Women's Premier Soccer League

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Countries	United States
Confederation	US Soccer
Founded	1997
Divisions	10
Number of teams	68
Levels on pyramid	2
Promotion to	None
Relegation to	None
Current champions	Orange County Waves (2011)
Most championships	California Storm (3 titles)
Website	Official site in English
WPSL 2012

The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

There are both "professional"/senior teams and amateur teams in the WPSL. An organization has to choose to be one or the other due to NCAA regulations, since collegiate players cannot play on "pro" teams.

The WPSL started as the Western Division of the W-League, before breaking away to form its own league in 1997. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

The WPSL is unique in that it is one of the few women's leagues to spawn a men's league, rather than the other way around: the Men's Premier Soccer League, later the National Premier Soccer League, was created as an offshoot of the WPSL in 2003. According to the official WPSL website, the WPSL is the largest (in terms of number of teams) women's soccer league in the world.

When WPS suspended play for the 2012, WPSL moved forward with it ambitions toward professionalism and created the WPSL Elite League.^[1] Officially, the Elite League will be a pro-am league, though the vast majority of team (including three former WPS teams) will be fully professional. At the same time, a U-20 league was also created,^[2] further expanding the WPSL structure. Teams in the U-20 will mostly be associated with existing WPSL teams, but some will be stand-alone organizations.

2012 Teams[link]

Pacific Conference[link]

North Division[link]

• Bay Area Breeze  CA
• California Storm  CA
• Central California HEAT  CA
• North Bay FC Wave  CA
• San Francisco Nighthawks  CA
• West Coast Wildkatz  CA

South Division[link]

• Ajax America Women  CA
• Beach Futbol Club  CA
• Los Al Vikings  CA
• San Diego WFC SeaLions  CA

Big Sky Conference[link]

North Division[link]

• FC St. George  UT
• Phoenix Del Sol  AZ
• Phoenix U23  AZ
• Salt Lake United  UT
• Utah Starzz  UT

South Division[link]

• American Eagles Soccer Club  TX
• Arkansas Comets  AR
• FC Austin  TX
• FC Dallas  TX
• Fort Worth Panthers  TX
• Houston Aces  TX
• Houston South Select  TX
• Oklahoma Football Club  OK
• Texas Football Club  TX

Northwest Conference[link]

• Emerald City FC  WA
• Eugene Metro Futbol Club  OR
• Issaquah Soccer Club  WA
• Oregon Rush  OR
• Spokane Shine  WA

Sunshine Conference[link]

• Clermont Phoenix  FL
• Florida Sol FC  FL
• FSA Freedom  FL
• South Florida Strikers  FL
• Tampa Bay Hellenic  FL
• Team Boca Blast  FL

Southeast Conference[link]

• Georgia Revolution  GA
• Gulf Coast Texans  FL
• Knoxville Lady Force  TN
• MIssissippi Fuego FC  MS
• MIssissippi Fuego FC U23  MS

Midwest Conference[link]

North Division[link]

• FC Milwaukee Nationals  WI
• Madison 56ers  WI
• Minnesota Kings FC  MN
• Ohio Galaxies  OH
• Quad City Eagles  IL

South Division[link]

• FC Indiana  IN
• Fort Wayne FC  IN
• Indiana United  IN
• Ohio Premier Women's SC  OH

East Conference[link]

Northeast Division[link]

• New England Mutiny Reserves
• Boston Aztec  MA
• CFC Passion  CT
• FCW Elite  NY
• Maryland Capitols FC  MD
• Seacoast United Mariners  NH
• Seacoast United Phantoms  NH
• Tidewater Sharks  VA
• United FC Binghamton  NY

Mid-Atlantic Division[link]

• ASA Chesapeake Charge  MD
• BuxMont Torch FC PA
• Empire United  NY
• FC Bucks  PA
• Long Island Fury  NY
• Millburn Magic  NJ
• New Jersey Blaze  NJ
• New York Athletic Club  NY
• New York Fury  NY
• Penn Legacy Inferno  PA

WPSL - League Champions (1998-current)[link]

Season	Champion	Coach	Runner-Up
1998	Silicon Valley Red Devils
1999	California Storm
2000	San Diego WFC SeaLions
2001	Ajax America Women
2002	California Storm
2003	Utah Spiders
2004	California Storm
2005	F.C. Indiana	Shek Borkowski	California Storm
2006	Long Island Fury	Paul Riley
2007	F.C. Indiana	Shek Borkowski	New England Mutiny
2008	Ajax America Women	Brian Boswell	Arizona Rush
2009	Long Island Fury	Paul Riley	Ajax America Women
2010	Boston Aztec	Mike Kersker	Ajax America Women
2011	Orange County Waves		Chicago Red Stars

Former Teams[link]

