Cincinnati Sirens will bring longstanding championship pedigree to MASL W
TAMPA, Florida – The Cincinnati Sirens will bring its championship pedigree along when they start play in Major Arena Soccer League Women for the 2024-25 season which will start late this fall.
The Sirens, who were founded in 2019, are the defending Premier Arena Soccer League women's champions, and have won five PASL titles in the last six years, including the last three in a row.
Major Arena Soccer League Women was created when the PASL men's pro division teams unified with Major Arena Soccer League 3, and the PASL women's division rebranded as MASL W as part of the unification. Overall, the Major Arena Soccer League will feature close to 80 teams from coast-to-coast and in two countries under its guidance starting this winter, including the top-tier MASL, MASL 2, MASL 3 and now MASL W.
Cincinnati's roster is loaded with both league all-star and international star level talent, including four players who represented the United State's in the 2024 World Minifootball World Cup in Croatia held earlier this monthin Croatia. The United States successfully defended their championship, having won the title in 2021 in a 10-0 rout of Moldova in the championship game in Kyiv, Ukraine. They secured the 2024 trophy with a shootout win over Mexico in the finals. The game was tied 1-1 through regulation, with the U.S. taking the shootout round, 4-3.
Members of the Sirens who competed in the 2024 World Cup included team captain Christy Zwolski, Kate Drummond – who scored one of the shootout goals – Emily Byorth, and Gabby Byorth . Zwolski, along with the Byorths, were all members of the 2021 gold medal team as well
Not surprisingly, the Sirens dominated post-season honors in the PASL at the end of the 2023-24 season. Drummond and Jackie Esterkamp earned First Team honors, while Second Team recognition went to Kacey Smekrud. Third Team honorees included the Byorths and Macy Hamblin while Trina Johnston were Honorable Mentions picks.
The Sirens coach is Craig Rhodis, who was the U.S. Coach in both 2021 and again in 2024. They play their home games at GameTime Training Center in Fairfield, Ohio.
“The Cincinnati Sirens have spent the last six years building a hardworking, dedicated, and talented team. This opportunity is a testament to the veterans of the team who have striven to get our name and organization to the next level,” said Sirens General Manager Toria Abbott “The Sirens have proved with five national championships in six years that we are ready for this opportunity and embrace the challenge. As we take this step forward, we remain grounded in our core values of teamwork, discipline, and shared love for the game. We are excited to join the Major Arena Soccer League W and prepared to leave our mark.”
Major Arena Soccer League W Co-Commissioner Chris Economides said the Sirens serve as a model for all the other franchises that will start play in a few months.
“They are a phenomenal group. They are truly one of the gold standards on and off the field for other Major Arena Soccer League W franchise to aspire to,” Economides said. “They represent exactly what our league wants to promote and present..”
A full list of participating teams, along with divisional assignments and a schedule which will include a 12-game regular season, will be released later this fall. For more information, visit www.cincinnatisirens.com or www.maslw.com.