March 3, 2026
Photo Cred: Cody Roper, 2025 WPSL Championship
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 27, 2026) — Five-time WPSL champions, California Storm, was named the Jerry Zanelli Outstanding Women’s Amateur Club last month at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting in Atlanta.
Storm was one of two WPSL clubs to take home awards named for WPSL and women’s soccer icons this year. Reigning WPSL champions Sporting CT was also recognized with the Kendra Halterman Outstanding Women’s Amateur Team award.
Both awards were named after women’s soccer pioneers and WPSL icons.
Storm, one of the league’s founding clubs, was recognized for its overall achievement as a club. Founded in 1995, the Storm is the winningest team in WPSL history with an all-time record of 250-36-55, including 17 postseason appearances, six West Region titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2022, 2024, 2025), and five WPSL Championship trophies (1999, 2002, 2004, 2022, 2024).
Some of the most iconic names in U.S. Women’s Soccer have played for the Storm including Alex Morgan, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, and Julie Foudy. In July, the Storm will compete in the final of the Brandi Chastain Cup, which will determine the top amateur women’s team in the United States.
The Storm beat out Annapolis Lady Blues, Minnesota Aurora FC, NC Courage U23, New En saw gland Mutiny, Richmond Ivy, and Sporting CT for the award bearing Zanelli’s name.
Zanelli was a pioneer in women’s soccer. He founded and coached the Storm to three WPSL championships and founded and served as commissioner of the WPSL in 1998 until his untimely death in 2018. The WPSL championship trophy bears his name.
“Jerry’s [Zanelli] vision and commitment to women’s soccer helped build the foundation on which we all stand today,” Halterman, who has named WPSL commissioner in 2004, said. “His leadership created a pathway for generations of women to compete, develop, and lead. His impact continues to shape the future of the game.”