• Albuquerque Crush (2002)
• Albuquerque Lady Asylum  NM (2007–2008)
• Arizona Sahuaros (2003)
• Auto Trader Select SC (1998–1999)
• Brevard County Cocoa Expos  FL (2008)
• Central California Gold (2004)
• Colorado Springs United  CO (2007–2008, Colorado Springs Sabers 2006)
• Elk Grove Pride (2002–2005)
• Everton FC America (2005)
• Fort Lauderdale Fusion (2006)
• FC Indiana (2005–2007)
• F.C. Metro Magic  MO (2009–2010, FC St. Louis 2006-2008)
• FC Sacramento Thunder (1998–1999)
• FC Virginia (2006)
• Foothill FC (2000)
• Houston Stars (2003–2005)
• Houston Tornadoes (2003)
• Las Vegas Shooters (1998–1999, 2001)
• Las Vegas Tabagators (2004–2006)
• Maryland Pride  MD (2004–2007, 2009-2010)
• Massachusetts Stingers  MA (2004–2007)
• Memphis Mercury (2006)
• Michigan Phoenix (2006)
• New York Vendaval (2003)
• Norcal Shockwaves (1998–1999)
• Northampton Laurels  PA (2006–2008)
• Northern California Blues (2003–2004)
• Orlando Falcons  FL (2006–2007)
• PAO ST. Louis  MO (2011) no games played
• Real Del Mar (1998)
• Real Shore FC (2007)
• Reno Zephyrs (1999)
• Rhode Island Rays (2003–2006)
• River Cities FC (2006–2007)
• Rochester Reign (2004)
• St. Louis Archers (2005)
• St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite (2009–2010)
• San Francisco Skyhawks (1998–1999)
• San Joaquin Valley Quest (2003)
• Silicon Valley Red Devils (1998–2000)
• Spokane Shine WA (2010-)
• Sonoma County Sol  CA (2006–2008)
• Sonoran Thunder (2002–2003)
• Steel City Sparks  PA (2004–05)
• Tampa Bay Elite (2006–2007)
• Tennessee Lady Blues (2006)
• Vancouver Angels (2000)

See also[link]

	Association football portal
	Soccer in the United States portal

• WPSL Elite League
• WPSL U-20

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site

Premier Soccer League (PSL)

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Countries	South Africa
Confederation	CAF
Founded	1996
Number of teams	16
Levels on pyramid	1
Relegation to	National First Division
Domestic cup(s)	Nedbank Cup Telkom Knockout MTN 8
International cup(s)	Champions League Confederation Cup
Current champions	Orlando Pirates (2011–12)
Most championships	Mamelodi Sundowns FC (5)
TV partners	Supersport, SABC1
Website	www.psl.co.za www.absapremiership.com
2011–12 Premier Soccer League

Premier Soccer League (PSL) is the trading name of the National Soccer League (NSL) of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA. The next highest league is the National First Division.

History[link]

The PSL was founded by Kaizer Motaung, Irvin Khoza, Raymond Hack and Jomo Sono in 1996. Manning Rangers were the first to be crowned champions of the PSL in 1997 when the Gordon Igesund-coached side was stunning all and sundry by winning the title ahead of a number of more fancied opponents.

From 1998 to 2000 the league was dominated by Sundowns, who pulled off a hat-trick of titles.

In 2001, Igesund moved to Orlando Pirates and helped the Buccaneers secure the title. The following season he moved to Cape Town-based Santos, and steered it to win the league title, thus becoming the first coach to win the championship with three different clubs.

The 11 April 2001 marked a dark chapter in South African history when 43 people lost their lives and 158 others were injured in a stampede during a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at an overcrowded Ellis Park Stadium.

The league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams after the end of the 2001-02 season to avoid fixture congestion, causing two teams, Ria Stars and Free State Stars, to be disbanded.

In 2004, a match-fixing scandal rocked South African soccer. An investigation codenamed "Operation Dribble" was launched by the South African police in June 2004. More than 40 arrests were made, ranging from club bosses to match commissioners, referees and their assistants.

Kaizer Chiefs successfully defended their league title in 2005 after they won the prestigious trophy in 2004 for the first time in a decade.

The 2005-06 season saw Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the title for the fourth time.

In 2007, the PSL signed a television deal with SuperSport worth R1.6-billion. It is the biggest sporting deal in the history of South Africa, and it took the PSL into the top 15 ranked leagues in the world in terms of commercial broadcast deals.

In the same year ABSA replaced Castle Lager as name sponsor.

In 2008, 2009 and 2010 Supersport United won a hat-trick of titles.

The league currently has teams in most of the country's largest cities, with Port Elizabeth being the obvious exception. The city has not had a team in the PSL since the 2008–09 Premier Soccer League, when the city's Bay United F.C. were relegated.

The league is rated as the 14th best in Africa in 2011. This is according to the CAF 5-Year Ranking system. The provisional 2012 rankings currently place them as slipping to 15th, below Niger.

