Phoenix Rising FC not joining USL Women’s Super League
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — To the sadness of Valley soccer fans, Phoenix Rising FC announced that they will not be taking part in the USL Women’s Super League for its inaugural season.
On Friday, the U.S. Soccer Federation approved the USL Super League’s application to operate as a Division One professional women’s soccer league when the season kicks off in August 2024. Phoenix and Tucson were in talks to join the league.
Phoenix Rising released a statement on Friday stating it was “not the opportune moment for our involvement.” Rising officials said the team had to secure a leadership role for the women’s team and stated they were unaware that Tucson was in talks to participate in the league. “The initial announcement by the USL Super League regarding Tucson’s participation, which coincided with our own initiatives, was made without our advanced knowledge,” the statement read. Officials say this negatively impacted buy-ins from possible investors, including a top lead investor.
“Please understand our decision not to join the league at this time is not a reflection of our support for women’s soccer. On the contrary, we are exploring every avenue, diverse leadership, and investors to support and elevate women’s soccer, aligning with our club’s values and the expectations of our fans and community,” a portion of the statement read. “We look forward to the future of women’s soccer and our role in it, with the anticipation of joining forces when the time is right, under the right conditions. Until then, we will continue to champion the sport in every way we can.”
Eight teams will be featured in the league, including clubs in Brooklyn, Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Lexington, Spokane, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C.
“This is a tremendous moment for the USL Super League and for women’s sports,” said USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort. “Receiving Division One sanctioning further showcases the work that our ownership groups, our clubs, and the league are doing to create a professional environment for top-level talent to compete. This is a crucial step toward realizing our vision to be a global leader in women’s soccer on and off the field. We cannot wait to see our clubs take the field when we kick off in August 2024.”
For more information about the USL Super League, click or tap here. To read the Rising’s full statement, tap here.
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