The landscape of women’s professional soccer in North America is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Once limited to a single professional option, female players now have multiple pathways to pursue their dreams—a clear indication that the women’s game is not just growing but flourishing.
A New Era of Opportunity
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) no longer stands alone. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of the USL Super League and Canada’s Northern Super League, with second-tier leagues also taking shape. The NWSL has requested U.S. Soccer sanction a second-division league with at least 6 teams potentially launching in 2026, while WPSL Pro prepares for its 2026 debut.
“I think this is what progress looks like,” says Amanda Vandervort, president of the USL Super League. “The more options there are, whether it’s owners, investors, players, or fans, the better it is for everyone. Competition is good for the development of the game.”
Collaboration, Not Just Competition
Despite operating in the same space, these leagues aren’t necessarily rivals. The 8-team USL Super League follows an international fall-to-spring calendar and will add a 9th team next season. While it doesn’t match the NWSL’s profile or attendance figures, both leagues recognize a fundamental truth: growing women’s soccer benefits everyone.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman embraces this collaborative approach: “There are countless examples of players who were unsigned in our league who ended up going to some of those other leagues, who are still able to play the sport of soccer and continue their careers. Maybe there’s a world where they find their way back to the NWSL.”
This cooperation manifests in practical ways—the NWSL’s Washington Spirit has loaned several players to the Super League’s Dallas Trinity this season, while Gotham FC played preseason friendlies against Super League clubs.
Canada Joins the Movement
The Northern Super League, which kicked off last month, represents a watershed moment for Canadian soccer. Co-founded by former national team star Diana Matheson and supported by Christine Sinclair (international soccer’s all-time leading scorer), the league addresses a glaring gap—Canada was one of just two 2023 Women’s World Cup nations without a domestic professional league, alongside Haiti.
With players from 20 countries and a minimum salary of $50,000, the Northern Super League demonstrates serious commitment to player development and international competitiveness.
“It’s a global industry and we’re competing with leagues all over the world,” Matheson notes. “In North America specifically, I think us, the NWSL, Liga MX Femenil in Mexico, also know that we have the opportunity to really build women’s soccer in our region.”
The Established Neighbor
Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil stands as the most established women’s professional league in North America outside the NWSL, boasting 18 teams all affiliated with men’s clubs.
“The interest in women’s soccer is growing, we are in the conversation now and changing narratives,” league President Mariana Gutierrez said last fall, highlighting the sport’s growing cultural significance.
More Growth on the Horizon
The expansion continues with WPSL Pro preparing for its 2026 launch. Cleveland Soccer Group, which had originally bid for NWSL expansion, will join teams from Atlanta, Dallas, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and the San Francisco Bay Area in the league’s inaugural season.
These developments create a more complete ecosystem for women’s soccer, bridging the gap between amateur play and top-tier professional competition.
As Vandervort aptly puts it: “Rising demand calls for more options, not fewer. If you look across the landscape, across the cities, the communities, the towns, that don’t have access to women’s pro soccer today, there’s a huge gap. The more women’s soccer we have, the greater our sport will become, the more dynamic, the more exciting for fans, the more opportunity for players and coaches and staff, and everyone involved in the game.”
With multiple leagues now operating across North America, women’s soccer is entering an unprecedented era of growth—one that promises to create more opportunities for players, coaches, and fans alike.
