The Women’s Premier Soccer League, the largest women’s soccer league in the world, has 16 of its top clubs qualified for its four regionals to determine who advances to the WPSL Championship weekend.
The Chattanooga Red Wolves qualified this weekend with a come from behind 3-2 win over Nashville and will open regional play against Charlotte on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Pensacola, FL.
The semifinals of each regional will take place Saturday, July 13 with the finals taking place the following day.
The playoff field features a mix of familiar powers with a strong class of new, emerging WPSL clubs.
Each of the four 2018 championship finalists — defending champion Seattle Sounders Women, Pensacola FC, Fire & Ice (Saint Louis), Chicago Red Stars Reserves — qualified for regionals as well as former WPSL champions San Diego SeaLions and California Storm (Sacramento).
Joining the traditional powers are six expansion clubs — Charlotte Eagles, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, FC Golden State (Los Angeles), NJ Wizards SC Cedar Stars (Newark), Salvo SC (Saint Paul, Minnesota) and Utah Royals FC Reserves (Salt Lake City).
Thirteen of the 16 clubs are from the top 30 United States television markets, including the four biggest markets (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia). Pensacola FC (No. 59), Fortuna Tulsa (No. 61) and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (No. 83) are the three small-market clubs that qualified for the playoffs.
The host club for each regional is determined on a yearly rotating basis among conferences. Motor City FC (Detroit) is hosting the East Regional, Pensacola FC is hosting the South Regional, Salvo SC is hosting the Central Regional and FC Golden State is hosting the West Regional.
The WPSL is in its 22nd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with 119 clubs from coast-to-coast. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.
2019 WPSL Playoff Schedule
EAST REGION (Motor City FC — Ultimate Soccer Arena: Pontiac, Michigan)
Semifinals: Saturday, July 13
Chicago Red Stars Reserves vs. NJ Wizards SC Cedar Stars: 9 a.m. EDT
Motor City FC vs. Torch FC: 11 a.m. EDT
Finals: Sunday, July 14
Semifinal winners: 1 p.m. EST
CENTRAL REGION (Salvo SC — Reynolds Field, University of Northwestern: Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Semifinals: Saturday, July 13
Fortuna Tulsa vs. Salvo SC: 1 p.m. CDT
Utah Royals FC Reserves vs. Fire & Ice: 3:30 p.m. CDT
Finals: Sunday, July 14
Semifinal winners: 2 p.m CDT
SOUTH REGION (Pensacola FC — University of West Florida: Pensacola, Florida)
Semifinals: Saturday, July 13
Pensacola FC vs. FC Surge, 9 a.m. CDT
Charlotte Eagles vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 11 a.m. CDT
Finals: Sunday, July 14
Semifinal winners: 1 p.m. CDT
WEST REGION (FC Golden State — Rio Hondo College: Whittier, California)
Semifinals: Saturday, July 13
California Storm vs. FC Golden State, 9 a.m. PDT
San Diego SeaLions vs. Seattle Sounders Women, 11 a.m. PDT
Finals: Sunday, July 14
Semifinal winners: 1 p.m., PDT
WPSL CHAMPIONSHIP (Neal Patterson Stadium: Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Semifinals: Friday, July 19
Semifinal No. 1, 6 p.m. CDT
Semifinal No. 2, 8 p.m. CDT
Finals: Sunday, July 21
Semifinal winners: 12 p.m. CDT