The NWSL has filed an application with U.S. Soccer to launch a Division II league in 2026 with the intention of furthering player development, marking the latest development in the evolving lower-league club landscape in women’s soccer in the United States.
In documents obtained by CBS Sports, the application was filed on April 1 with a six-page letter signed by NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman submitted to U.S. Soccer CEO and secretary general JT Batson. In the letter, Berman likens the proposed Division II league to the minor-league baseball system, writing that it is “imperative that NWSL creates a robust pipeline for world-class athletes to fuel the [existing Division I league’s] explosive growth.” The Division II league is described as a transitional space between the college game and the professional game, one where young players can experience the “technical, tactical, and mental demands” of top flight soccer.
The NWSL has eight affiliated teams from its existing Division I league lined up for the inaugural season of the Division II league — Bay FC, Kansas City Current, North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Racing Louisville, Seattle Reign and the Washington Spirit. Those…
