| United Soccer Leagues |
 |
| Abbreviation |
USL |
| Formation |
1986 |
| Headquarters |
Tampa, Florida |
| Region served |
USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Website |
www.uslsoccer.com |
The United Soccer Leagues (USL) is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and two leading youth leagues, the Super-20 League and Super Y-League. As of 2011 it has also assumed the operations of the Major Indoor Soccer League. It is directly affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation, the United States Adult Soccer Association and the Canadian Soccer Association. There is no promotion and relegation in US soccer.
On September 8, 2010, USL announced the formation of USL Pro which will merge the USL First Division and USL Second Division to begin play in 2011. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on commercial growth and professional development of soccer in four main regions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.[1]
History [edit]
- 1986 Established as Southwest Indoor Soccer League
- 1989 Added an outdoor league known as the Southwest Outdoor Soccer League. This was soon changed to Southwest Independent Soccer League which included both the indoor and outdoor leagues.
- 1990 Renamed Sunbelt Independent Soccer League
- 1991 Renamed United States Interregional Soccer League
- 1995 Renamed United States International Soccer League
- 1995 Renamed United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues and formally established professional Pro League and amateur Amateur Premier League
- 1996 Established Select League consisting of strongest teams from Division 3 Pro League and Amateur Premier League in hopes of gaining Division 2 sanctioning.
- 1997 Select League and the former American Professional Soccer League merged to form A-League under the USISL umbrella.
- 1999 Umbrella USISL changed its name to the modern United Soccer Leagues.
- 2009 Nike sells organization. As a result, nine clubs left the First Division to form the North American Soccer League: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks FC, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps, and the AC St. Louis expansion group.[2][3] United Soccer League was a division in the temporary USSF Division 2 league.[4]
- 2010 USL announced the formation of the 12-team USL Pro which merged USL First and Second Division and began play in 2011.[citation needed]
- 2011 MISL came under the USL umbrella. For 2011-2012 season the MISL will have 7 teams.
Complete historical team list [edit]
- Amarillo Challengers (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Ann Arbor Elite (1995)
- Arizona Cotton (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as Phoenix Hearts in 1991/92)
- Arkansas A's (1992, 94, Indoor: 1991/92, as Arkansas Diamonds in 1994)
- Atlanta Lightning (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Atlanta Magic (1993–94, Indoor: 1991/92–95/96, as Atlanta Lasers in 1993)
- Austin Lone Stars (1992–94, as Austin Sockadillos in 1992–93)
- Baltimore Bays (1993–94, Indoor: 1992/93–97/98)
- Birmingham Grasshoppers (1993–94)
- Boca Raton Sabres (1992–94)
- Boston Storm (1994)
- Brandon Braves (Indoor: 1994/95–95/96)
- Cape Cod Crusaders (1994)
- Central California Valley Hydra (1994)
- Charlotte Eagles (1993–94)
- Charleston Battery (1993–94)
- Chattanooga Express (1992–94, Indoor: 1992/93–95/96, as Chattanooga Railroaders in 1992–1992/93)
- Chico Rooks (1993–94)
- Cincinnati Cheetahs (1994)
- Cocoa Expos (1994, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Colorado Comets (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Columbia Heat (1993–94, as Columbia Spirit in 1993)
- Connecticut Wolves (1993–94)
- Coral Springs Kicks (1993)
- Dallas Rockets (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as North Texas Mid-Cities Flyers in 1991/92)
- Dallas/Fort Worth Toros (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, 95/96, as Dallas Kickers in 1991/92, as Dallas Americans in 1992–1992/93)
