The South Region has a long history of producing surprise teams. Last year it was the Charlotte Eagles, which rode a wave of late-season momentum all the way to the club’s first WPSL championship. Joining Charlotte as one of the preseason teams to beat in the South Region is the 2022 WPSL Championships semifinalist, Nashville Rhythm F.C. out of the Southeast Conference and the West Florida Flames out of the Sunshine Conference. 

 

1.           CHARLOTTE EAGLES  Atlantic Conference —Carolinas Division

The reigning league champions look to make history as the only team to repeat as WPSL Champions in the 26-year league history. The road back to Stillwater for the Eagles will be an unfamiliar one, with three Carolinas Division teams new to the league this season. The Eagles made a late season run last year after finishing second in the Southeast Conference going 5-1-2, knocking off Nashville Rhythm F.C. in the South Region Playoffs Final 5-4.  
 

Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

May 18 @ Trinity Fire                              
May 24 Port City FC                 
*May 29 @ (8) Women’s Football Club of Charlotte       
June 1 @ Port City FC                             
*June 5 (8) Women’s Football Club of Charlotte
June 15 @ Neuse River Futbol Alliance
June 22 Neuse River Futbol Alliance
June 29 Trinity Fire

 

2.           NASHVILLE RHYTHM F.C.  Southeast Conference

Unbeaten in 2023 regular season play, Nashville finished last season 7-0-1, ranked first in the South Region and sixth nationally. They were denied a return trip to the WPSL Championships in Stillwater by eventual WPSL champions Charlotte Eagles in a 5-4 barnburner in the South Region Playoffs final. 
 

                Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

               May 18 Atlanta Fire United 
               May 24 @ Chattanooga FC             
               *June 1 @ (6) Georgia Impact          
               June 2 FC Birmingham                           
               June 7 UFA Gunners
               June 12 FC Nashville Wolves
               *June 22 @ (9) 856 Alliance
               June 29 @ Decatur FC

 

3.           WEST FLORIDA FLAMES  Sunshine Conference

Divisional winners by a single point in 2023, the Brandon-based club is once again in for a tight title race this season in the reconfigured Sunshine Conference. The Flames went 5-1-2 last season, outscoring opponents 29-6.

               Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

*May 18 (4) Seminole Ice
May 25 @ AGC Football
*June 1 (5) FC Prime
June 2 @ Dade County FC
June 8 @ Jacksonville Armada FC
June 15 Cape Coral Cyclones
June 29 Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC
June 30 @ Fusion FC

 

4.           SEMINOLE ICE Sunshine Conference

A single point shy of the division title in its debut WPSL season, Seminole Ice looks to improve on its 5-1-1 record in the Sunshine Conference this season. The Sanford-based club was the top defensive side in divisional play in 2023, conceding only three goals, finishing the season ranked eighth in the region.  

             Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

*May 18 @ (3) West Florida Flames
June 1 Fusion FC
June 8 Cape Coral Cyclones
June 15 @ Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC
*June 22 @ (5) FC Prime
June 23 @ AGC Football
June 29 Dade County Football Club
June 30 Jacksonville Armada FC U-23

 

5.           FC PRIME Sunshine Conference

Winners of the Sunshine Conference with a 6-1-0 record in divisional play, the Tamarac, Fla.-based club finished 2023 ranked 24th nationally and fifth in the South Region. FC Prime outscored opponents 31-9 in league play enroute to its first playoff berth in three WPSL seasons. 

             Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

May 18 Jacksonville Armada FC U-23
May 22 @ AGC Football
May 29 Dade County Football Club
*June 1 @ (3) West Florida Flames
June 9 Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC
June 15 @ Fusion FC
*June 22 (4) Seminole Ice
 June 30 @ Cape Coral Cyclones

 

6.           GEORGIA IMPACT Southeast Conference

Goal differential is all that separated the Georgia Impact and eventual WPSL champions Charlotte Eagles for second place in the Southeast Conference last season. The Impact went 5-1-2 in conference play, with a plus-14 goal differential to finish 2023 ranked 10th in the South Region.  

             Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

*June 1 (2) Nashville Rhythm F.C.
June 7 @ Decatur FC
June 12 @ Atlanta Fire United
June 15 FC Birmingham
June 19 UFA Gunners
June 21 Chattanooga FC
June 22 @ FC Nashville Wolves
*June 30 @ (9) 865 Alliance
               

7.           HOUSTON ACES Lone Star Conference

Entering its eighth WPSL season, the Houston Aces are the most tenured club in the South Region and newly aligned Lone Star conference, with a 51-18-9 all-time WPSL record. The Aces went 6-2-2 in conference play in 2023, with a plus-nine goal differential. 

 

Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

May 18 SouthStar FC
*May 24 @ (10) Austin Rise FC
May 29 @ Futbolera Select
June 1 Classics Elite SA
June 8 @ San Antonio Runners
June 12 Futbolera Select
June 15 @ Classics Elite SA
June 21 San Antonio Runners
June 30 @ SouthStar FC
*July 6 (10) Austin Rise

 

8.           WOMEN’S FOOTBALL CLUB OF CHARLOTTE  Atlantic Conference — Carolinas Division

After finishing a respectable 4-2-2 in Southeast Conference play in 2023, the Women’s Football Club of Charlotte moves to the Atlantic Division’s Carolina Division. Entering its fourth WPSL season, Women’s Football Club of Charlotte is 12-8-4 all-time.  

              Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

*May 29 (1) Charlotte Eagles
June 1 @ Trinity Fire
*June 6 @ (1) Charlotte Eagles
June 8 Neuse River Futbol Alliance
June 11 @ Neuse River Futbol Alliance
June 19 Port City FC
June 22 Trinity Fire
June 26 @ Port City FC

 

9.           865 ALLIANCE Southeast Conference

Entering its third WPSL season, the Knoxville, Tenn.-based club finished in the middle of the crowded Southeast Conference table in 2023 going, 4-2-2 with a plus-19 goal differential. 

             Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

May 25 UFA Gunners
June 1 FC Birmingham
June 2 @ Chattanooga FC
June 8 @ Atlanta Fire United
June 15 @ Decatur FC
*June 22 (2) Nashville Rhythm F.C.
June 27 @ FC Nashville Wolves
*June 30 (6) Georgia Impact

               

10.        AUSTIN RISE FC Lone Star Conference

Going 4-3-3 in its debut WPSL season, the Rise is the second ranked team in the newly realigned Lone Star Conference. With league experience entering this season, the Rise looks to build on its plus-two goal differential from last season. 

             Schedule *Ranked Opponent (Regional Ranking)

May 18 @ Classics Elite SA
*May 24 (7) Houston Aces
May 31 San Antonio Runners
June 8 @ Futbolera Select
June 12 SouthStar FC
June 15 @ SouthStar FC
June 21 Classics Elite SA
June 27 @ San Antonio Runners
June 29 Futbolera Select
*July 6 @ (7) Houston Aces

 

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Rankings are compiled by RankR, featuring the Elo Ranking System, an objective, performance based ranking order based on record, goals for and against, match location, relative strength of opponent, and playoff matches. To avoid any subjective or biased results, human voting is not part of the Elo Ranking System process.