United Soccer Leagues

This page is about the governing body that sponsors several soccer leagues:
   for the United Soccer League (formerly USL Pro) see United Soccer League;
   for the former league with a similar name see United Soccer League (1984–85).
United Soccer Leagues
Country United States
Other club(s) from Canada
Confederation CONCACAF
Founded 1986
Level on pyramid 3 (US), 3 (CAN)
Promotion to None
Relegation to None
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s) CONCACAF Champions League
Website www.uslsoccer.com

The United Soccer Leagues (USL) is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the United Soccer League, the Premier Development League and the youth Super Y-League and Super-20 League. It is directly affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation, the United States Adult Soccer Association and the Canadian Soccer Association.

History

Year by year

Narrative

Founded in 1985 by Francisco Marcos, the Southwest Indoor Soccer League was first intended as a minor indoor league associated with Major Indoor Soccer League.[7] The league began with five teams, all owned by individuals who owned or operated indoor soccer arenas in the Southwest United States. League headquarters was in Austin, Texas. In 1986, Marcos' team, the Austin Sockadillos, entered the league giving it six teams. By 1989, the league had set its sights on greater prospects than remaining a small, semi-professional indoor league. A 1989 press release stated, "It is envisioned the league will be part of the USSF's plan to professionalize soccer in the USA prior to the 1994 World Cup, and the league plans to push its teams to be considered for the "three-tiered first, second and third divisions" plan the USSF envisions for soccer."[8]

Complete historical team list

SISL

USISL

Champions

Indoor seasons

The USL began operations in 1986 as the Southwest Indoor Soccer League, a semi-professional indoor league. The league quickly expanded and added an outdoor season in 1989. In 1991, the league renamed itself the United States Interregional Soccer League. By then, the outdoor league overshadowed the indoor league which continued to slowly dwindle in importance. By the 1997–98 season, only five teams remained indoors while the outdoor season had over a hundred teams divided into a three-division structure. This led the league to stop running an indoor league.

In 2010, the USL began to consider relaunching an indoor season. However, it decided instead to take over operations of the Major Indoor Soccer League; beginning indoor operations in 2011. The champions were determined by a single games in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. The champions were determined by a best of three series in 1998 and a best of five series in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and a home-and-home series in 2012 and 2013.

Season Winner Final score Runner-up
1986/87 Addison Arrows 7–2 Lubbock Lazers
1987/88 Oklahoma City Warriors 3–0 Austin Sockadillos
1988/89 Lubbock Lazers 3 games to 2 Austin Sockadillos
1989/90 Addison Arrows 3 games to 0 Phoenix Hearts
1990/91 Colorado Comets 3 games to 0 Oklahoma City Warriors
1991/92 Oklahoma City Warriors 7–2 Atlanta Magic
1992/93 Atlanta Magic 11–7 Arizona Cotton
1993/94 Atlanta Magic 8–3 Chattanooga Express
1994/95 Atlanta Magic 6–3 Oklahoma City Slickers
1995/96 Baltimore Bays 10–8 Atlanta Magic
1996/97 Baltimore Bays 5–4; 13–10 Tulsa Roughnecks
1997/98 Baltimore Bays 11–4 Tulsa Roughnecks
The USISL ceased operating its own indoor league in 1998.
From 2011–2014, the USL operated the MISL.
2011/12 Milwaukee Wave 14–2; 12–10 Baltimore Blast
2012/13 Baltimore Blast 21–12; 8–6 Missouri Comets
2013/14 Missouri Comets 15–8; 4–19; 6–4 Baltimore Blast

Outdoor seasons 1989–2010

In 1989, the Southwest Indoor Soccer League added a summer, outdoor season known as the Southwest Outdoor Soccer League. In 1990, the league dropped both "indoor" and "outdoor" from its name as it ran both a semi-professional indoor and outdoor season. By 1995, the outdoor season had grown to such a size that the USISL, as it was known at the time, split the league into two levels, the aptly named, fully professional Professional League and the semi-professional Premier League. In 1996, the USISL added a third, higher, Select League. This was formed from the strongest teams from both the Professional and Premier League. The Select League, along with the competing A-League, both received official Division II status from FIFA. However, the A-League was in decline while the USISL was expanding. Therefore, in 1997, the A-League ceased operations and merged into the USISL Select League which was renamed the USISL A-League. From that point, the USL's three-level structure remained stable until 2010. Some teams left to start the North American Soccer League and the First and Second Divisions were merged to become the USL Professional Division.

