TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the launch of a female pathway within the USL Academy, which will provide a direct route for ambitious young players to reach the top level of professional soccer.

The move, which follows the successful launch of the USL Academy platform and the first USL Academy Cup event in San Antonio this past October, will see the USL provide its first female player development pathway through which it will equip players in communities across the country with opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

The new extension of the USL’s Academy platform, which was launched in March 2019, will take effect in the 2020/21 youth soccer season.

“This is just the first step in our growing commitment to women’s soccer in the United States,” said USL Chief Operating Officer Justin Papadakis. “With the recent unprecedented growth of the women’s game, we feel it is time for USL to be proactive in developing a developmental platform for young women to pursue their dreams. As opportunities continue to increase for young women to pursue professional soccer, we want our clubs and their youth affiliates to work in tandem to help them achieve that goal.”