[Storm-related catch-up]
On Wednesday, June 27th, a meeting organized by U.S. Soccer was held in Chicago where a possible new (semi)professional women’s league was discussed. Right now, the main source of news is an article posted by Jeff Kassouf at EqualizerSoccer.com. Additionally, there was some elaboration on Twitter by Lisa Cole, who is with the Boston Breakers, summarized in a blog post. They key aspects of this proposal is a coast-to-coast national league, 12 to 16 teams, and more modest team budgets of around $500,000. This is the second league announcement this year, after the USL teased its own new league, which would be called “W-PRO” (www.potomacsoccerwire.com).
[Note: All quotes are from the EqualizerSoccer.com article, unless otherwise attributed.]
Known attendance for the meeting includes U.S. Soccer representatives and “officials from WPSL, USL, U.S. Youth Soccer and Tony DiCicco.” Controversial magicJack owner Dan Borislow was not present.
The basic summary of the proposed league:
Four former WPS teams and current WPSL Elite League, WPSL and potentially, some USL W-League teams would be involved in the new, more modestly budgeted league, which would launch in 2013. The league would consist of 12-16 teams stretching from the East Coast to the West, sources say.
…The league would not be Division-1 status, which would add extra fees and more expensive minimum standards for teams. Budgets could be in the range of $500,000 per team.
The league would essentially follow a start small, grow from there, philosophy, rather than the more ambitious launches of the WUSA and the WPS.
Any league would have to be approved by U.S. Soccer, so until there is a formal proposal submitted to the Federation, any talk of a new league is mainly just that, talk.
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See also: An ongoing discussion of the proposal at BigSoccer.
Women's Soccer Express 