Founded in 1997, the WPSL is the largest women’s soccer league in the world! Every year many players use the league as a platform to launch themselves into the pros - whether its our own NWSL domestically, or professional leagues from Iceland to Portugal. As ever, the division winners will vie for the WPSL National Title, also known as the Jerry Zanelli trophy and this year’s field is absolutely stacked with talent! From high-flying newcomers to legendary teams - we get last year’s champions Charlotte Eagles as well as four time champions California Storm.

It all starts this coming weekend, July 13th and 14th, in regional play, where 16 teams will square off at four different locations across the country and the winners of those 8 games will in turn, play one another the following day. There is no time for recovery, there is no time to blink, these women will give everything they have for 48 hours just to turn around and do it again the following weekend in search of the 2024 WPSL National title. So, without further ado, here are the matchups for the first round of playoffs and a little insight into who they are and how they fared this regular season.

Clarkstown SC vs Niagara 1812

Sat, 07/13 - 1pm PST / 4pm EST at SUSA Sports Complex in Central Islip, NY

Clarkstown SC, winners of the Northeastern Conference, will host Niagara 1812, winners of the Great Lakes Conference - Lake Erie Division to kick off the 2024 WPSL playoffs. Clarkstown have now won their division two years in a row and were perfect this season by winning 8 of 8 and only gave up 5 goals all year. Niagara 1812 had a fair year, with 4 wins, 2 draws, and a pair of losses - while they allowed a division low 8 goals, their offensive output was equally low, only scoring 13 times. Meanwhile, Clarkstown put up 27 goals in the regular season and may be more than a handful for Niagara.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs the winner of SUSA FC vs Reading United AC

Sioux Falls City FC vs FC Pride

Sat, 07/13 - 2pm PST / 5pm EST at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, SD

At 10 teams, the Northern Conference is even with the Pac North Conference as the largest and Sioux Falls City FC were undisputed winners. They were able to throttle several of the teams unfortunate enough to be scheduled against them; three 5-0 wins and a 6-0 win over conference challengers. Sioux Falls City were a perfect 9-0 this season, including four wins at home, on Bob Young Field, where they outscored their visitors 13-0. FC Pride, who were second in their Midwest Conference - Gateway Division, have the duty of travelling to South Dakota to give SFCFC a run for their money. Pride finished 6-1-4 and were able to put up 30 goals of their own in a very competitive schedule - they’ll look to keep their nerve and keep it tight against this very dangerous host.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs the winner of Colorado Pride vs Union KC

Charlotte Eagles vs Futbolera Select

Sat, 07/13 - 3pm PST / 6pm EST at House Park in Austin, TX

Last year’s WPSL champions, Charlotte Eagles, advanced to the playoffs this year by winning the Atlantic Conference - Carolinas Division. They’re record was not unblemished, having lost 2-1 away to Port City on June 1st, but have won their 8 other matches by a combined score 27-2. They are absolute force to be reckoned with and are set to take on Futbolera Select, who finished 3rd in the Lone Star Conference. Futbolera won 4, drew 3, and lost 3, including their last couple of regular season games; 1-3 at home to Houston and 1-3 away to Conference winners Austin Rise.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs the winner of Austin Rise vs FC Prime

Spokane Shadow SC vs San Francisco Nighthawks

Sat, 07/13 - 3pm PST / 6pm EST at Whitworth Soccer Field in Spokane, WA

San Francisco Nighthawks have neither won nor even been to a WPSL Final, but they have been consistently good for a very long time - finishing in 3rd or 4th in the Pac North regularly. This year was no different, as the Nighthawks finished 3rd in their division and find themselves travelling to Spokane to take on Northwest Conference winners, Shadow SC. Spokane were neck and neck with Portland Thorns for a good part of the regular season, but split points with them in early June and defeated them away last week - add that to their five other wins and they earned their home game in this year’s playoffs.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs the winner of California Storm vs FC Premier

SUSA FC vs Reading United AC

Sat, 07/13 - 4pm PST / 7pm EST at SUSA Sports Complex in Central Islip, NY

Reading United AC finished 2nd in the Mid-Atlantic Conference - Commonwealth Division after earning 7 wins, 2 draws, and a pair of losses from their 11 games played. Their offensive output of 31 goals was fantastic and should give us a great matchup with Metropolitan Conference winners, SUSA FC, who put up 23 of their own this season. SUSA won their first 7 games in a row, but dropped their last game of the year, 2-3 on the road. Hopefully they’ve not been too distracted by that loss and can come into this game in full pomp to give us a fun matchup against Reading United.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th against the winner of Clarkstown SC vs Niagara 1812

Colorado Pride vs Union KC

Sat, 07/13 - 5:30pm PST / 8:30pm EST at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, SD

Colorado Pride had finished 2nd place in their Mountain Conference - Rockies Division in 2022 and in 2023 - this year they won it outright with 7 wins and a loss, all while putting up a staggering 38 goals for and only 4 allowed. Truly frightening for any team to attempt to contain. That having been said, Union KC, winners of their Heartland Conference, scored 23 goals of their own and allowed just 9 goals in an 8-1-1 regular season. Union’s only loss was to a very solid KC Courage, but finished the year with three wins in a row, including two on the road and won’t be bothered by travel.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs winner of Sioux Falls City vs FC Pride

Austin Rise FC vs FC Prime

Sat, 07/13 - 5:45pm PST / 8:45pm EST at House Park in Austin, TX

This year the regional hosts, Austin Rise FC, won their Lone Star Conference with 6 wins, 3 draws, and a loss and after finishing 4th in their conference in 2023, this is a great response from the club; showing their promise and poise. Austin lost their first match of the season and have not looked back! FC Prime, who finished second in the Sunshine Conference, have had ups and down throughout the season, but ultimately finished with 5 wins, 2 losses, and a draw.

Winner will play Sunday the 14th vs the winner of Charlotte Eagles vs Futbolera Select

California Storm vs FC Premier

Sat, 07/13 - 6pm PST / 9pm EST at Whitworth Soccer Field in Spokane, WA

Four-time WPSL Champions, California Storm, won the Pac North Conference this year… they won it last year too, and in 2022. The last time they didn’t win their conference was in 2021, when Cal Soccer Storm finished 2nd by 3 points. This year they were undefeated and scored 30 goals in the process, while only giving up 8. FC Premier, who won their So Cal Conference - Coastal Division, will travel up to Washington State, to play the Storm on neutral ground. And while FC Premier had a solid season, with 5 wins, 3 draws and only 1 loss. They’re up against a titan of the league and will have to play nearly perfect to upturn the apple cart.

Winner will play on Sunday the 14th vs the winner of Spokane Shadow SC vs San Francisco Nighthawks

playoff bracket provided by WPSL Communications

by Joshua Duder