This week, we look at more news from the two semiprofessional leagues in North America: United Women's Soccer (UWS) and Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL). In spite of the fact that the International Champions Cup exhibition games on the men's side have been cancelled, the women's tournament is still hoping to stage games for the third consecutive year in the U.S. this summer. We also present part 2 of our Scottish Premier League 1 preview for 2020.

New UWS League Continues to Add Teams and is now up to 13

In a recent column, we discussed that the five year old UWS semiprofessional league in North America was adding a League Two in 2020, essentially a third tier for women's soccer in North America (see link below). UWS League Two will be a developmental league primarily for the U-20 to U-23 age group but will include promotion and relegation. In addition to four teams already announced in Michigan, which we discussed in February: Detroit Sun Reserves, Livonia City FC, NOSC and Rebels FC, (https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-nasl-changes-uws-adds-league-two-usl-return-4316424) another side is joining the Midwest Division. Michigan Legends FC has rebranded itself as Legends FC ProAm. Michigan Legends FC was one of the inaugural teams of the UWS Midwest and played for three seasons at the UWS level, qualifying for the conference playoffs in 2017. Legends FC is based out of the Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton, a northwestern suburb of Detroit. They offer year-round training with two 11v11 indoor fields which complement seven of the best full size outdoor fields in the Midwest. Legends FC General Manager Kevin Oakley explained, "Our organization joined the UWS Midwest Conference in year one because we believed in the league ethos to develop players, promote the game, and expand opportunity. To that end, we are excited to be fielding a team in UWS League Two this summer, made up entirely of current and former Legends FC alumnae and college soccer players. The Legends Ladies will have a strong connection to the community as the group is truly homegrown. Our new direction has purpose and will develop the culture of soccer in this market. We're thankful to the UWS for providing this platform. It's the best and most forward-thinking pro-am league in the country."

Five teams are joining and will form a League Two Southwest Conference. The new teams are CTX Hornets (Austin), FC Austin Elite U-20 & U-23, San Antonio Athenians U-23 and San Antonio Surf SC 2.The CTX Hornets use the Watford FC logo, colors and moto through their partnership with Global Image Sports, a U.K.-based Sports Marketing Company. FC Austin Elite, begun in 2015, played two seasons in the WPSL and then the past two seasons in the UWS, finishing in second place in their Conference both seasons. Last season, half of their 26 player roster had played for local Austin area high school programs. FC Austin General Manager Danny Woodfill said, "We are excited to have a place to enter our reserve team and be able to start our new U-20 team in UWS League Two. I truly believe this will become the building block for women's soccer in Texas and across the country. Low cost, easy access to the league and with the potential for teams to grow into full national league teams over time is the quintessential step in growing the women's game and I am excited [for] the UWS [to] step up and provide it."

Another WPS member, San Antonio Athenians will also field their official reserve team (SA Athenians U-23) in the League Two Southwest Conference. The Athenians were founded in 2016 and represent the greater San Antonio area with home games and international friendlies played at the Cibolo Multi-Event Center in Cibolo, TX. After a stint in the WPSL, San Antonio joined UWS for the 2019 season. The senior team was scheduled to play an exhibition against the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) on April 11 at the Houston Sports Park, which was postponed because of the Coronavirus crisis. Athenians Owner & President Peter Veras said, "Adding a reserve team is a step in the right direction for the growth of individual clubs and UWS. The reserve team broadens the talent pool and allows more opportunities for players to develop their skills, learn from our great coaching staff and showcase their talent."

The San Antonio Surf SC 2, formerly known as Alamo City SC, with the organization rebranding after joining Surf Cup Sports last year. San Antonio Surf SC operates youth programming for players age 4-19, along with amateur men's and women's programs. In addition, they hold and host tournaments throughout the year, including state level competitions and national events.

Turning to the Southeast Conference, SportsParadize Soccer Academy will serve as the fourth member team in UWS League 2 and compete against Unity F.C., Orlando FC Royals and Puerto Rico Pride FC. SportsParadize Soccer Academy is based out of Orlando and was formed in 2006. It operates youth programs for players age 4-19, along with amateur men's and women's programs. SportsParadize currently fields a men's team in the national amateur league United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). In addition, the club hosts tournaments throughout the year, including state level competitions and national events.

Women's Premier Soccer League News

The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) will delay the beginning of its season to May 29 in lieu of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 23-year-old league will move 82 matches, initially scheduled before May 29, to later in the season. This will allow a full regular season for the league's 130 clubs, which is the largest women's soccer league in the world. In addition, the 2020 WPSL Championship weekend and regional playoffs are canceled to allow the two-week regular season extension. The league will recognize the 22 conference champions at the conclusion of the season. WPSL President Sean Jones said, "The WPSL's goal remains to provide a platform for talented female players to train and compete at an elite level during the summer months. I am sad that the WPSL Championship, our marquee event, won't take place this season, yet extending the regular season allows us have our clubs offer a full match schedule to their players."

