NWSL submits bid to launch second division in 2026 - ESPN

The National Women's Soccer League has formally applied to the U.S. Soccer Federation to create a new Division II league.

The league confirmed the news in a statement to ESPN on Friday.

«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,» an NWSL spokesperson said in a statement.

«The demand for professional soccer has never been higher. We look forward to working to build a strong foundation for future generations of players, officials and coaches and ensure the continued advancement of the women's game.»

CBS Sports reported that eight NWSL teams committed to the D-2 league thus far, and that every NWSL team would be required to have an affiliated second-tier team within the first four years.

News of the NWSL's plans comes only a week after WPSL Pro announced that it would launch as a second division, a level of women's professional soccer that has not previously existed in the United States.

If all proposed leagues launch as planned, the number of women's professional teams in the U.S. could jump from 12 in 2023 to roughly 50 by the end of 2026.

Both WPSL Pro and an NWSL second division will require formal approval and sanctioning from U.S. Soccer.

There is no rule preventing multiple leagues from occupying the same division. U.S. Soccer sets minimum standards for each level of play through its Pro Licensing Standards.

The plan is for the league to launch in 2026 as a developmental tier under the NWSL, which has been a first-division league since its inception in late 2012.

A second division would create a player development pipeline that executives around the NWSL have clamored for over the years.

NWSL