MASL W, USASA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE quality INDOOR SOCCER GROWTH

GENEVA, Illinois – Three national soccer brands – Major Arena Soccer League 3, Major Arena Soccer League Women and the United States Adult Soccer Association – have come to an agreement that will provide a massive upsurge for the growth of indoor soccer and adult amateur soccer opportunities across the country.

MASL 3, and its predecessor the Premier Arena Soccer League, has a long and prestigious history of promoting the indoor game at a competitive level across the United States. The USASA traces back more than four decades.

In September, 2024, The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) announced a formal alignment and unification between the Premier Arena Soccer League  and MASL 3  – in addition to the creation of the new Major Arena Soccer League Women – to bring the vast majority of North American indoor soccer under a common umbrella.

Major Arena Soccer League 3 is now in its fifth season of action, with 20 teams playing this winter, while Major Arena Soccer League Women is in its second season and has already grown to 24 teams with clubs in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Established in 1982, USASA oversees a wide range of adult soccer programs, leagues, and competitions, providing opportunities for players of varying skill levels to engage in the sport as an effort to support and connect soccer communities nationwide.

Through its more than 60 member organizations covering over 400 different leagues with over 225,000 players,  USASA promotes the growth and development of adult amateur soccer at every level. USASA is a member of the United States Soccer Federation and plays a vital role in advancing adult soccer in the United States by focusing on maximizing the adult soccer experience. Notable nationally, on the men's side, USASA oversees the National Premier Soccer League, and two women's national leagues, the Women's Premier Soccer League and United Women's Soccer.

“We are very excited to have  MASL3 and MASL W join the USASA community. They are well established leagues with a broad base in the country. The playing opportunities offered by the two indoor leagues further expands the USASA footprint for players in the United States,” said Bruce Bode, Executive Director of USASA. “Supporting and connecting soccer communities is our mission. This is yet another member league that will multiply the connections for adult players. We're looking forward to working with the leagues to help them continue to thrive.”

MASL W and MASL 3 league leaders say the partnership will have a significant and lasting impression on the soccer landscape.

“USASA has been a cornerstone of the American soccer landscape for decades, and we’re proud to become an official affiliate. This partnership strengthens the pathway for clubs, players, and communities by connecting the amateur game with a professionally structured indoor league model through MASL 3 and MASL W, “ said Josh Auden, who serves as president of both leagues and is the owner of the Youngstown, Ohio, Nighthawks. “We believe this affiliation benefits both organizations by expanding opportunity, raising standards, and creating more ways for teams to grow on and off the field.”

The partnership provides new pathways that haven’t been formally affiliated in the past and connects the dots to a pivotal and lasting impact for the American player.

“This is another example of why USASA is the preferred organization for adult leagues in the country. Leagues across the US have a strong and forward looking partner in the USASA,” added James Sadowski, the association's president.

MASL 3 and MASL W Deputy Commissioner Brian Cushing, a longtime indoor soccer standout with the Wichita Wings, said the partnership brings together two quality organizations with a common goal.

“Being able to partner with USASA is just another positive and huge step forward for our two leagues in the overall promotion of adult amateur soccer,” Cushing noted. “As the two leagues continue to grow, USASA provides an additional platform to spread the word about the excitement and quality of the Major Arena Soccer League brand and provides an additional platform for recognition and awareness to continue connecting the indoor game to new and established soccer communities.”

In many parts of the country, indoor soccer is the most natural and obvious opportunity to play the sport year round.

“This affiliation will see arena soccer propelled to the forefront of the amateur game as the most prominent opportunity for winter season play in the United States. The many clubs , players and partners of the MASL pyramid are excited for the opportunities and most of all the new players that will get to experience an American hybrid of the game that encompasses the passion of the American player and a part of U.S. soccer history that is an experience all its own,” Cushing added. “I know from my playing days with the Wings and its Orange Army of fans, it’s soccer, but it's entertainment, it's hockey on carpet as it was once known. But most of all it's a style unto itself built from the foundation of the everyday player. Indoor soccer and USASA are here for that player for many years to come.”

For more information on the leagues, fans can visit www.masl3.com or www.maslw. com. More details on the expansive USASA can be found at www.usadultsoccer.com.