UWS

About UWS

History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is a national pro-amateur women’s soccer league in the USA featuring professional and amateur players. It was founded in 2015 and is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), similar to the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).

The league format consistently includes a regular season and a playoff, bar the inaugural campaign. United Women’s Soccer teams are split into conferences, the number of which has varied over the years. The top performers progress to the playoffs, which follow a single-elimination format. This culminates in the National Final, which crowns the champion.

The first three UWS National Championship finals were decided in extra time, with the Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Grand Rapids FC, and Houston Aces winning those titles. Santa Clarita Blue Heat, formerly Ventura County Fusion, became the first team to win multiple championships when they claimed their second title in 2021. In 2020, UWS announced the launch of UWS League 2, aimed at the U20-U23 age group. This division was established to introduce promotion and relegation within United Women’s Soccer.