The Women’s Premier Soccer League confirmed Glacier Surf will officially join the league for the 2023 season. With the announcement, Glacier Surf becomes the WPSL’s only team in Montana in the 2023 expansion class and the entire league while expanding its Northwest footprint.
"We're extremely excited to be accepted into the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) U21 for the 2023 season and beyond. Director of Club Development Gene Smith has been absolutely vital in making this a reality and we're thankful for his dedication and vision. This is Montana's first and only semi-professional Women's team. This program is monumental for the female players of Montana and surrounding areas looking to pursue collegiate and professional soccer. Our goal is to always grow the game, provide as many playing opportunities as possible, and to inspire the next generation of players, and achieving this milestone completes all three." Glacier Surf Director of Coaching & Operations - Nathan Evans
“We are very excited to be part of the WPSL program,” Gene Smith, Glacier Surf Director of Development, said. “This provides high value to our club and all of our female members and gives all female players in the Valley something to aspire to.” - Gene Smith
Since its establishment in 1998, the Women’s Premier Soccer League has been the pinnacle platform for advancing player development in the United States at the amateur level. Through its 25-year history, the WPSL has grown into a leading advocate for women’s soccer by creating multiple avenues for developmental opportunities, including the WPSL International Combine and the WPSL U21 league which Glacier Surf is now a member
As of 2023, the WPSL is still the longest-active women’s soccer league in the United States and with a membership of 130 teams, it’s also the largest women’s soccer league in the world. Its national footprint stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and down to the Gulf with teams in 31 of the 50 U.S. states. The WPSL holds a 15.7% annual growth rate and has averaged 31 expansion teams each season since 2016.
Adhering to its mission of providing the highest level of development opportunities, WPSL team rosters consist of elite female players from collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep athletes. The average age of a WPSL player is 20.7 years old. Sixty-nine percent of WPSL players are rostered on teams from their hometown’s metro area and 92% of the WPSL’s collegiate athletes play for NCAA member institutions.
Notable alumnae who’ve honed their talents in the WPSL include NCAA All-Americans, MAC Hermann Trophy recipients, Hall of Fame Inductees, Olympic Medalists, World Cup Winners, NWSL Champions, and Ballon d’Or recipients.
The WPSL is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) – an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the ruling body of soccer in the United States.
