In the post-pandemic soccer scene, most leagues were forced to cancel seasons. This left plenty of clubs wondering what would happen to season fees already paid to the leagues. As each league considered budgets and operational costs, it was clear that partial credit was the best that most teams would get. And as each league announced these decisions, there were plenty of ruffled feathers, even sparking some club movement.

In a move that bucks that trend, United Women’s Soccer League (UWS) sent out an internal email to all its member clubs last night announcing that “we will no longer need to retain any fees. There will not be an increase in fees for 2021 and we will provide 100% credit for the full season fees received this year towards the 2021 season.” The email highlights the approach taken by the league to reduce costs and curtail budgets during this year, which allowed the league to give a full credit to member clubs rather than keeping the 20%, as had originally been planned on.

When Protagonist Soccer reached out to the league, we received this statement from League Commissioner, Joe Ferrara Jr., “The league office staff is made up of primarily team owners and we understand the challenges of operating a team at this level under normal circumstances. The impact of the past year has hit many of us and it was most important for us to help our member clubs than anything else.” As one UWS club owner described the move, “in a time when so many leagues absolutely screwed teams by forcing them to ‘invest’ in the stability of their league, UWS is investing in the stability of their teams.”

It’s hard to find anything but praise for this move from UWS. Almost every other league decided to pocket part of the 2020 season fees and most offered good reasons for those decisions. That fact only makes this move by UWS even more commendable and deserving of recognition. It’s an incredible testament to a league recognizing that the strength of any league is in the member clubs. Well done, UWS!

Ferrara also mentioned that Roberto Aguas, UWS COO, will be appearing on the UWS Weekly Show to discuss this news. That show runs on Youtube and can be accessed here.

- Dan Vaughn