W-League facts for kids
| Founded | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States Canada |
| Confederation | US Soccer |
| Divisions | 4 |
| Number of teams | 27 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | None |
| Relegation to | None |
| Current champions | Atlanta Silverbacks Women |
| Most championships | Boston Renegades Long Island Lady Riders Pali Blues Raleigh Wings Vancouver Whitecaps Women (2 titles each) |
| TV partners | Fox Soccer Channel |
| Website | Official site in English: http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/ |
The USL W-League was a national women's soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was one of the top women's soccer leagues in North America, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer.
The W-League was very important for helping women soccer players grow their skills in North America. It was also an "open league," which meant that college players could play alongside experienced international players. This helped young players learn from the best. The league was managed by the United Soccer Leagues system, which also runs men's soccer leagues like USL Pro and the USL Premier Development League.
Contents
Teams and Divisions in 2011
In 2011, the W-League had many teams organized into different groups called conferences and divisions. This helped teams play against others that were geographically close.
Eastern Conference Teams
The Eastern Conference included teams from the eastern parts of the United States. It was divided into two smaller groups.
Northeast Division Squads
This division had teams like the D.C. United Women, Long Island Rough Riders, and the New Jersey Wildcats. These teams played against each other during the season.
Atlantic Division Squads
Teams in the Atlantic Division included the Atlanta Silverbacks Women, Charlotte Lady Eagles, and the Hampton Roads Piranhas. These teams were located further south in the eastern region.
Central Conference Teams
The Central Conference mainly featured teams from the Great Lakes region, including many from Canada.
Great Lakes Division Squads
This division had a mix of Canadian and American teams. Examples include the Hamilton FC Rage, Laval Comets, Ottawa Fury Women, and the Rochester Ravens.
Western Conference Teams
The Western Conference covered teams from the western United States and Canada.
Pacific and Mountain Squads
Teams in this conference included the Colorado Force, Pali Blues, Seattle Sounders Women, and the Vancouver Whitecaps Women. These teams often traveled long distances to play their games.
Images for kids
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USA States with W-League teams are highlighted in red, Canadian Provinces with W-League teams are in dark red