It is sad that the WPSL Finals will not be held and rather unique that the league prioritized regular season matches over the playoffs, when leagues in North America such as the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League are considering ditching their remaining regular season games and going directly to the playoffs—even in an abbreviated format—to conclude the 2019-20 seasons when they are allowed to restart. The WPSL could likely see more weeks of the regular season postponed, or even the entire season. A number of teams in that league run on bare-bone budgets and, with the extensive layoffs and economic problems that so many households are facing, we could see a number of teams fold before next season and even for this season if regular season games are lost, since some clubs only have 4 games at home during the season. They lose some gate receipts and sponsorships but also, having to endure the expense of more road trips than home games, could force a number of clubs into mothballs. President Jones added, "We will continue to monitor the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. If the situation doesn't seem to be improving by the end of April and our top medical experts are recommending avoiding outdoor activities, then the WPSL will comply and not compete in 2020. We have informed our teams that we will provide them 30 days advanced notice if the cancelation does take place."

Note: In early April, the UWS stated that it still intends to play both the UWS and inaugural League Two season in 2020, but will delay the start of the seasons to coincide with Center for Disease control guidelines due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The league said in a press release, "The safety of our players, fans and staff remain our top priority and we will continue to monitor events and receive guidance from local, state, and national authorities."

WPSL Expands to Las Vegas

It was not too long ago that the only professional sport in Las Vegas seemed to be betting on teams throughout the country at Casinos' Sports Books because there were no teams locally to wager on. The landscape of Las Vegas sports is changing rapidly though. The Oakland Raiders and the NFL arrive this fall, and the Vegas Golden Knights went to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season in 2017. With soccer, the Las Vegas Lights have drawn some strong crowds to Cashman Field—a former baseball stadium—

(6,700 on average in 2018 and 7,700 on average in 2019) the past two seasons in the USL Championship (men's second division). Also, the Pacific Coast League's (AAA or highest level of minor league baseball) Las Vegas Aviators (formerly 51s and Stars) is a fixture in the city. Now a women's soccer team returns for a third attempt in the market, following two former WPSL franchises: the Las Vegas Shooters in 1998, 1999 and 2001 and the LasVegas Tabagators (a derivative of TAB Contractors, who were their main sponsor) in 2005 and 2006.

The Las Vegas Legends organization was founded in 2012 and joined the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) for men in 2012 and competed in the league for four consecutive seasons. During that stretch, the Legends made it to the Western Conference Finals each year. In 2016, the team quit the MASL and took a hiatus from competitive soccer. Last September, owner Mier Cohen announced that the Legends would again be representing Las Vegas on the national soccer scene, but this time on the pitch rather than in the arena, joining both the men's National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and the WPSL for women as 2020 expansion teams. Cohen explained his rationale for joining the women's league, "We are excited to join the WPSL. The addition of a WPSL team to our men's team model means our local female players will have a complete player development pathway. It also allows us to provide Las Vegas Valley-based players with an opportunity to play at the adult level and compete around the U.S. while also supplying some a pathway to the professional ranks." General Manager Daniel Collazo, a local soccer media personality, said, "These kids are really good, but they have no outlet. We want to develop highlight reels, develop portfolios [and] create resumes for them. So after the season, we can send them to clubs in Europe and the United States."

Collazo added, "Our thought process in having this program for women is now they don't have to leave to play. Now you have players from UNLV [University of Nevada-Las Vegas], BYU [Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah], Pepperdine [Malibu, California], some ex-professionals, some in the Hispanic league, even the women that are playing in college are local. Our philosophy is local." The Legends hired Rogério Mendes as the WPSL coach; Mendes holds a USSF A License and has 21 years of coaching experience.

International Champions Cup for Women Still Hopes to Continue in 2020.

The International Champions Cup tournament for men became a casualty of the Coronavirus, cancelling all of its games in 2020. The ICC is so heavily dependent on European clubs coming to the States as well as staging high-profile summer exhibitions in Europe and Asia, that with the European leagues currently shut down, there is more concern with finishing the domestic league and European Cup 2019-20 seasons than in exhibition matches. That said, the four team Women's Championship, which was held in Miami in 2019 and won by the North Carolina Courage and then hosted by the Courage in 2020 with Olympique Lyon of France winning the crown, has not been cancelled and still hopes to hold some manner of tournament this summer. It's hard to see the women's side continuing as all the European women's leagues are on hiatus, and they may need the summer to make up games.

