The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was first founded in 2012, with the goal of carrying on the torch for professional women’s soccer after the dissolution of the Women’s Professional Soccer league. Nine years later, the NWSL still remains the highest and most distinguished level of women’s soccer in North America. The NWSL is currently composed of ten teams across the United States, with an eleventh joining the list in 2022. Owned by celebrities including Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, P.K. Subban, and Casey Neistat, the Angel City FC will surely bring a great deal of mainstream attention and additional income for the NWSL. Although the NWSL still has a long way to go before reaching a position of complete independence from its parent association, the U.S. Soccer Federation, it still has the potential to be the world’s premier women’s soccer league. 

However, the NWSL first needs to navigate through one of the most uncertain periods in its history. In addition to the cancellation of numerous tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continual dropping of TV ratings, the NWSL is also at risk of losing some of its best players to emerging women’s football leagues in Europe. All of these issues are taking place with the backdrop of gender inequality issues within US soccer. Delegates in the NWSL Council of Advisors will have to address these major concerns while developing long term solutions for the NWSL, including addressing the league’s current streaming deal which expires in three years. The NWSL is facing a great deal of questions, but one thing remains certain: the NWSL needs to find ways to keep its world-class players on home soil if it wants to remain afloat and keep the ball rolling for women’s soccer.

The Dais is excited to meet all of the delegates at SSUNS 2021!

If you have any questions regarding the committee, please feel free to email us at sa@ssuns.org