Last year, the National Women’s Soccer League made history in its fourth season as the longest-running top-tier professional women’s soccer league in the country.

There still was uncertainty, however, surrounding the league’s future. Player wages remained low, there was no consistent television partner, sponsorship growth was minimal and it seemed the league still needed to focus on the present, keeping its head above water, rather than planning for the future.

This year, things are different.

The 2017 season kicks off Saturday, and according to NWSL managing director Amanda Duffy, who has been in charge since commissioner Jeff Plush stepped down in March, the league is finally at point where it can begin to formulate a long-term vision and strategy for the future.

“With the commitment of U.S Soccer combined with new resources and partnerships … it does position this league to look at a longer-term plan and lay out what we want to be as a league in the next three, five, 10 years and be able to look at the processes to achieve that,” Duffy said Wednesday in a conference call to preview the upcoming season.

The U.S. Soccer Federation, the sport’s governing body in America, recently ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the U.S. women’s national team players. During the tense year-long negotiations, the athletes sought fair and equitable wages. In addition to the already existing partnership between the federation and the NWSL, the new CBA includes additional benefits for the league and player development moving forward.

The new resources Duffy mentioned largely center on a partnership with A+E Networks, now an equity investor that will broadcast one NWSL match a week on Lifetime.

All games not broadcast on Lifetime will be available to stream online for free, although additional details of where to watch have not yet been released. Duffy said she will make an announcement before opening day. International fans will be able to watch matches on NWSL.com.

The league also has two new ownership groups: last year's Western New York Flash are now the North Carolina Courage and FC Kansas City was sold to a Minnesota businessman in January.

Women's professional soccer leagues did not have success in the past.

The Women’s United Soccer Association launched in 2001 and folded two years later. Then, the Women’s Professional Soccer league began play in 2009 and suspended operations in 2012 due to organizational issues and a lack of resources.

The NWSL formed the following year.

Plush told the Orlando Sentinel last April the NWSL talked about a 10-year plan, but to get there it needed “to show growth in lots of areas…in all revenue streams,” including more sponsors.

The A+E partnership helped with that, opening doors to conversations not previously on the table, Duffy said.

“I do think it gives the sense and the presence of the stability of the league,” Duffy said. “There has been increased interest and increased conversation with potential sponsors and partners.”

Ownership groups that also support a Major League Soccer team have contributed to the league’s success as well, providing financial stability, better facilities and more professional front office structures for NWSL teams.

“Interest of MLS clubs coming into the league further stabilized it and brought resources in the league,” Orlando Pride coach Tom Sermanni said. “Financial stability, MLS, federation support and where the women’s game is now even compared to five years ago – put all those factors together and now you have an environment to have a thriving and successful league.”

The Pride will directly contribute to the league’s growing buzz and fan base this season, with the recent signing of five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta.

Duffy said the timing of the signing was great and again used the word “stability,” saying Marta’s signing was an example of the league’s position as one of the most competitive in the world despite other big-name players — such as Pride forward Alex Morgan — signing contracts overseas.

“Competitiveness and standards across the league keep growing,” Portland Thorns coach Mark Parsons said. “It’s extremely competitive and I think that shows the great commitment players, coaches, managers and clubs are giving to their teams.”

There’s still a lot of work to be done.

Despite minimum salaries nearly doubling this year, they’re still a meager $15,000, and the salary cap for 20-player rosters is at $315,000. There’s also much improvement that can be made to facilities in many markets, and expansion is slow so that the league can sustain itself financially and maintain a high level of competition.

“I think if you look at the last five to 10 years, the development of soccer in the United Stated and in North America [has] taken some really big steps forward,” Duffy said. “I’m excited about where we are as we head into opening weekend, and I think it’s going to be the most exiting season in NWSL history.”

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com