The Wash is David Falk’s take on the world of soccer in The WA.

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Soccer in the state of Washington is about to blow up. As in expand dramatically. In 2014 our state’s number of adult men’s clubs competing at elite levels will jump from 5 to at least 13, maybe more. It’s going to be an explosion that benefits both players and fans. It’s going to be monumental.

The Kitsap Pumas, Washington Crossfire, North Sound SeaWolves (moving to Issaquah) and Sounders U-23’s have been playing in the PDL. Bellingham United spent two years up in the now Canadian-only PCSL. In 2014 two new leagues will join our soccer scene: The Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA), and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL.) With them will come at least 8 new semi-pro clubs around the state.

Along with Bellingham, the EPLWA will help launch FC Three Rivers Tri-Cities, Seattle Stars FC, South Sound FC, Spokane SC Shadow, Vancouver Victory FC, Wenatchee United FC and WestSound FC.

The NPSL is waiting for all of its information to become final, but we’ve been hearing that Washington state will be involved with a Northwest Division with a new club in Renton (now playing locally as Rairdon.com) and as many as two other cities.

Just counting what we already have and what we know will be coming, that makes 8 clubs jumping up to semi-pro status to give us 13 around the state. Right now we’ve confirmed SO Samba (Hood River, Oregon) and Renton in the NPSL NW.

It’s going to be a great year to be an adult male elite soccer player in Washington. Or coach. Or trainer. Or supporter. Or soccer news site.

These clubs and leagues can all claim to be at the fourth division nationally, behind MLS, NASL and USL-PRO. Locally, they could all claim to be second division behind the MLS Sounders, though some would suggest the PDL goes in with a historical and college-level-talent advantage. US Soccer officially recognizes three divisions: MLS as first, NASL as second and USL-PRO as third.

On the women’s side, I’ve not heard anything about expansion in the WPSL, where Washington had teams in Issaquah, Seattle, West Seattle and Spokane in 2013. Except to say that Spokane folded and will return as a new team under the Shadow banner. The state’s only W-League club is the Sounders Women. Leading the way as our first division club is the NWSL Seattle Reign FC.

It’s going to be one heck of year in 2014. For all of us.



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