last week. He is poised to leave French club Lyon at the end of the season to take up the Matildas role, which has remained vacant amid a protracted recruitment process since Tony Gustavsson departed last August. Sermanni, who welcomed Kerr back into the squad before the Korea games (even though she did not play), said the Argentina matches were an important step towards the Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Australia next year. 'We were pleased with how the group responded during the Korea Republic series as it showed that we have solid foundations as we continue to build depth and work on strengthening areas of improvement,' Sermanni said. 'Every window brings us closer to the Asian Cup, and each match is a chance to improve our identity, develop our playing style further, and build the cohesion we'll need to be successful next year,' he said. Matildas 23-player squad
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Still no Sam Kerr as Matildas name under-strength squad for Argentina friendlies
Matildas captain Sam Kerr is missing from Australia's squad to face Argentina in football friendlies in Melbourne on 30 May and Canberra on 2 June. Matildas captain Sam Kerr is missing from Australia's squad to face Argentina in football friendlies in Melbourne on 30 May and Canberra on 2 June. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP The long wait for Sam Kerr's return to competitive football shows no sign of ending soon with the Matildas skipper missing from Australia's squad for upcoming friendlies against Argentina. Kerr is into a 16th month of recuperation after undergoing surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained in January 2024, and while she tentatively returned to the training field at her club Chelsea towards the end of the Women's Super League season, she is not yet deemed ready for a recall to the national set up. Advertisement Related: Mary Fowler's ACL injury leaves Matildas facing up to Asian Cup without key weapon | Joey Lynch Kerr tagged along as a cheerleader last time the Matildas ran out for two friendlies against South Korea in April, but her ongoing absence in a playing capacity has raised questions over whether she will return at all before next year's Asian Cup in Australia. Games against Slovenia and Panama were locked in this week for July, and there is just one further international window to get Matildas game time under her belt before the tournament on home soil kicks off in March. Kerr, who announced the birth of her first child last week, is joined in the long-term injury list by Mary Fowler – another victim of an ACL injury – while experienced duo Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry have been left out of this latest squad after being granted personal leave. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and midfielder Tameka Yallop will also miss the two-match series against world No 33 Argentina – to be played in Melbourne on 30 May and Canberra on 2 June – with respective lower leg and hamstring injuries. Advertisement The absences pave the way for several fringe players and one new call-up to gain experience in an international camp. Uncapped keeper Morgan Aquino earns a recall to the squad following consistent performances in the USL Super League, while Isabel Gomez is rewarded for her scintillating A-League Women form for grand finalists Central Coast Mariners. Kahli Johnson, the 21-year-old former Western United and now Calgary Fire attacker, has been called up for the first time, while Amy Sayer is welcomed back into the fold after successfully rehabilitating from her own ACL injury. Goalkeeper Jada Whyman also returns after an extended injury layoff. The games against Argentina come off the back of two encouraging wins against Korea, which were viewed as something of a return to form for the team following a disastrous She Believes Cup campaign in the US. Related: Injured Sam Kerr's return date remains a mystery, says Chelsea coach Advertisement 'We were pleased with how the group responded during the Korea Republic series as it showed that we have solid foundations as we continue to build depth and work on strengthening areas of improvement,' interim coach Tom Sermanni said. 'This squad selection rewards players who have performed well, both here in Australia and overseas. It's important we continue to create a competitive environment while also giving opportunities to those who've earned their place.' 'Every window brings us closer to the Asian Cup, and each match is a chance to improve our identity, develop our playing style further, and build the cohesion we'll need to be successful next year.' Matildas squad Morgan Aquino, Tegan Micah, Jada Whyman; Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Courtney Nevin, Natasha Prior, Jamilla Rankin; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Leah Davidson, Isabel Gomez, Amy Sayer, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler; Caitlin Foord, Bryleeh Henry, Michelle Heyman, Kahli Johnson, Holly McNamara, Kaitlyn Torpey
San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
The women's soccer landscape in North America includes established-leagues, emerging newcomers
What does the landscape for women's professional soccer look like in North America? The National Women's Soccer League, which kicked off in 2013, is arguably the top league in the region. Mexico's Liga MX Femenil is in its eighth season. But in the past year, two other women's leagues have jumped into the fray: the USL Super League, which is in the midst of its first season, and Canada's Northern Super League. Two other leagues could join next year, occupying the tier below the NWSL and USL Super League on the women's soccer pyramid in the United States. National Women's Soccer League After two other attempts at professional women's soccer in the United States failed, the NWSL finally took hold. Founded with eight teams, the NWSL was boosted in the early days by the U.S., Canadian and Mexican soccer federations, which paid the salaries of their national teams players who played in the league. When Denver and Boston join next season, the NWSL will have 16 teams. Team valuations have risen dramatically in three years, with Angel City valued highest, at $250 million. The league has been able to attract some high-profile sponsors, including Nike, Ally Bank, Elf Cosmetics and AT&T. Liga MX Femenil The women's counterpart to Liga MX in Mexico has 18 teams, all associated with men's