Is there room for a new professional women’s soccer league in the US? | Suzanne Wrack

In hoovering up some of the lost college talent, the USL Super League is thriving in cities where NWSL doesn't play

Two years ago, Amanda Vandervort was unveiled as the first president of a new fully professional women's league, the USL Super League, in the United States. For a country with a thriving professional league, the NWSL, there were many questions. How? Why? Where? Would it take off?

Many of those questions were answered on the opening weekend just under seven weeks ago. A sellout crowd of more than 10,000 at the American Legion Memorial Stadium watched Carolina Ascent beat DC Power 1-0. Two more sellout crowds watched Spokane Zephyr's 1-1 draw with Fort Lauderdale United and Tampa Bay Sun's draw with Dallas Trinity. The crowds have naturally dipped a little but have still averaged 2,929 for the 12 of 14 subsequent fixtures that have had attendances announced - a total of 35,152 fans.