October 15 – US Soccer has announced a new cup competition between the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United Soccer League (USL) Super League, with the winner earning a place in the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
The Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup will be a single-elimination tournament featuring all teams from both leagues, with a prize pool of more than $1.7 million funded by US Soccer. ESPN has reported that it is expected to start in 2028, although the federation has not confirmed a date. A spokesman said the draw would consider geography to protect players’ health. Full details of the awards and the couple have not been released.
“Women’s soccer continues to be one of the most dynamic and inspiring forces in sports,” said USA Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “The Crest Cup will create significant impact by bringing people together, attracting investment in the future of the game and ensuring that excellence, inclusion and opportunity remain at the heart of women’s soccer in the United States.”
It will be the first formal competition between the two leagues, both sanctioned as first division. The NWSL will have 18 teams by 2028, and the Super League currently has eight. The Super League, which launched in 2024 with a fall-to-spring schedule, is moving to spring-to-fall in 2027 to align with the NWSL.
The rating link raises the stakes. The winner of the W Champions Cup goes to the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. Gotham FC won their first Concacaf title in 2025 and Club America won their last in May.
The Crest Cup is a stepping stone to the women’s equivalent of the Open Cup, although only professional teams are expected to participate. ESPN previously reported that WPSL Pro, expected to launch as a second division in 2028, was part of early discussions.
The name honors Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and NWSL newcomer Atlanta City FC. He contributed $50 million to US Soccer’s new National Training Center near Atlanta, which also bears his name.
“Creating a new stage for the nation’s best clubs and athletes to compete at the highest level will expand opportunities, inspire the next generation and build on the tremendous momentum behind women’s soccer in the United States,” Blank said.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at (email protected)