clubs. The league, founded in 2017, features two competitions each year: the Apertura that runs from late summer through the fall and the Clausura, which runs from January to May, similar to the Liga MX men. The league has attracted high-profile foreign players including Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso and France's Amandine Henry. Big-name sponsors include Nike and Amazon. Mexico also has a lower division, Liga TDP Femenil, but it is not professional. USL Super League Nearing the conclusion of its debut season, the league sits on the top tier of women's soccer alongside the NWSL, but it does not share the same status in the U.S. ecosystem, largely because it is new and teams are located in some smaller markets. The Super League has eight teams with a ninth set to join next year. Investors are taking notice, and Gainbridge financial services company will be the league's title sponsor next season. Northern Super League Canada's first pro league kicked off in April with six teams: the Halifax Tides, Montreal Roses, AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild, Ottawa Rapid and Vancouver Rise. One of the highest-profile players in Quinn, who won a gold medal with Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. Quinn scored the league's first goal, converting a penalty for a 1-0 Vancouver victory over Calgary in front of more than 14,000 fans at BC Place. Sponsors of the league include Coca-Cola, Toyota and DoorDash. WPSL Pro This second-division league will launch next year with a focus on developing players. The league got a boost from the Cleveland Soccer Group, which pivoted to WPSL Pro when it did not land an NWSL team in the latest round of expansion. Cleveland's group is fielding a team and investing in the league itself. Cleveland will be joined in the startup league by teams in Atlanta, Dallas, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and the San Francisco Bay Area. NWSL Division II League The NWSL recently confirmed it had asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a lower-division women's professional soccer league that could launch as early as next year. With at least six teams, the new league seeks to develop players who aren't quite ready for the top level. U.S. Soccer has certain conditions for Division II sanctioning, including a minimum number of teams and stadiums that seat at least 2,000. In the case of the NWSL, all the lower-division teams would be affiliated with top-tier clubs, sharing ownership and infrastructure. ___
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
The women's soccer landscape in North America includes established-leagues, emerging newcomers
What does the landscape for women's professional soccer look like in North America? The National Women's Soccer League, which kicked off in 2013, is arguably the top league in the region. Mexico's Liga MX Femenil is in its eighth season. But in the past year, two other women's leagues have jumped into the fray: the USL Super League, which is in the midst of its first season, and Canada's Northern Super League. Two other leagues could join next year, occupying the tier below the NWSL and USL Super League on the women's soccer pyramid in the United States. National Women's Soccer League After two other attempts at professional women's soccer in the United States failed, the NWSL finally took hold. Founded with eight teams, the NWSL was boosted in the early days by the U.S., Canadian and Mexican soccer federations, which paid the salaries of their national teams players who played in the league. When Denver and Boston join next season, the NWSL will have 16 teams. Team valuations have risen dramatically in three years, with Angel City valued highest, at $250 million. The league has been able to attract some high-profile sponsors, including Nike, Ally Bank, Elf Cosmetics and AT&T. Liga MX Femenil The women's counterpart to Liga MX in Mexico has 18 teams, all associated with men's clubs. The league, founded in 2017, features two competitions each year: the Apertura that runs from late summer through the fall and the Clausura, which runs from January to May, similar to the Liga MX men. The league has attracted high-profile foreign players including Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso and France's Amandine Henry. Big-name sponsors include Nike and Amazon. Mexico also has a lower division, Liga TDP Femenil, but it is not professional. USL Super League Nearing the conclusion of its debut season, the league sits on the top tier of women's soccer alongside the NWSL, but it does not share the same status in the U.S. ecosystem, largely because it is new and teams are located in some smaller markets. The Super League has eight teams with a ninth set to join next year. Investors are taking notice, and Gainbridge financial services company will be the league's title sponsor next season. Northern Super League Canada's first pro league kicked off in April with six teams: the Halifax Tides, Montreal Roses, AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild, Ottawa Rapid and Vancouver Rise. One of the highest-profile players in Quinn, who won a gold medal with Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. Quinn scored the league's first goal, converting a penalty for a 1-0 Vancouver victory over Calgary in front of more than 14,000 fans at BC Place. Sponsors of the league include Coca-Cola, Toyota and DoorDash. WPSL Pro This second-division league will launch next year with a focus on developing players. The league got a boost from the Cleveland Soccer Group, which pivoted to WPSL Pro when it did not land an NWSL team in the latest round of expansion. Cleveland's group is fielding a team and investing in the league itself. Cleveland will be joined in the startup league by teams in Atlanta, Dallas, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and the San Francisco Bay Area. NWSL Division II League The NWSL recently confirmed it had asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a lower-division women's professional soccer league that could launch as early as next year. With at least six teams, the new league seeks to develop players who aren't quite ready for the top level. U.S. Soccer has certain conditions for Division II sanctioning, including a minimum number of teams and stadiums that seat at least 2,000. In the case of the NWSL, all the lower-division teams would be affiliated with top-tier clubs, sharing ownership and infrastructure. ___ AP soccer:
