February 11, 2026
P R E S S R E L E A S E
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 10, 2026) — The U.S. Soccer Adult Council, in collaboration with the Elite Soccer Fund, announced two of the council’s annual awards will bear the names of WPSL leaders past and present, Jerry Zanelli and Kendra Halterman.
The annual awards, which honor competitive achievement, organizational leadership, and sustained contribution to the amateur game, will be presented during the U.S. Soccer Annual General Meeting in Atlanta February 19-22 in Atlanta.
“Being recognized in this way celebrates not just my work, but the countless players, team, and leaders in the women’s game,” Halterman said.
Halterman, who was named the league's third commissioner in 2024, is the namesake of the 2025 Outstanding Women's Amateur Soccer Team award. Her involvement in the WPSL spans 25 of the league’s 29-year existence, beginning as a player in 2000. She co-founded multiple teams and served as Conference Delegate and Associate Commissioner before assuming the role of commissioner before the 2024 season. For more than a decade she served on the Utah Soccer Adult Board, helping merge her home state’s youth and adult soccer organizations, where she now serves as Vice President of adult programs for the Utah Soccer Federation. Along with her role as WPSL commissioner, Halterman has long served as an advocate for women’s soccer on the national level serving on the USASA Affiliate Board representing national leagues including the WPSL, the U.S. Open Cup Disciplinary Committee, as Executive Soccer of USA working tirelessly to create opportunities for deaf and hard of-of-hearing players. She was also player and manager of Pan World, a women’s amateur team based in Salt Lake City, winners of the 2024 USASA Women’s Amateur Cup, and semifinalists in the inaugural Brandi Chastain Cup in 2025.
Zanelli, for whom the 2025 Outstanding Woman’s Amateur Soccer Club award is named, founded the WPSL in 1998 and, as the league’s first commissioner, oversaw its growth to become the largest women’s soccer league in the world. Under Zanelli, the WPSL grew exponentially from six Northern California-based teams in its inaugural year to more than 100 before his untimely death in 2018. This year, more than 180 teams will compete in the WPSL across two amateur divisions with a professional division kicking off in 2027. Following Zanelli’s passing, the WPSL championship trophy was named in his honor, underscoring his foundational role in the growth and sustainability of women’s amateur soccer in the United States. Zanelli also founded and coached the winningest club in league history, the California Storm, winners of three WPSL championships during his tenure as coach (1999, 2002, 2004), and two more under the guidance of his hand-picked successor, Jamie Levoy, in 2022 and 2024.
“Jerry’s [Zanelli] vision and commitment to women’s soccer helped build the foundation on which we all stand today,” Halterman said. “His leadership created pathways for generations of women to compete, develop, lead, and his impact continues to shape the future of women’s soccer in the United States.”
Also honored this year are MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team legend Eric Wynalda, and Tim Busch, a longtime Washington state amateur soccer administrator. The 2025 Outstanding Men’s Amateur Soccer Team award bears Wynalda’s name for his role as coach of amateur side Cal FC’s epic Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run, toppling USL and MLS teams before being ousted in the fourth round. The 2025 Outstanding Men’s Amateur Soccer Club is named for Busch, a long-time leader in adult amateur soccer at the state, regional and national levels.
“We are extremely honored to name these prestigious adult amateur awards in the names of individuals who have made a huge impact on the adult game, both on the men’s side and women’s side,” John Motta, chair of the U.S. Soccer Adult Council, said in U.S. Soccer Adult Council’s award press release.
The awards will be presented at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting February 19-22 in Atlanta.
For more information about the WPSL, visit wpslsoccer.com.
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About the Women’s Premier Soccer League
With more than 180 teams across two divisions competing in its 28th season of play, the Women’s Premier Soccer League stands as the largest women’s soccer league in the world and the longest continuously running league in North America. 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 game’s most iconic players honed their talents in the WPSL including Brandi Chastain, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle, and Catarina Macario. In 2025, more than 100 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 sanctioning by the United States Adult Soccer Association.
About the U.S. Soccer Adult Council
The U.S. Soccer Adult Council is a standing council of the United States Soccer Federation responsible for governance, policy, and strategic leadership of adult amateur soccer nationwide. The Council represents adult players, leagues, and clubs and works to grow, protect, and elevate the adult amateur game.
About the Elite Soccer Fund
The Elite Soccer Fund is a U.S. Soccer–affiliated 501(c)(3) organization created to further and support the highest level of adult amateur soccer in the United States through recognition, investment, and strategic initiatives.
