Soccer News: San Diego SeaLions and Understanding the Leagues in Women's Soccer 

The San Diego SeaLions are in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and were formed in 1988, and remains one of the oldest female soccer clubs in the United States. Known as Auto Trader Women’s Select then, it was established to give post college players a place to play competitive soccer.

In 1998, The SeaLions, along with five other West Coast teams, founded the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), to provide an arena in which these talented ladies could further develop their skills, and to promote the stature of female athletes as role models for our youth.

The WPSL

The WPSL is an independent national league with ten divisions across the United States including over 60 teams. It is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the ruling body of soccer in the United States and FIFA the world's ruling body for soccer.

The league has featured more than 80 former WUSA players, and many former and current national team members. Notables include Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, Leslie Osbourne, Shannon MacMillan, and Rachel Buehler.

The WPSL is unique in that it is an open league that is run by the teams. Each team gets one vote and decides all issues for the entire league. The WPSL season runs from May 1st to August 6th. There is a league championship tournament that is held the last weekend of July or first weekend of August, the location of which changes each year. Teams can expect to play between 10-16 games during the season.

SeaLions and the WUSA

Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 and suspended operations on September 15, 2003, after the completion of its third season with cumulative losses estimated of $100 million.

Feeding off the momentum generated by the victory of the Women’s National Team at the 1999 World Cup, the World’s first-ever professional women’s league, the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) launched its first season in 2001. WUSA was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals.

San Diego was one of eight soccer teams (also known as franchises) comprising the league. The San SeaLions became the developmental team for the WUSA’s San Diego Spirit, as they were known.  The teams were: Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit, and San Jose CyberRays and Washington Freedom.

The Spirit enjoyed huge success, selling out almost every home game played at USD’s Torero Stadium. Despite the success of the franchise, in September of 2003, on the brink of the Women’s World Cup, the WUSA ceased operations due to a lack of sponsorship revenue.

The WPS

Following the suspension of operations of the Women’s United Soccer Association, the WUSA Reorganization Committee was formed to determine the best method to re-launch a women’s professional soccer league in the United States.

In April of 2009, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) held its inaugural match at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

There is currently no pro franchise in San Diego. The San Diego SeaLions are poised to bring a professional women’s team back to San Diego.

SeaLion Milestones Achieved to Date 

1988 - Auto Trader Women’s Select, now known as San Diego WFC SeaLions is formed

1998 - SeaLions join the WPSL as one of 6 founding member teams

1999 - SeaLions win the U.S. National Cup Championship

2000 - SeaLions win the WPSL National Championship

2002 - SeaLions become the developmental squad for the WUSA's San Diego Spirit

2004 - San Diego WFC, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization was created

2006 - SeaLions advance to the WPSL Final Four in Salt Lake City

2008 - SeaLions hire a new General Manager who initiates an aggressive marketing and business development campaign, doubling the number of sponsors and fans

2009 - SeaLions appoint former U.S. National Team member Jen Lalor-Nielsen as head coach, who leads the team to a tie for first place in the Pac-South Division

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