CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 13, 2024) – Super League Carolina, in conjunction with the United Soccer League, today announced a new, inclusive youth affiliate and partner academy program which aims to increase access and opportunity for young girls and women across the Carolinas who aspire to play professional soccer. The club will partner with diverse, competitive youth clubs and academies throughout the region building a comprehensive women’s soccer network with the goal of developing local talent that could ultimately play for the club’s professional USL Super League team.
Super League Carolina’s Affiliate and Academy Partnership Program is tiered into three levels making competitive programs more accessible and allowing more academies across the region to provide unique soccer opportunities and experiences for their girls. The tiers are designed to expand those opportunities and experiences for numerous Partner Academies, allowing them to be an integral part of developing aspiring players, while helping build the first women’s professional soccer team in the region.
“We believe this is a momentous opportunity and are excited to see Super League Carolina build a sense of belonging through meaningful relationships with clubs across their region. As the new beacon for women’s professional soccer in the Southeast, we know that building bridges across the youth pre-professional landscape is critical to providing even more opportunities for young girls to dream and aspire towards playing at that level, and we applaud Super League Carolina in this effort. We’ll continue to work with club leadership to connect these pathways across our youth, pre-professional, and professional leagues.” – Joel Nash, SVP USL Youth & Pre-Professional Properties, and Liam O’Connell Technical Director.
“The relationships and connections with our regional youth landscape will be key for us as a club going forward,” shared Super League Carolina Head Coach, Philip Poole. “We look forward to working with all stakeholders to maximize the USL’s youth-to-pro pathway, as it will be a vital tool for both our club and our community.”
Super League Carolina welcomes the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club as its strategic Tier 1 player development affiliate. The Charlotte Independence Soccer Club’s U-20, USL Academy and USL W League teams will adopt the new Super League Carolina brand, once it’s officially unveiled this spring. Additional Tier 1 partnership elements include access to compete for Pro Academy contracts, a USL Academy designation, a USL W League designation, exclusive visits and clinics hosted by first team players and coaches as well as on-field experiences at the first team matches.
“The USL Super League and Super League Carolina have a mission to provide more opportunities for more women in more communities, and this affiliate and academy partner program does just that,” stated Super League Carolina Chief Operating Officer, Tim Schuldt. “As the only women’s professional soccer team in our region, it’s important for us to help increase access and opportunity throughout the Carolinas for all girls and women who aspire to play professional soccer. We’re excited to partner with the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club as our strategic Tier 1 affiliate. The Charlotte Independence Soccer Club has a tremendous track record of national leadership and a well-earned reputation for developing amazingly talented players.”
“We’re excited that division one professional women’s soccer is finally coming to our region. This has been a long time coming and on behalf of all the players, parents, staff, and partners in Charlotte Independence Soccer Club we want to thank the ownership group for their commitment to women’s soccer,” stated Independence Soccer Club CEO Thomas Finlay. “It’s important for us to support our new team. We stand on the shoulders of those that came before us in the women’s game, and we owe the girls and women in our club and region and the next generation the same opportunity for participation and support they deserve.”
Super League Carolina also welcomes the Barca Academy Carolinas and Fox Soccer Academy Carolinas as Tier 3 Player Development Affiliates. Both academies will join the USL Academy competitive league as well as enjoy benefits that include eligibility for their finest players to earn Pro Academy contracts, field days with first team technical staff, and exclusive first team experiences reserved for Super League Carolina affiliates and partner academies.
“We are extremely excited to be collaborating with the only professional women’s soccer club in town and the region,” stated Albert Aguilar, Executive Director of Barca Academy. “We share the same principles and values, and we are committed to excellence when it comes to growing the women’s game and having an impact in the community.”
“Fox Soccer Academy is thrilled with our affiliation with Super League Carolina and excited to be a part of the USL Academy program. We’d like to thank the first team owners and leadership and the USL pre-professional leadership for expanding opportunities for the girls and coaches in our academy,” stated Christian Fuchs, founder of Fox Soccer Academy. “We’re very excited to be part of this player development plan, and we look forward to when our first Fox player signs to play for her hometown Super League team!”
“We’d like to welcome Barca Academy and Fox Soccer Academy to our affiliate family, and we look forward to watching them develop the young ladies playing in their academies,” stated Schuldt. “We’re also excited to explore the international opportunities that may provide opportunities to elevate our first team in the future.”
Super League Carolina continues discussions with additional academies throughout the Carolinas and looks forward to welcoming more youth club affiliates and partner academies in the coming months, leading into the launch of its inaugural season this August. Youth academies that are interested in learning more about these partner academy opportunities, should contact Club Chief Operating Officer Tim Schuldt at tschuldt@queencitysc.com.
For more information about Super League Carolina’s Affiliate & Academy Partnership Programs visit superleaguecarolina.com/affiliate.
About Super League Carolina:
Super League Carolina is one of the eight initial markets of the USL Super League, a professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in August 2024. The USL Super League has committed to U.S. Soccer’s Division One standards, reflecting its collective vision to be a global leader in women’s soccer on and off the field while providing more opportunities for more women in more communities.
About the USL Super League:
The USL Super League is a professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in August 2024. Built for the future of women’s soccer, the USL Super League has committed to U.S. Soccer’s Division One standards, reflecting its collective vision to be a global leader on and off the field while providing more opportunities for more women in more communities.