Season Winner Final score Runner-up Season Winner Final score Runner-up Season Winner Final score Runner-up
 
Semi-professional
1989Colorado Comets3–1 Addison Arrows
1990Colorado Comets
1991Richardson Rockets3–0New Mexico Chiles
1992Palo Alto Firebirds1–0Tucson Amigos
1993Greensboro Dynamo2–1Orlando Lions
1994Greensboro Dynamo 2–1 (SO)Minnesota Thunder
  Pro League (Division III) Premier League (semi-pro)
Division II 1995 ProfessionalLong Island Rough Riders 2–1Minnesota Thunder 1995 PremierRichmond Kickers3–1Cocoa Expos
1996 SelectCalifornia Jaguars2–1 (SO)Richmond Kickers 1996 ProfessionalCharleston Battery3–2 (SO)Charlotte Eagles 1996 PremierCentral Coast Roadrunners2–1San Francisco Bay Seals
1997 A-LeagueMilwaukee Rampage1–1 (3–0)Carolina Dynamo 1997 D-3 ProAlbuquerque Geckos4–1Charlotte Eagles 1997 PDSLCentral Coast Roadrunners2–1Cocoa Expos
1998 A-LeagueRochester Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder 1998 D-3 ProChicago Stingers3–2 OTNew Hampshire Phantoms 1998 PDSLSan Gabriel Valley Highlanders3–2Jackson Chargers
1999 A-LeagueMinnesota Thunder2–1Rochester Rhinos 1999 D-3 ProWestern Mass Pioneers2–1South Jersey Barons 1999 PDLChicago Sockers3–1Spokane Shadow
2000 A-LeagueRochester Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder 2000 D-3 ProCharlotte Eagles5–0New Jersey Stallions 2000 PDLChicago Sockers1–0Mid-Michigan Bucks
2001 A-LeagueRochester Rhinos2–0Hershey Wildcats 2001 D-3 ProUtah Blitzz1–0Greenville Lions 2001 PDLWestchester Flames3–1Calgary Storm
2002 A-LeagueMilwaukee Rampage2–1 OTRichmond Kickers 2002 D-3 ProLong Island Rough Riders2–1Wilmington Hammerheads 2002 PDLCape Cod Crusaders2–1Boulder Rapids Reserves
2003 A-LeagueCharleston Battery3–0Minnesota Thunder 2003 Pro SoccerWilmington Hammerheads2–1 OTWestchester Flames 2003 PDLCape Cod Crusaders2–0Chicago Fire Reserves
2004 A-LeagueMontreal Impact2–0Seattle Sounders 2004 Pro SoccerUtah Blitzz2–2 (5–4 PK)Charlotte Eagles 2004 PDLCentral Florida Kraze1–0Boulder Rapids Reserves
2005 First DivisionSeattle Sounders1–1 (4–3 PK)Richmond Kickers 2005 Second DivisionCharlotte Eagles2–2 (5–4 PK)Western Mass Pioneers 2005 PDLDes Moines Menace0–0 (6–5 PK)El Paso Patriots
2006 First DivisionVancouver Whitecaps3–0Rochester Raging Rhinos 2006 Second DivisionRichmond Kickers2–1Charlotte Eagles 2006 PDLMichigan Bucks2–1Laredo Heat
2007 First DivisionSeattle Sounders4–0Atlanta Silverbacks 2007 Second DivisionHarrisburg City Islanders1–1 (8–7 PK)Richmond Kickers 2007 PDLLaredo Heat0–0 (4–3 PK)Michigan Bucks
2008 First DivisionVancouver Whitecaps2–1Puerto Rico Islanders 2008 Second DivisionCleveland City Stars2–1Charlotte Eagles 2008 PDLThunder Bay Chill1–1 (4–1 PK)Laredo Heat
2009 First DivisionMontreal Impact3–2; 3–1Vancouver Whitecaps 2009 Second DivisionRichmond Kickers3–1Charlotte Eagles 2009 PDLVentura County Fusion2–1Chicago Fire Premier
2010 D2 Pro LeaguePuerto Rico Islanders2–0; 1–1Carolina RailHawks 2010 Second DivisionCharleston Battery2–1Richmond Kickers 2010 PDLPortland Timbers U23s4–1Thunder Bay Chill

