Today the USL W League announced four expansion clubs – AC Houston Sur, AHFC Royals, Challenge Soccer Club, and Lonestar SC. Those clubs are all from the state of Texas and will join together to form the W League’s Lone Star Division. The state has long been a powerhouse of women’s soccer talent and while the USL has had a footprint in the Texas men’s game, it is finally expanding into the women’s side of the sport with the Lone Star Division.

The challenges of travel costs are not lost on the league or the clubs looking to flourish in the state. And it contributed to how the first USL W League division in the state was shaped. “We first looked at our existing membership in other properties, from professional clubs down to pre-professional (particularly League Two), particularly in that triad of cities, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston,” said Senior Vice President, Youth and Pre-Professional, Joel Nash. “That immediately makes a strong and sustainable travel cost, particularly in a state like Texas.” Much like last year’s expansion into California and the northwest, the Lone Star Division attempts to connect markets and cities in ways that helped ease the cost of travel.

Joel Nash, who oversaw the Lone Star expansion.

Amanda Vandervort, President of the W League and Super League, highlighted that the community connection goes beyond just travel. “One of the things we think a lot about when we’re building out these divisions is the player experience. That travel for the players is a big deal - not only the wear and tear on their bodies, but also their ability to prepare and recover, and live the rest of their lives outside of soccer. We think a lot about the player experience.” But player experience is just one of the contributors from Vandervort’s perspective. “I’d also add the fan experience. Having a fan supporting one club in the Lone Star Division who is a rival against the other club is great for us because it drives the fan experience.”

Last year’s NorCal Division was an instant contributor to the entire W League both on and off the field. SF Glens emerged as a fantastic team, brimming with international talent and made it through the playoffs before losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Indy Eleven. That success is a clear indicator to Vandervort that the league has room to grow. “Isn’t that a testament to the number of women that are playing soccer in America that don’t have an opportunity to play at an elite level? There’s 40,000 women in college soccer today and the number of opportunities for them, either pre-professional or in the professional ranks, is so limited! This expansion serves so many people and purposes. It’s [the success in NorCal] a clear example of filling a void.”

The new division will begin play in the 2024 season, but the four clubs set to enter the league isn’t the only news coming from the W League. In an extended interview with Protagonist Soccer, Nash pointed out that the league expects to add one more team to the division in the upcoming weeks - “Our goal is to get to five, that’s the minimum. We’d love to have 6 or 7, but that might not be till 2025.” That will set the Lone Star Division up for success in a state that is brimming with talented players looking for the next step in their careers. But Texas isn’t the only ground for expansion in the W League. Nash hinted at an upcoming announcement during our conversation regarding more league expansion. “There are two primary areas in the western United States that we’re actively working on. We’re confident at least one of those will come online in the next month.” The W League is growing rapidly, filling a map full of talented players hungry to take the next step in their careers.

Amanda Vandervort speaking at an event earlier this year.

Vandervort sees the W League as an important stop for many players looking to advance to professional soccer. “It’s this connection point in the player pathway between youth to pro experience for a player. W League provides a high level, elite experience for women that facilitates their professional ambitions for the future…It’s an ideal opportunity to create those pathways for players and the clubs to facilitate growth.” She laid out her proof of that connection in our interview. “Since we’ve launched the W League in 2023, we’ve had 60 players go professional out of the league. Those numbers speak for themselves as to how players think the W League provides in terms of their future professional ambitions.” Vandervort has a unique perspective as she leads both USL women’s leagues that sit on either side of the line between pre-professional and professional. The USL Super League launches in the fall of 2024 with 8 teams announced (more in development) and will have a large number of roster spots that W League amateur players will hope to vie for.

Today’s news of the USL W extending into the Texas market with the Lone Star Division is exciting and full of promise for the women’s game in this country. The USL continues to open up opportunities for women to continue their path in the sport.

- Dan Vaughn