- Dallas Lightning (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94, 95/96, as Tyler Lightning in 1993, as Texas Lightning in 1993/94–1994)
- Delaware Wizards (1993–94)
- Des Moines Menace (1994)
- Detroit Wheels (1994–95)
- East Bay Red Riders (1992–93)
- East Los Angeles Cobras (1993–94)
- El Paso Patriots (1992–94)
- Florida Stars (1994)
- Fort Lauderdale Kicks (1994)
- Greensboro Dynamo (1993–94, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Gwinnett County Steamers (1992)
- Hampton Roads Hurricane (1994)
- Hawaii Tsunami (1994)
- Jacksonville Fury (1994–95)
- Jersey Dragons (1994)
- Kansas City All-Stars (Indoor: 1996/97)
- Knoxville Impact (Indoor: 1992/93–95/96)
- Las Vegas Quicksilver (1994)
- Lexington Bluegrass Bandits (1994)
- Lincoln Brigade (1997) (Indoor: 1996, 1997)
- Long Island Rough Riders (1994)
- Louisville Thoroughbreds (1994)
- Lubbock Lazers (Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as Lubbock Tornado in 1991/92)
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- Memphis Jackals (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92, as Memphis Survivors in 1991/92, as Memphis United Express in 1992)
- Mesquite Kickers (Indoor: 1994/95–96/97)
- Michigan Madness (1996)
- Milwaukee Rampage (1994)
- Minnesota Thunder (1994)
- Montclair Standard Falcons (1993–94)
- Myrtle Beach Boyz (1995)
- Nashville Metros (1992-94, Indoor: 1991/92–93/94)
- New Mexico Chiles (1994)
- New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (1994)
- New York Fever (1994)
- North Bay Breakers (1992–94)
- North Jersey Imperials (1994)
- Ohio Xoggz (1994–96, as Columbus Xoggz in 1994–95)
- Oklahoma City Slickers (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–94/95, as Oklahoma City Warriors in 1993–1994/95)
- Oklahoma City Warriors (Indoor: 1996/97–97/98, as Oklahoma City Alliance in 1996/97)
- Omaha Flames (1996–1997, Indoor: 1996–98)
- Orlando Lions (1992–94, Indoor: 1993/94–95/96)
- Permian Basin Mirage (Indoor: 1991/92)
- Philadelphia Freedom (1994, Indoor: 1995/96–96/97, as Pennsylvania Freedom in 1994–1995/96)
- Raleigh Flyers (1993–94)
- Reading Rage (Indoor: 1995/96)
- Reno Rattlers (1994)
- Richmond Kickers (1993-94, Indoor: 1993/94)
- Rockford Raptors (1994)
- St. Louis Knights (1994)
- San Antonio Pumas (1992–1994, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93, as San Antonio Generals in 1991/92-92/93)
- San Diego Top Guns (1994)
- San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles (1993–94)
- San Francisco United All Blacks (1992–94, as San Francisco All Blacks in 1992)
- San Francisco Bay Diablos (1993–94)
- San Jose Hawks (1993)
- Santa Cruz Surf (1993–94)
- Shasta Scorchers (1994)
- Silicon Valley Firebirds (1992–94, as Palo Alto Firebirds in 1992)
- Sioux City Breeze (1994)
- South Florida Flamingos (1994)
- Texas Arsenal (Indoor: 1992/93–93/94, as Texas Stampede in 1992/93)
- Toledo Twisters (Indoor: 1993/94)
- Tucson Amigos (1992–94, Indoor: 1991/92–92/93)
- Tulsa Renegades (Indoor: 1991/92, )
- Tulsa Roughnecks (1993–99, Indoor: 1993/94–97/98, as Green County Roughnecks in 1999)
- Richmond Kickers (1997/98)
- Washington Mustangs (1994)
- Wichita Blue (1995-96, 1999, as Wichita Blue Angels in 1994)
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Champions [edit]
- Champions determined by best-of-five-game series, except for 1986/87, 1989 & 1991 seasons which were determined by one-game final.
- Champions determined by one-game final, except for 1996/97 which was determined by best-of-three game series.
Champions [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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| Seasons |
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United Soccer Leagues seasons
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| Overview |
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| Defunct men's outdoor leagues |
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| Overview |
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| Men's college soccer |
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| Defunct Leagues |
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