The United Soccer League (USL) today announced Asheville City SC as the latest club to join the USL W League. The North Carolina-based club is the second club to join the W League out of the Carolinas and continues to grow the league’s footprint in preparation for the start of the league’s inaugural season in 2022.

“The addition of our second club out of the Carolinas speaks volumes about the growth of women’s pre-professional soccer in the South Atlantic region,” said Betsy Haugh, Director of Women’s Soccer for the USL W League. “Asheville City SC has a long history of success both
on the field and within the greater Asheville community. We are excited to be adding a club of this caliber to the ranks of W League and look forward to all of the great work they will do in bringing awareness to the women’s pre-professional space.”

Founded in 2016, Asheville City SC was built on the mission of creating an environment that enables local players to pursue their dreams, using soccer as a force for good within the community and seeking to win championships for its supporters.

Asheville City SC has fielded a women’s team since 2017 and in joining the W League, the club will expand its ability to offer its players and coaches a competitive gameday environment in which they can exercise their skills and grow their careers to the greatest degree. In addition, the W League’s career development pillar will help continue Asheville City’s mission of helping players pursue their dreams both on and off the pitch.

“We couldn’t be more excited to join the USL W League at this point in our club’s history,” said Lydia Jackson, Technical Director for Asheville City SC. “We’ve come to know the professionalism with which USL conducts its leagues through our experience in USL League Two and we’re looking forward to competing against clubs that share our vision and ambition for the women’s game.”

The USL W League is a pre-professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in May 2022. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. The League and its member clubs are committed to investing in women’s soccer – through not only financial resources but also with time, energy, and attention – and are united in our mission to grow the women’s game.

The USL W League will serve as the nation’s premier pre-professional league developing the next generation of women’s talent both on and off the field, enhancing the women’s soccer pipeline between college and professional soccer. With at least 30 teams in its inaugural season, the USL W League will bring elite women’s soccer to communities across the U.S., creating more opportunities to play, watch and work in the women’s game.