P R E S S  R E L E A S E

 

THIRTY-THREE EXPANSION TEAMS TO COMPETE IN WPSL DIVISION II THIS SUMMER

 

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (3/6/2025) — The Women's Premier Soccer League welcomes 33 expansion clubs from 16 states, spanning coast to coast, to WPSL Division II for the 2025 season. Today's announcement, along with the 13 returning clubs unveiled by the league yesterday, brings the total of teams to a record 46 and counting competing this summer. 

 

 

The largest influx of expansion sides into Division II this year comes from California with seven clubs: Davis Legacy SC (Sacramento), North Coast FC Sol (Petaluma), Oakland SC, Yuba Football Club (Sacramento), which will compete alongside first-division reserve sides Iron Rose FC Reserves (Roseville), Napa Valley 1839 FC Reserves, and San Francisco Elite Reserves.

 

 

Both Arizona and Virginia will see five expansion clubs each compete this summer that include a mix of independent and first-division reserve sides. Stand-alone clubs Arizona Desert Surf (Tucson), Pima County Surf (Tucson), State 48 FC Sahuaros (Phoenix), and SC Union Maricopa (Chandler) will play a full slate of matches along with PHX Heat FC Reserves (Phoenix), whose first team is making its WPSL debut this year.

 

 

Longstanding rivalries from the first division will be extended to Division II play in Virginia as four of the five expansion teams share a crest with its top-tier counterparts, Arlington Soccer will field two squads while  Alexandria Reds and UK F.C (Richmond) each enter a reserve side after coming off WPSL debuts last season, leaving Beach FC (Virginia Beach) as the only non-first division affiliated side.

 

 

With the inclusion of NTX Celtic FC (Denton), SA City Soccer Club (San Antonio), and Simply Futbol FC (Allen),Texas adds three expansion teams to an already highly competitive region. In Connecticut, league debutants Sporting CT will field a reserve team as newcomers Vale SC create a Middletown derby . 

 

 

Rounding out the Division II expansion sides are  Naples United FC (Fla.), FC Spirit (Evansville, Ind.), Warrior FC (Spencer, Iowa), Shakopee (Minneapolis, Minn.), Las Vegas Ballers (Nev.), Independence FC (Jersey City, N.J.), Atletico NM (Albuquerque, N.M.), Hudson Valley Crusaders (Cairo, N.Y.), Neuse River FA (Archer Lodge, N.C.), Flick City Channel Cats (Tulsa, Okla.), and Peoria City Reserves (Ill.), which will also back a debut in the league’s top flight this summer.

 

 

More information will be announced in the coming weeks, including the official schedule announcement in early April. The WPSL Division II runs May 5 through July 31. 

 

 

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For more information on WPSL Division II visit wpslsoccer.com or follow its social channels on Instagram, X, and Bluesky.

 

 

 

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About the WPSL Division II

Founded in 2021 as WPSL U21, the rebranded WPSL Division II structure is geared towards an introduction into the WPSL's competition and standards, while creating a true development pathway to the league's upper tier of competition. Several successful first division teams initially competed in the league's second-tier, while others use the platform to foster up-and-coming talent for higher-level first teams. WPSL Division II modified operations and performance standards are an ideal entry point for clubs looking to test the waters of regional competition beyond that of the regional youth leagues. 

 

About the Women's Premier Soccer League

The WPSL is set to open its 27th season in May 2025 remaining the largest women's soccer league in the world and the most tenured women’s league in North America. An all-time high of 150 teams will compete in the 2025 WPSL Season this summer. 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.