Western Soccer League
The
Western Soccer League was a
professional soccer league in the
United States in the mid to late
1980s.
After the demise of the
United Soccer League in
1985, four independent teams on the West Coast (F. C. Portland, F. C. Seattle, San Jose Earthquakes and Victoria Riptide) created the
Western Alliance Soccer Challenge Cup in the summer of 1985. The next year, three of the teams decided to take the next step and create a new league. Only Victoria voted not to join. In
1986, the
Western Soccer Alliance became the only professional outdoor soccer league in the United States at the time. In its four year existence, the league expanded to include clubs in Southern California, Arizona and Alberta. By
1989, the league, then renamed the Western Soccer League, was comprised of nine teams playing a 16 game schedule.
The WSA/WSL attracted some of the top American players of the day who wanted to play outdoor soccer to remain properly trained for national team opportunities. A few of the more noteworthy alumni include Marcelo Balboa (San Diego Nomads), Paul Caligiuri (San Diego Nomads) and Kasey Keller (Seattle Storm).
With four seasons of relative stability, the league was in a good position when the decision was made to merge with the third incarnation of the
American Soccer League in
1990. The two leagues champions even played a "National" Championship in 1989 in which the ASL's
Fort Lauderdale Strikers defeated the WSL's San Diego Nomads 3-1. The hope was that the new unified league with clubs from coast to coast would earn Division 1 status in the run-up to
World Cup 1994. Although that did not occur, the
American Professional Soccer League earned official Division 2 status in 1994 and remained the top U.S. soccer league until
Major League Soccer began play two years later.
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Arizona Condors (1989)
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California Kickers (1987-89); Hollywood Kickers (1986)
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Edmonton Brickmen (1986)
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Los Angeles Heat (1986-89)
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Portland Timbers (1989); FC Portland (1985-88)
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Real Santa Barbara (1989)
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Sacramento Senators (1989)
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San Diego Nomads (1986-89)
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San Jose Earthquakes (1985-88)
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San Francisco Bay Blackhawks (1989)
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Seattle Storm (1986-88); FC Seattle (1985)
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Victoria Riptide (1985)
*1985:
San Jose Earthquakes 13 pts.
*1986:
Hollywood Kickers 28 pts.
*1987:
San Diego Nomads 3-1
San Jose Earthquakes*1988:
Seattle Storm 3-1
San Jose Earthquakes*1989:
San Diego Nomads 1-0
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks*1989 "National" Championship:
Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (ASL) 3-1
San Diego Nomads
