“All are standalone teams…they financially can support themselves,” remarked Angel City star Katie Zelem, praising the financial independence of NWSL clubs—unlike many European teams. For someone who has barely spent a year in the States but boasts over a decade of experience at the highest levels with Liverpool, Juventus, and Manchester United, those words are nothing short of a knighthood. But consider that just one of the many reasons why the American women’s league stands above other foreign leagues, as veteran Darian Jenkins pointed out a unique “mentality” factor that subtly takes a jab at Europe.

The ardent soccer fraternity never runs out of debate when it comes to comparing the best leagues in the world. Mostly in the women’s game, the argument usually surrounds the NWSL and England’s WSL. Be it talent, teams, exposure, or opportunities, both leagues have a lot to offer. Yet, in the eyes of Jenkins—who in the name of foreign prospects has played for Australia’s Melbourne Victory and French side Bordeaux—it’s the American women’s league that has the place on the top.

“I think this league [NWSL] is so built on that [winning] mentality,” began Darian Jenkins, while speaking on The Attacking Third podcast. “I think almost every team has that, ‘Never say die,’ even when things are going bad,” added the retired forward, highlighting the optimism of NWSL teams that offer them more than just an “extra push of energy.”

To further strengthen her claim, the former UCLA Bruins star drew parallels between the NWSL and other foreign leagues. For instance, England’s WSL is typically dominated by Chelsea, who have clinched the title nine times out of 15, including six in a row. In France’s Division 1 Féminine, Olympique Lyonnais have reigned supreme, winning 17 of the last 18 seasons.

Even Spain’s Liga F is a one-sided affair, with Barcelona Femení having secured five consecutive titles. Not to mention, the Catalan ladies are also setting their sights on a third straight UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy. However, the NWSL, you ask? Well, one can assure you there is no such thing as utter dominance by any single franchise, with five different champions being crowned in the last five years.

This is something that Jenkins absolutely loves about the National Women’s Soccer League. That explains why she seamlessly calls it the best league in the world. “People have this argument about whether the WSL was the most competitive league in the world or it’s NWSL,” she said. “And I think looking at that, it’s clearly the NWSL.”

There you go; we guess it’s a point to NWSL, who seem to have outshined all the European leagues with this factor. But if you think its only Jenkins who is rallying for the American women’s league, then we’d ask you to stick around for another surprise entry!

Not just the WSL, but even the Premier League is disadvantaged compared to the NWSL!

In one of the earlier episodes of a similar segment, McCall Zerboni discussed the recently held Cascadia rivalry between Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns. She highlighted how the three-hour drive made it easy for away fans to attend rival games without any restrictions on numbers. But quickly enough, the former Gotham FC star also pointed out that this is something even the so-called “greatest league in the world” doesn’t permit.

“In the Premier League, they limit the amount of fans that can come from the away team. But the NWSL will eventually have to get there one day where they don’t want it to be louder from away fans. So they’re going to have to limit who can attend who you’re representing,” remarked Zerboni.

Well, the numbers don’t lie as well. As per the PL’s regulations, away fans are entitled to at least 3,000 tickets or 10% of the stadium’s capacity if it holds fewer than 30,000 spectators. A similar yet different rule is mandated by UEFA, who allow visiting supporters to receive 5% of the total stadium capacity, with designated seating in a specific section.

This clearly suggests that the away fans have limited influence while supporting their team on the road. On the other hand, the NWSL doesn’t appear to have a similar rule in place. Well, guess what? Another point to NWSL!