Women’s Pro USL Super Soccer League Unveils Markets, Partners, Angel Reese
Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 01:47PM By Barry Janoff
UPDATED June 13, 2024: The USL Super League, the Div. I women’s pro soccer league beginning play in the U.S. this summer, and Peacock today said the streaming service wold become the “official home of the USL Super League,” via a multi-year agreement as part of an expanded partnership with NBCUniversal.
Starting with the USL Super League’s weekend Aug. 17-18, every regular season and playoff match – 115 matches, combined – will be available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
May 21, 2024: The professional women’s USL Super League has unveiled the initial group of markets for its inaugural season, scheduled to begin this August: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort-Worth, Lexington, Phoenix, Spokane, Tampa Bay, Tucson and Washington DC.
The Washington DC Power FC club is led by an ownership group inclusive of prominent community and business leaders from the DMV area — including WNBA rookie Angel Reese — in partnership with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United,
“I want to help grow women’s sports and elevate female athletes across the board,” Reese, said via Power FC. “We’re taking over, and I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community.”
“Angel’s decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking,” Jason Levien, D.C. United CEO and co-chairman, said via the club.
“As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women’s sports in the DMV as well as globally while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking forward to her partnership in the boardroom as an equity partner.”
“Today marks a major milestone for the United Soccer League as we take another step in building an integrated women’s soccer network unlike any other."
Initial markets for subsequent seasons (pending completion of a stadium project) include Chattanooga, Tenn.; Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Fla., Madison Wisc., and Oakland, Calif.
Jacksonville is led by a local ownership group that includes former NFL quarterback and 2007 UFlorida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
In February 2024, the Super League was granted Div. I status by U.S. Soccer. The league is owned and operated by the United Soccer League.
The USL Super League said it “helps address the opportunity gap between men’s and women’s professional soccer in the United States, home of the world’s most successful women’s national team.”
The USL said there are currently 101 professional men’s soccer teams in the U.S. but just 14 professional women’s soccer teams, all with the National Women’s Soccer League, also a USSF Div. 1 circuit. NWSL plans to expand to 16 teams by 2026.
“Today marks a major milestone for the United Soccer League as we take another step in building an integrated women’s soccer network unlike any other,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said via the organization.
“Our aim is to make the USL Super League globally recognized and admired for its financial stability, operational excellence, community building and high-level competition.”
According to Papadakis, “We are establishing and growing our national footprint while ensuring that all our teams are owners or primary tenants of a soccer stadium. We are aligning our calendar and roster rules with the global game.
Partnerships include Legends, Octagon and SportFive.
Capelli Sport is the league’s official uniform and on-field apparel partner.
Legends, a global premium experiences company, will support the USL Super League’s partnership sales and stadium commercial opportunities.
Octagon, a global consulting company with more than $14 billion in media rights under advisory, will help manage the USL Super League’s domestic media rights sales process.
Global sports marketing agency SportFive will help the USL Super League secure key international media distribution partnerships across television and digital platforms. SportFive also assists with USL’s sports betting streaming and data partnerships globally.
“The USL Super League aspires to be a global leader in women’s football, and we look forward to working together with all stakeholders to help shape the future of the game for women and girls in our country, across the region, and around the world,” Amanda Vandervort, USL Super League president, said via the soccer circuit.
“Our aim is to significantly expand opportunities in women’s soccer through strategic growth, build a pathway that connects talent with opportunity, and engage communities by celebrating a universal passion for the game expressed through local culture.”
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