Meeting the Need: The WPSL Debut’s its U21 League This Summer
As America emerges from the Coronavirus pandemic, news of new opportunities to play are more than welcome. The WPSL has over 100 national women’s soccer teams, making it the largest women’s league in the world and now is providing a platform for women under 21 years of age.
The Women’s Premier Soccer League unveils the formation of a second league under the WPSL platform — WPSL U21 — which will launch this summer in selected markets across the United States.
The debut season for the 𝐖𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐔𝟐𝟏 league will run from mid-May thru late July and match day rosters will be limited to 18 players; with each club permitted to dress three players over the age of 20.
With a focus on player development, the minimum age for players is 14-years-old (as of July 21, 2021.)
The WPSL enters its 23rd season this spring after taking 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic that impacted sports throughout the world. As home to 140 clubs in 32 U.S. states, the WPSL continues to serve as the largest and longest-active women’s soccer league in the world.
Sean Jones, WPSL President
“Despite the WPSL’s continued consistent growth, there is an obvious need to add additional playing opportunities for a number of talented young players – and provide them the opportunity to compete at high levels during the summer months,”
Due to the continuous high demand for elite amateur soccer during the summer months, the WPSL has elected to immediately expand its footprint for girls and women’s soccer by adding the under-21 model to go along with its highly successful league that features many of the country’s most accomplished amateur players.
Nearly 70 percent of WPSL rosters consist of current collegiate student-athletes, and over 53% percent of players selected in the last four National Women’s Soccer League Drafts paved their way via the WPSL.
Current WPSL clubs have first-right-of-refusal to operate U21 squads within their own geographic area and the league has opened up inaugural season applications to non-WPSL squads, effective immediately.
The league will align clubs geographically and split into individual conferences and divisions with the goal to keep operating costs at a minimum and reduce travel distances and times to reduce health risks.
“To date, the initial response to the new league has been more favorable than even I anticipated…and we look forward to adding many new clubs to our U21 platform in the coming weeks.”
Teams interested in participating in WPSL U21’s inaugural season may contact league president Sean Jones via email.
The league will be accepting applications through the end of March and will unveil its roster of teams in April.