CEOs[link]

• Trevor Phillips 1996-1998
• Joe Ndlela 1998-2000 (fired)
• Robin Petersen 2000-2001 (resigned)
• Trevor Phillips 2002-2007
• Kjetil Siem 2007-2011
• Zola Majavu 2011 (resigned)
• Stanley Matthews 2012-

Sponsorship[link]

Since its inception in 1996, the Premier Soccer League has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

• 1996-07: Castle Lager (Castle Premiership)
• 2007-: ABSA (ABSA Premiership)

Format[link]

There are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season (which lasts from August to May) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 30 games for each club. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat.

The champion of the Premier Soccer League advances to the Orange CAF Champions League, while the Nedbank Cup champions advance to the CAF Confederation Cup, which is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

The bottom team in the ABSA Premiership is automatically relegated. The team finishing 15th on the log enters a playoff with the loser of the promotion playoff between the winner of the Coastal Stream and the Inland Stream and the two teams who ended the season in second spot in the two streams.

Media coverage[link]

The league's main broadcast partner is Super Sport. Supersport have in turn sub leased the rights to certain matches to the SABC, so that matches can be shown on public television.

Supersport broadcast matches on Wednesday and Friday nights, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. The SABC broadcast Wednesday afternoon matches, as well as Saturday and Sunday matches.

2011-12 season[link]

Clubs[link]

• Ajax Cape Town
• AmaZulu
• Bidvest Wits
• Black Leopards (promoted)
• Bloemfontein Celtic
• Free State Stars
• Golden Arrows
• Jomo Cosmos (promoted)
• Kaizer Chiefs
• Mamelodi Sundowns
• Maritzburg United
• Moroka Swallows
• Orlando Pirates
• Platinum Stars
• Santos
• SuperSport United

Past seasons[link]

Previous Winners, Runners-up and Relegated/Promoted Teams[link]

Most league titles[link]

Manager records[link]

League winning managers[link]

Season	Winner	Manager
1996-97	Manning Rangers	Gordon Igesund
1997-98	Mamelodi Sundowns	Ted Dumitru
1998-99	Mamelodi Sundowns	Ted Dumitru
1999-00	Mamelodi Sundowns	Paul Dolezar
2000-01	Orlando Pirates	Gordon Igesund
2001-02	Santos	Gordon Igesund
2002-03	Orlando Pirates	Roy Barreto
2003-04	Kaizer Chiefs	Ted Dumitru
2004-05	Kaizer Chiefs	Ted Dumitru
2005-06	Mamelodi Sundowns	Neil Tovey & Miguel Gamondi
2006-07	Mamelodi Sundowns	Gordon Igesund
2007-08	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2008-09	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2009-10	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2010-11	Orlando Pirates	Ruud Krol
2011-12	Orlando Pirates	Augosto Palacios

League records[link]

• Ever presents (474 matches): Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United
• Most PSL titles: 5 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1997/98), (1998/99), (1999/00), (2005/06), (2006/07)
• Biggest PSL win: 8-1 – SuperSport United vs Zulu Royals (2003/04)
• Most wins: 237 - Mamelodi Sundowns
• Most draws: 154 - Orlando Pirates
• Most defeats: 167 - Moroka Swallows
• Most goals scored in a season: 73 – Kaizer Chiefs (1998/99)
• Most goals conceded in a season: 85 – Mother City (1999/00)
• Most points in a season: 75 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1999/00)

League participants[link]

Top goalscorers[link]

Season	Player	Goals	Team	Source
1996–97	Wilfred Mugeyi	22	Bush Bucks
1997–98	Daniel Mudau	24	Sundowns
1998–99	Pollen Ndlanya	21	Orlando Pirates
1999–00	Dennis Lota	18	Orlando Pirates	[1]
2000–01	Gilbert Mushangazhike	19	Manning Rangers	[2]
2001–02	Ishmael Maluleke	18	Manning Rangers	[3]
2002–03	Lesley Manyathela	18	Orlando Pirates	[4]
2003–04	Jackie Ledwaba	14	Zulu Royals	[5]
2004–05	Collins Mbesuma	25	Kaizer Chiefs	[6]
2005–06	Mame Niang	14	Swallows	[7]
2006–07	Chris Katongo	15	Jomo Cosmos	[8]
2007–08	James Chamanga	14	Swallows	[9]
2008–09	Richard Henyekane	19	Golden Arrows	[10]
2009–10	Katlego Mphela	17	Sundowns
2010–11	Knowledge Musona	15	Kaizer Chiefs
2011–12	Siyabonga Nomvethe	20	Moroka Swallows

Current products[link]

Footballers who have previously played for PSL clubs, and currently play for clubs in other confederations. Players are currently at these teams.

Founder Members[link]

See also[link]

• MTN 8
• Telkom Knockout
• Nedbank Cup
• National First Division
• Vodacom League

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Premier Soccer League (PSL) Official Website
• South African Football Association (SAFA) Official Website
• Confederation of African Football (CAF) Official Website
• RSSSF competition history

References[link]