November 12, 2026
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Applications are open for the league’s ramp-up season that begins on the heels of the World Cup and leads into the league’s inaugural season
OKLAHOMA CITY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026 — WPSL Pro today announced a Fall 2027 season that will run August through October, bringing competitive, elite-level women’s soccer to more cities across the country in the weeks following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ in Brazil.
It is the first step toward WPSL Pro’s inaugural season, which is currently planned for 2028.
Advancing the U.S. Girls’ and Women’s pathway strategy
This 2027 season is an example of the larger U.S. effort to connect the U.S. women’s soccer pathway from youth to college to the pros.
The ramp-up season welcomes teams from across the U.S. soccer landscape, including clubs already committed to WPSL Pro, as well as WPSL clubs and additional affiliations to be announced.
"Continuing to fill in the women’s pathway with more playing opportunities and jobs for those who want to pursue a career in women’s soccer is critical to the success of soccer in this country,” said Michael Lazar, Chief of Soccer Markets and Pathways, U.S. Soccer. "In working across the women’s soccer landscape to help create a future where women’s soccer is more accessible, visible and thriving in communities across the country, we are happy to support organizations like WPSL who are investing in the environments, pathways and opportunities to make that happen.”
Built to capture Women’s World Cup momentum
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will yet again leave the sport at a high point of attention in the United States. For cities that spend next summer watching the World Cup on screens at home or at community watch parties, this WPSL Pro season gives them an opportunity to experience the women’s game in person – which they might otherwise never have.
Twenty-seven of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas have no professional women’s soccer club of their own – and nationwide, only about two dozen of 387 metros do.
The appetite for women’s soccer is already visible, and attendance records have fallen with it. In March 2026, Denver Summit FC set the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) single-game attendance record with 63,004 fans. In August 2026, the University of Georgia women’s soccer team drew 25,433 people to their match in Athens, Georgia – an NCAA record, and nearly double the previous women’s mark. And nationally, Americans watched 28.6 billion minutes of women’s sports in the first half of 2026, up 18 percent year over year, according to Nielsen.
“The demand for more women’s soccer will only continue to grow as the U.S. comes out of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and builds toward hosting the 2028 Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031,” said Megan Oglesby, board member and investor in WPSL Pro, and owner of Carolina Core FC. “WPSL Pro seeks to be the connective force for leagues, ownership groups, players, coaches, fans and sponsors to work together and extend women’s professional soccer opportunities to more people and communities across the United States.”
How the season works
Teams will be grouped regionally and play eight to ten matches. Playoffs will follow. A champion will be crowned in October. What’s at stake in the final will be announced in 2027.
While some of the teams will debut in their markets during this competition, the season builds on infrastructure that already exists.The WPSL has operated for 28 years across approximately 200 clubs, 6,800 players and 42 states in 2026, supported by a national operations staff and officiating network.
How to get involved
Clubs interested in competing in the 2027 season can learn more at wpslpro.com. Club applications are due December 31, 2026. Participating clubs will be announced on a rolling basis, with groupings, schedules and venues to follow in 2027. Player tryouts will be coordinated and announced by participating clubs.
About WPSL Pro
WPSL Pro is a new women’s soccer league in the United States that plans to apply for Division II professional sanctioning. WPSL Pro was born out of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the largest amateur women’s soccer league in the world, which has served as the developmental home for many of the game’s greatest players, including several U.S. Women’s National Team legends. The WPSL has been in operation for 28 years and fielded approximately 200 clubs and 6800 players across 42 states in 2026.
Backed by committed founding investors, including Carolina Core Soccer Ventures and Cleveland Soccer Group, WPSL Pro combines institutional leadership and community-driven ownership. With a mission to redefine opportunities in women’s soccer, WPSL Pro is poised to become a model for sustainable growth, value creation and lasting impact in the women’s game.
Media contact
Gina Prodan Kelly, gina@wpslpro.com
