November 9, 2026
P R E S S R E L E A S E
OKLAHOMA CITY (November 9, 2026) — Competition in the Northern California market will reach new heights in the 29th season of Women’s Premier Soccer League play with the addition of 2026 WPSL Division II Redwoods Conference finalist, Placer United Soccer Club. With the announcement, the Rocklin-based side becomes the third Northern California WPSL Division II club to make the jump to the WPSL’s top-flight, joining Redwoods Conference champions, Salinas Cosmos F.C. for the 2027 season, and Yuba Football Club in 2026.
“Competing in the WPSL’s first division is an exciting step forward for Placer United and our commitment to growing the women’s game,” Ron Benjamin, Placer United Soccer Club director of coaching, said. “Competing at this level allows our younger players to see firsthand what is possible through hard work, dedication, and passion for the game, helping shape the future of women’s soccer in our community.”
Since its founding in 1982, Placer United Soccer Club has grown to be one of the elite developmental clubs in Northern California that emphasizes player-first development, with the mission to educate and inspire participants to become lifelong supporters of the game by offering recreational, competitive, and elite national league competition.
Placer United debuted its women’s side during the 2026 WPSL Division II season. The club went 5W-2D-1L in Capital Division play before defeating North Coast FC Sol 1-0 in the Redwood Conference semifinal and securing its place in the conference championship against would-be champions Salinas Cosmos F.C., In its inaugural season, the club outscored its competition 45 to eight, earning five shutouts over 10 matches.
Placer United’s 2027 season will be led by co-head coaches Chris Starr and Jason Gantt. Placer United’s Coach of the Year (2023-2024) Steven Smith will also contribute to the coaching staff as an assistant.
Starr brings more than 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, high school, and competitive youth soccer. A former collegiate and professional player, Starr holds multiple USSF United Soccer Coaches certificates, including a specialized diploma in goalkeeper coaching and performance analysis.
“We want to build a program that inspires the next generation of young girls at Placer United, showing them that their soccer journey doesn’t have to end after high school or college,” Starr said. “We’re here to compete, develop players, and help grow the women’s game.”
Gantt brings more than 25 years of coaching experience and a life-long connection to Placer United as a standout youth player for the club before a successful collegiate career at Sacramento State University, where he was inducted into the Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame. Gnatt then went on to play professionally domestically. Since 2009 Gnatt served as head coach of the Sierra College women’s program. Gnatt holds a USSF A Coaching License, and United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma.
“Competing in the WPSL is a natural extension of that commitment to the women’s game. It provides a competitive pathway for our players beyond youth soccer, connects our current athletes with collegiate and experienced players, and gives young girls role models they can see competing at a high level right here in their own community,” Gnatt said.
The 29th WPSL season runs from mid-May through mid-July. The league’s official national alignment will be announced at the WPSL Annual General Meeting at the beginning of the new year. The full 2027 WPSL schedule will be announced in March.
###
For more information about Placer United Soccer Club visit https://www.placerunited.com, and follow on Instagram and Facebook.
About the Women’s Premier Soccer League
With more than 180 teams competing across two divisions in 2026, the Women’s Premier Soccer League stands as the largest women’s soccer league in the world and is the longest continuously running women’s soccer league in North America, crowning Kansas City Current II as its 28th league champion in July. Launched with eight teams in Northern California in 1998, the WPSL’s two divisions now span 150 cities in 38 states, from the Pacific Northwest to South Florida, New England to Southern California. Some of the games most iconic players honed their talents in the WPSL including Brandi Chastain, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle, and Catarina Macario. In 2026, more than 125 WPSL alumnae played professionally in leagues across the globe, dominated rosters in the 2025 NCAA Division I College Cup, and MAC Hermann Trophy balloting. The WPSL is one of the leading pillars in women’s soccer in the United States and remains committed to its mission of advancing the game through long-term impact and its affiliations with the United States Soccer Federation and Tier 1 League sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association.
