NWSL’s commissioner Jessica Berman recently called the NWSL a ‘superpower’ while speaking at a soccer conference in London. She said so because the league and its clubs are independent from the men’s league, unlike its European counterparts. In a move reflecting its northward journey, the NWSL will welcome 2 expansion teams- Bay FC and Utah Royals in 2024. However, the league is no longer alone in the US women’s soccer’s top flight. Last month, the US Soccer Federation granted the USL Super League a Division 1 status. Notably, no league system in the world has two separate soccer leagues competing in the top tier.

The USL Super League, set to debut in August 2024, is smaller than Jessica Berman’s league. It houses only 8 teams compared to NWSL’s 15. However, certain key differences could help the USL SL challenge the NWSL at the peak of women’s soccer in America.

Can the USL Super League compete and threaten the NWSL?

Next week, the NWSL will commence its 12th season fresh off record attendances last year and a $250 million media rights deal. Besides, numerous NWSL teams have lured superstar investors, including sports icons and Hollywood A-listers. Hence, the USL Super League won’t initially be a competition to its seasoned counterpart. However, the Super League has the edge in certain areas. Firstly, the USL clubs won’t have a salary cap, as opposed to their NWSL counterparts. We have seen salary cap restrictions hampering the rosters of clubs in the MLS and the NWSL.

Without a salary cap, the USL clubs are better equipped to negotiate for big stars in the soccer market. Besides, the USL Super League, unlike the NWSL, will not use a college draft. This means young players could choose the club where they want to go pro. Furthermore, USL clubs already have an existing academy infrastructure, allowing them to acquire young talent from around the world, similar to European clubs. Besides salary cap and college draft, other factors also distinguish the Super League from the NWSL and perhaps even give it an edge.

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USL Super League calendar and teams

The NWSL runs on a March-November calendar. Whereas, the USL Super League mirrors the European system with a fall-to-spring calendar. 8 clubs from different metropolitan markets will feature in this year’s USL Super League. Teams from Brooklyn, Charlotte, Dallas–Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Lexington, Spokane, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C. will compete in the Super League. Notably, it features a Dallas-based club, which is absent in the NWSL.

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Besides, the USL has two separate clubs, each representing Florida and Washington. The NWSL only features one club in these states. Since it takes north of $50 million for expansion teams to join the NWSL, future team owners would consider the USL Super League as an alternative and cheaper bet, thereby facilitating its growth. Anyhow, the stakeholders of both the top leagues view the Super League’s inception as a boost to women’s soccer.

Only time will tell if a clash between the two top leagues calls for a merger in the future.

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