About WPSL

History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is an amateur women's soccer league in the U.S., founded in 1998, making it the oldest active women's league in the sport. It is governed by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) affiliate, the United States Adult Soccer Association.

The number of WPSL teams has grown significantly in the past few decades, increasing from 20 teams in 2005 to 142 clubs in the 2024 season. The participants are divided across four regions (West, Central, South, and East) for the regular WPSL season, with each region consisting of conferences and each conference comprising divisions.

After the regular season, the WPSL transitions into the playoffs, where qualifying teams compete in conference, regional, and national knockout rounds. All WPSL matches are played in a single-elimination format until the final, which determines the champion and awards the Jerry Zanelli Cup.

The California Storm has been a dominant force in the WPSL, winning the second season while becoming the first team to win a second (2002) and a third (2004) trophy. The club lifted its fifth WPSL title in 2024. The inaugural season, however, was won by Silicon Valley Red Devils.