Second-tier U.S. women's soccer league coming in 2026

A second-tier women's professional soccer league is coming to the United States for the first time next year.

WPSL Pro announced its plans on Wednesday, with 15 teams already confirmed to compete.

"WPSL Pro is the bridge that's been missing -- not just for players, but for the communities, investors and brands ready to be part of the next chapter in women's sports," Sean Jones, the league's co-founder, said in a statement.

The league will launch with an abbreviated fall season following the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup, which is being played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A complete April-to-October season will begin in 2027.

According to ESPN, WPSL Pro expects to have 16-20 teams, with each paying a $1 million franchise fee.

A league spokesperson told ESPN that the league is considering giving its players equity in the league.

"We are building WPSL Pro for players, for clubs, and for communities -- and we're excited to deliver a league that can unlock the still untapped potential of women's soccer at scale," said Benno Nagel, co-founder and project director of WPSL Pro, in a statement.

The 15 WPSL Pro teams, as of Wednesday: Austin Rise FC, AC Houston Sur FC, Georgia Impact FC, Indios Denver FC, North Dakota Fusion FC, Northern Colorado Rain FC, WPSL NE Ohio, Oklahoma City FC, Real Central NJ, Sioux Falls City FC, WPSL SoCal, Soda City FC, Southstar FC, The Town FC and FC Wichita.