P R E S S R E L E A S E
WPSL GAINS GROUND IN NEW MARKET WITH LATEST EXPANSION TEAM
OKLAHOMA CITY (11/13/2024) – The Women’s Premier Soccer League officially welcomes Jackson Ignite to its growing field of teams for the 2025 season. With the announcement, Jackson Ignite becomes the league’s second Tennessee expansion ahead of the upcoming season – marking the WPSL’s first footing in the Jackson market.
“Our mission in joining the WPSL is to provide a pathway for female athletes in West Tennessee to compete at the highest level while fostering a culture of community, excellence, and opportunity,” Cesar Quispe, Jackson Ignite president, said.
“We believe that soccer can transform lives, and by joining the WPSL, Jackson Ignite aims to inspire young women in our region, offer them a platform to grow, and help build a legacy of strength and resilience in women’s sports. This is more than joining a league—it’s a commitment to the future of women’s soccer in our community.”
Located 70 miles east of Memphis on the bustling Interstate 40 corridor, Jackson Ignite is the first WPSL side to represent the West Tennessee region since the pandemic, joining well established sides in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and a fellow 2025 expansion in Murfreesboro.
Quispe founded the Ignite earlier this year (2024) as the sister club of his men’s side Jackson, TN Boom, which began play in the UPSL in 2022. He is joined by General Manager, Paul Rivas, and Director of Coaching, Briamst Castro in the day-to-day operations of the WPSL side.
“By joining the WPSL, we’re partnering with an organization that shares our commitment to player development, community engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for women in soccer,” Quispe said.
“This alignment strengthens our purpose and motivates us to provide a pathway that not only supports athletic excellence, but also fosters leadership and resilience on and off the field. Together with the WPSL, Jackson Ignite is proud to champion women’s soccer.”
The club’s commitment to serving its community extends beyond the Jackson metro and West Tennessee region. In the wake of Hurricane Helen, which devastated Greenville, Tenn. 400 miles away from Jackson, and impacted nearly 90 families, the club donated almost $15,000 in equipment to Greenville Soccer Association. Closer to home, the club leads a community recovery initiative in partnership with Jackson Area Wide Soccer, Great American Sports, All Children Play, and the Tennessee State Soccer Association.
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For more information on Jackson Ignite, visit its official website or follow its social media channels—Instagram, and Facebook.
For more information on the WPSL, visit wpslsoccer.com
About the Women’s Premier Soccer League
The WPSL completed its 26th season of play in 2024 as the longest-active women’s soccer league in the United States. Boasting more than 140 clubs nationwide while occupying 32 states coast-to-coast, the WPSL solidifies itself as the largest women’s soccer league in the world. Team rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s national team players have played in the WPSL since its inception in 1998, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, and Brandi Chastain.