The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has formally submitted a proposal to the U.S. Soccer Federation aiming to establish a new Division II league. This step was confirmed in an official statement made to ESPN on Friday.

Commitment to Growth

The initiative reflects the NWSL’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the women’s soccer landscape both on and off the field. An NWSL spokesperson articulated the organization’s mission:

“As a global leader in the women’s soccer landscape both on and off the pitch, the NWSL and its member clubs are committed to growing our sport in meaningful ways.”

Demand for professional women’s soccer is surging, and the league is eager to lay down a solid foundation for future generations of players, coaches, and officials.

Team Participation and Structure

According to CBS Sports, eight teams from the NWSL have shown their commitment to the planned Division II league, with every NWSL team required to affiliate with a second-tier team within four years. This league aims to launch in 2026, serving as a developmental tier under the NWSL.

The establishment of a second division is expected to create a pipeline for player development, a long-standing request from NWSL executives. Commissioner Jessica Berman emphasized the availability of talent, stating:

“It’s not as if the players aren’t there; they are there. They need to be identified, they need to be in the right technical environment…”

Broader Implications for Women’s Soccer

News of the NWSL’s proposal follows shortly after WPSL Pro’s announcement to establish itself as a second division, creating an unprecedented level within U.S. women’s professional soccer. If both leagues proceed as intended, the total number of women’s professional teams in the U.S. could rise from the current 12 to around 50 by the end of 2026.

Both leagues would require formal approval from the U.S. Soccer Federation. Notably, there is no restriction on multiple leagues sharing the same division, though U.S. Soccer enforces minimum criteria, including a requirement for teams to have at least 2,000-seat stadiums and owners with a net worth of at least $7.5 million.

Future Development Plans

Berman expressed confidence that the player pool wouldn’t be compromised as the league expands, reflecting on the importance of strategic resource allocation in nurturing talent:

“We have to make a strategic decision where we want to direct our resources, because we know that cultivating that next-gen talent is going to be key to our expansion.”

Additionally, potential participation from teams outside the current NWSL framework could enrich the new league, as expressed by Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSL Players Association.