The W League is back
Today, in a move which had been suggested by The Athletic, USL announced a new women's amateur league with an old name.
The new USL W League was unveiled with a Selection Sunday-style stream, together with 8 founding members and a strong trend of organizations whose men's sides are within the professional tiers of the USL system. The old W League folded in 2015.
The eight founding clubs are:
- Minnesota Women's Soccer, a brand-new club which will be more fully unveiled this weekend but which already promises "a women majority owner which will be paired with a unique element of community and supporter ownership" and ownership independent of current organizations.
- Kaw Valley FC will be debuting its women's side in USL W. It's men's side currently compete in the USL League Two's Heartland Conference.
- Chattanooga Red Wolves, currently compete in the Southeastern Conference of the WPSL and are the sister of the USL League One side.
- Greenville Triumph, who have a women's academy but no existing senior women's side, and are the sister of the USL League One side.
- Hartford Athletic, another club debuting its women's side in the new league. It's a sister to a USL Championship side.
- Queensboro FC, has yet to debut in either men's or women's soccer but are slated to begin play in both USL Championship and USL W next year.
- South Georgia Tormenta FC, has a female co-owner but no senior women's side at the moment. It is the sister to a USL League One side.
- Washington D.C., heralded as a former member of the original W-League, DC United also has women within its front office.
The league has projected that there will be 30 members of the inaugural season. Stay tuned for more details, especially with regards to our regions.
USL League Two, Week 5: Recap
Wednesday:
Oakland County FC, 3 vs Kalamazoo FC, 2 : 6 PM - Clawson Stadium, Clawson, MI - YouTube
Chicago FC United, 4 vs Green Bay Voyageurs, 0 : 7:45 PM - Bridgeview Dome, Bridgeview, IL - No Stream Announced
Friday:
Kings Hammer, 0 vs Toledo Villa, 0 : 6 PM - Corcoran Field at Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH - Eleven Sports
Flint City Bucks, 3 vs Fort Wayne FC, 0 : 6:30 PM - Atwood Stadium at Kettering University, Flint, MI - Eleven Sports
After a goal-less first half, the Bucks finished off their first chance on the 48th minute after the ball ricocheted around the penalty area. Their lead was doubled in the 61st minute through Matt Fearnley after a buildup which saw a long crossfield pass then reversed into his path. Fort Wayne FC contributed generously to the last goal of three when the defense gave the ball away on the edge of their own area in the 83rd minute and it was calmly slotted away.
Green Bay Voyageurs, 0 vs Chicago FC United, 1 : 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
A back and forth game saw Chicago FC United blaze a penalty wide for their best chance of the first half but in the end it was academic as they took the points through the game's only goal in the 82nd minute.
Saturday:
Oakland County FC, 0 vs Grand Rapids FC, 3 : 6 PM - Clawson Stadium, Clawson, MI - YouTube
Playing against ten men for a majority of the game, Grand Rapids got goals through Cornish on 49 minutes, Keenan on 69 minutes and a final clinching goal - courtesy of a screamer from Conerty in the 79th minute.
Kaw Valley FC, 0 vs Des Moines Menace, 1 : 7 PM - Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, KS - Eleven Sports
Des Moines Menace came into the University of Kansas and took the three points courtesy of a delicate chip over the Kaw Valley keeper from close range.
Sunday:
Fort Wayne FC 1 vs South Bend Lions 3: 2 PM - The Stadium at Shields Field, Fort Wayne, IN - Eleven Sports
Dayton Dutch Lions 0 vs Toledo Villa 1: 6 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrollton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
A mazy run inside a handful of defenders was capped by the only goal of the game for the visitors' Joey Akpunonu in the 38th minute of a tightly contested game.
*Note – All Times CDT
Midweek Madness, Recap 5/24-27, 2021
USL League Two
Monday:
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2 vs FC Wichita 0:
After two defeats League Two newcomers SLSG gained their first win of the season on Monday. In the 31st minute St. Louis scored their first of the night from a PK by Jack Lynn. Lynn sent the kick to the right while the FC Wichita keeper went the opposite way. John Klein scored SLSG's second goal of the night in the 84th minute, once again on a PK.
Tuesday:
Kings Hammer 0 vs Flint City Bucks 0:
The teams went 90 minutes to a nil-nil draw in what ended up being a very chippy match. Flint City would be called for 12 fouls while Kings Hammer were issues 9. For their troubles on the night both sides were also handed four yellow cards each.
Toledo Villa 5 vs Oakland County FC 5:
Oakland County headed across state lines to face Toledo Villa and it turned out to be a barn burner of a match. Oakland County scored two goals in a row to open the match with Pliakos and Rizzo scoring in the 8th and 18th with Popovic getting assists on each. Toledo screamed back with three unanswered goals in the 36th, 42nd, and 45th minutes to close the half. However in the second half Popovic scored to goals to add to his two assists, putting OCFC up 4-3. The final 20+ minutes saw both sides trade goals with Toledo scoring in the 75th and 90th while Toledo scored the 88th.
Wednesday:
Dayton Dutch Lions 0 vs Kalamazoo FC 3:
Kalamazoo's road trip to Dayton was one they hoped would be an easy one. And an easy one it was, at least after the first half. Daire O'Riordan scored Kalamazoo's first in first half stoppage time. The visitors scored two more times in the second half, including Cyrus Harmon's goal in the 53rd that made it 2-0.
National Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Minneapolis City SC 3 vs Duluth FC 2:
A match with massive implications between the only two sides who have ever won the North Conference. Both sides struggled for most of the first half, however Sidney Warden put Duluth FC on top in the 41st. Minneapolis City's Mohamed Youssef responded back in the 47th minute while teammate William Kidd scored the Crows second goal in the 52nd. However, Warden responded back for Duluth FC with a 53rd minute to level up the score at 2-2. The final near 30 minutes proved tough for both sides to score as they each missed plenty of shots. In the end Brayan Lopez scored the game winner for the hosts in the 80th minute.
United Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Cedars FC 3 vs Grand Haven Admirals 1
Detroit United 5 vs City United SC 4
United Women’s Soccer
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC 0 vs Detroit City FC 3:
A short trip for DCFC to do battle with a Detroit rival. The Corner Ballpark in Corktown, the former site of Tiger Stadium, would see the visitors go on a tear. Sarah Huge's goal on a diving header and Kenna White's chip shot over the Corktown keeper put Le Rouge up 2-0 inside 20 minutes. Tatiana Mason's free kick goal from the top of the box sealed up Detroit City's win.
UWS League Two
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC II vs FC Midland:
No Reported Score
Thursday:
Livonia City FC 1 vs Legends FC II 3:
USL League 2 Week 4, Where to Watch
Friday:
Grand Rapids FC vs Kings Hammer: 6:30 PM - Midwest United FC Complex, Grand Rapids, MI - No Announced Stream
Green Bay Voyageurs vs Des Moines Menace: 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - No Announced Stream
Saturday:
South Bend Lions vs Toledo Villa: 4 PM - TCU School Field, South Bend, IN - No Announced Stream
Flint City Bucks vs Dayton Dutch Lions: 6:30 PM - Atwood Stadium at Kettering University, Flint, MI - No Announced Stream
Green Bay Voyageurs vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher: 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - No Announced Stream
Kaw Valley FC vs FC Wichita: 7:30 PM - Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, KS - No Announced Stream
Sunday:
Fort Wayne FC vs Oakland County FC: 2 PM - The Stadium at Shields Field, Fort Wayne, IN - No Announced Stream
*Note – All Times CDT
Midweek Madness, Where to Watch 5/24-27, 2021
USL League Two
Monday:
St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs FC Wichita: 7 PM - World Wide Technology Soccer Park, Fenton, MO - MyCujoo
Tuesday:
Kings Hammer vs Flint City Bucks: 6 PM - Corcoran Field, Cincinnati, OH - YouTube
Toledo Villa vs Oakland County FC: 6 PM - Pat Hotmer Soccer Field, Toledo, OH - MyCujoo
Wednesday:
Dayton Dutch Lions vs Kalamazoo FC: 6 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrollton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
National Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Minneapolis City SC vs Duluth FC: 7 PM - Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis, MN - YouTube
United Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Cedars FC vs Grand Haven Admirals: 6:30 PM - Fordson High School, Dearborn, MI - No Stream Announced
Detroit United vs City United SC: 7 PM - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI - No Stream Announced
United Women's Soccer
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC vs Detroit City FC: 6:30 PM - The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI - GoLive SportsCast
UWS League Two
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC II vs FC Midland: 3 PM - The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI - No Stream Announced
Thursday:
Livonia City FC vs Legends FC II: 6 PM - St. Joe's Sports Complex - Livonia, MI - No Stream Announced
*Note - All Times CDT
Where to Watch: USL League Two Week 3
USL League Two Week 3
Friday:
Grand Rapids FC vs Kalamazoo FC: 6:30 PM - Midwest United Complex, Grand Rapids, MI - No Stream Announced
Saturday:
Oakland County FC vs Kings Hammer: 6 PM - Clawson Stadium, Clawson, MI - MyCujoo
Dayton Dutch Lions vs South Bend Lions: 6 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium at West Carrollton High School, West Carrollton, OH - No Stream Announced
Green Bay Voyageurs vs Chicago FC United - 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - MyCujoo
FC Wichita vs Kaw Valley SC - 8 PM - Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, KS - No Stream Announced
Sunday:
Fort Wayne FC vs Toledo Villa - 2 PM - Shields Field of Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, IN - Fort Wayne FC TV
USL League Two Heartland and Great Lakes Scores – Weekend of May 15th, 2021
This weekend saw USL League Two have a total of five matches between both of the Divisions in the Midwest. The Heartland saw the Des Moines Menace host the Green Bay Voyageurs in the division's only match that weekend. While in the Great Lakes the Flint City Bucks hosted Toledo Villa, Kings Hammer hosted the Dayton Dutch Lions, Kalamazoo FC hosted the South Bend Lions and lastly Fort Wayne FC traveled to Michigan to face Grand Rapids FC.