Outdoor seasons 2011–present

United Soccer League (Division III)
(USL Pro 2011-14)		 Premier Development League (PDL)(Semi-Pro)
Season Winner Final score Runner-up Season Winner Final score Runner-up
2011 USL ProOrlando City2–2 (3–2 PK)Harrisburg City Islanders 2011 PDLKitsap Pumas1–0Laredo Heat
2012 USL ProCharleston Battery1–0Wilmington Hammerheads 2012 PDLForest City London2–1Carolina Dynamo
2013 USL ProOrlando City7–4Charlotte Eagles 2013 PDLAustin Aztex3–1Thunder Bay Chill
2014 USL ProSacramento Republic2–0Harrisburg City Islanders 2014 PDLMichigan Bucks1–0Kitsap Pumas
2015 USLRochester Rhinos2–1 (AET)LA Galaxy II 2015 PDLK-W United FC4–3New York Red Bulls U-23
2016 USLNew York Red Bulls II5–1Swope Park Rangers 2016 PDLMichigan Bucks3–2Calgary Foothills FC

W-League seasons 1995–2015

For more information, see USL W-League
Season Winner Final score Runner-up
1995 W-LeagueLong Island Lady Riders3–0Southern California Nitemares
1996 W-LeagueMaryland Pride3–0Dallas Lightning
1997 W-LeagueLong Island Lady Riders2–1 (OT)Chicago Cobras
1998 W-League W-1Raleigh Wings4–3Boston Renegades
1998 W-League W-2Fort Collins Force3–1Hampton Roads Piranhas
1999 W-League W-1Raleigh Wings3–2 (OT)Chicago Cobras
1999 W-League W-2North Texas FC5–1Springfield Sirens
2000 W-League W-1Chicago Cobras1–1 (4–2 PSO)Raleigh Wings
2000 W-League W-2Springfield Sirens2–1Charlotte Lady Eagles
2001 W-League W-1Boston Renegades5–1Vancouver Whitecaps Women
2001 W-League W-2Charlotte Lady Eagles3–1Memphis Mercury
2002 W-LeagueBoston Renegades3–0Charlotte Lady Eagles
2003 W-LeagueHampton Roads Piranhas1–0Chicago Cobras
2004 W-LeagueVancouver Whitecaps Women0–0 (4–2 PSO)New Jersey Wildcats
2005 W-LeagueNew Jersey Wildcats3–0Ottawa Fury Women
2006 W-LeagueVancouver Whitecaps Women3–0Ottawa Fury Women
2007 W-LeagueWashington Freedom3–1Atlanta Silverbacks Women
2008 W-LeaguePali Blues2–1F.C. Indiana
2009 W-LeaguePali Blues2–1Washington Freedom Reserves
2010 W-LeagueBuffalo Flash3–1Vancouver Whitecaps Women
2011 W-LeagueAtlanta Silverbacks Women6–1Ottawa Fury Women
2012 W-LeagueOttawa Fury Women1–1 (4–3 PSO)Pali Blues
2013 W-LeaguePali Blues1–0Laval Comets
2014 W-LeagueLos Angeles Blues6–1Washington Spirit Reserves
2015 W-LeagueWashington Spirit Reserves2–1Colorado Pride
The W-League ceased operations after the 2015 season.

References

  1. ↑ "USL outcasts set to launch new league in 2010". Soccerbyives.net. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  2. ↑ Molinaro, John F. (2009-11-10). "CBC Sports: Whitecaps, Impact to form breakaway league". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  3. ↑ "US Soccer Federation To Oversee Combined NASL/USL League". Goal.com. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  4. ↑ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  5. ↑ "W-20 League Set for 2013 Debut". www.uslsoccer.com. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  6. ↑ "W-League Statement". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ Indoor Soccer Comes to City Warriors Feature "Cream of Crop' Players
  8. ↑ The SISL/SOSL: Some Facts
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