Scottish Women's Premier League 1 2020 Preview—Part 2

This week we complete our Scottish Women's Premier League 1 Preview, following last week's part 1 look at Celtic, Glasgow City and Rangers (see: https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-i...).

2020 Scottish WPL 1

Hibernian

Dean Gibson was named as head coach of Hibernian's first team for 2020. In 2017 he led the Under-15 squad to a league and cup double, and then was promoted to run the U-23 development side. In 2018, Dean's side became the first Hibernian development squad to win the SWFL1 Division title and now has moved up from the U-23's. He has a young side and added Scottish youth international Carla Boyce, a 21-year-old forward, who spent two years at Rangers and had been a youth player at Glasgow City.

Full-back Cailin Michie left after the 2019 season for Swedish side Pitea IF DFF, the champions in Damallsvenskan. She joined Hibs in 2015 and helped the side to three SSE Scottish Women's Cups, four Scottish Women's Premier League Cups and won the Coaches' Player of the Year in 2018. Cailin also played her part in three UEFA Women's Champions League campaigns, helping Hibs reach the Round of 32 in the 2019 campaign for the first time in three years. Goalkeeper Jenna Fife (24), who was on the Scotland WWC side last summer and has four caps, also moved on, signing with Rangers and was the Coaches Player of the Year last season with Hibs.

Motherwell

Motherwell won promotion in 2018 to the top league and has made a number of new acquisitions for 2020. The Women of Steel signedChelsie Watson (Rangers) and Kaela McDonald-Nguah (Spartans) for the 2020 SWPL1 season.Jamie-Lee Smith, a central defender, was also brought in from Hibernian. Rachel Connor and Gill Inglis return after joining the side late last year. Midfielder Lauryn Reside returns to the club after a year with Celtic while goalkeeper Khym Ramsay has been recruited from Rangers.

Eddie Wolecki Black is back with the club as the head of Motherwell's women's football department. Wolecki Black (54) led the 2018 side which was unbeaten in SWPL2 and won promotion. Last season he helped Celtic to a second place finish and a Women's Champions League spot. Previously he won four trebles in 4 seasons at Glasgow City—lifting the Scottish Women's Premier League title, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup each season. He said, "I'm excited to be back at Motherwell. There's an opportunity to grow the club further and my day-to-day remit will be doing that. Instantly when I came back I felt part of things again. This is a club that is determined to improve in every aspect, working together to achieve that, and that motivates me greatly."

2019 Scottish WPL 1

MP WD L F AD P

Forfar Farmington

Farmington Ladies were formed as part of the bigger Farmington structure in 2011 andmaintained their Division 1 status for a third consecutive season, after demotion after the 2016 season, but bouncing straight back up. Northern Ireland international Lauren Brennan has joined Forfar Farmington from Sion Swifts at home. Brennan (25) made her international debut in 2015 against Switzerland in a Euro qualifier and played with Grindavik in Iceland for two years

Spartans

In terms of imports for Spartans, Canadian defender Olivia Lukasewich (29) is a mainstay and has played at Louisiana Tech University, with the Toronto Lynx in the old W-League and been an assistant coach with the women's side at York University in Toronto for some years. She also spent time in England at Charlton. Forward Julia Moulton (24) of England played at Southampton WFC at home and with Cynoed LFC in Cardiff, Wales. American Krissy Williams (27) went to college at Smith College (Northampton, Massachusetts) and previously played at Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale in SWPL2.

Hearts

Northern Ireland International Louise McDaniel, who signed for Blackburn Rovers in September, has moved to Hearts Women, who are newly promoted to SWPL1 after winning the SWPL2 title last season. Formerly of Linfield Ladies, the 19-year-old made history in 2017 when she became the first Northern Ireland women's player to score at a major tournament, against Scotland in the Under-19 European Championships held in her home country. McDaniel scored on her Linfield debut at age 14 and also scored six goals in a game against Derry City. She won three league titles, three League Cups and two Irish Cups at Linfield. She then made her senior international debut last February against Kazakhstan in 2019 World Cup qualifying.

Hearts is losing former club captain Megan Paterson and Lynsey Anderson, both long serving players who spent ten years at the club. Goalkeeper Emily Mutch, midfielder Jennifer Smith and striker Aisha Maughan all re-signed for 2020. All three have made regular appearances for Scotland Women's Under-19s and were key players for the club last season. Glasgow City loanee 2019 loanee Murron Cunningham has also committed to Hearts for the 2020 season.

Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey