The United States Women’s National Team kicks off qualifying Wednesday for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The part I like the most is that of the 20 spots on the roster, 19 of them are taken by players that play in NWSL. Of those 19 players, five of them play for either Seattle Reign FC or Portland Thorns FC.

I’m sure you are asking “Well, where else are they going to get the players from?” That’s a good question because in the past there hasn’t really been a league for the players to play in. If they wanted consisted playing time and a guarantee of playing from season to season, the players had to go overseas.

NWSL is coming off its second season and I’d say they did well. From season one to season two, they added one team, the Houston Dash. They also had the Thorns set the single-game attendance record as well. The league has also attracted players from Europe to come over and give it a shot. Kim Little is the perfect example of this. Little plays for the Reign and was a huge addition to the team that went from last in the league in 2013 to first in 2014.

The Reign have three players on the National Team in Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux and Megan Rapinoe. While Portland is represented by Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath.

This is good representation for the Cascadia area and I hope it only continues to grow. Don’t forget to watch the USWNT play tomorrow night as they take on Trinidad & Tobago. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 2.