Zanelli founded the Women's Premier Soccer League in 1998 and under his leadership and vision the league became the largest women's soccer league in the world with more than 100 clubs. Zanelli was a true pioneer of the women's game.
Zanelli also founded and coached the historic California Storm who has been part of the WPSL since its inaugural year. With the Storm, Zanelli reached six WPSL Finals, winning three (1999, 2002, 2004).
On January 26, 2018, at the league's Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas, the United States Adult Soccer Association president John Motta presented the trophy to Zanelli in his honor.
