Team USA: Major Arena Soccer League Women can pave way to more international success

TAMPA, Florida –  With the USA Women's Minifootball National team recently winning their second straight Mini Football World Cup title, team leaders say the emergence of MASL W – a new women's indoor league under the guidance of Major Arena Soccer League – will be a key to future success on the international stage.

The club, which featured a number of MASL W players, traveled to Croatia last month, and took home the championship by beating Mexico in the finals, in a shootout. In 2021, in Ukraine, the U.S. Won its first title under the direction of Cincinnati Sirens Head Coach Craig Rhodis, who was also the coach in 2024.

But while the team and nation has much to celebrate about this feat, the coaching staff has spent considerable time reflecting both on the team’s success as well as a plan for the future. The MASL W is a key component to driving future success and preparing for the next World Cup in 2028, Rhodis believes.

“When we won in the Ukraine in 2021, the path to success was less challenging. In Croatia, the competition had improved. Other countries are obviously putting more resources into developing their women’s national team program,” Rhodis said.

Meeting the challenge of stiffer opposition was one of the keys for the U.S.

“It’s a credit to our U.S. players that they were able to raise their level of play due to the competition. But as we begin our next World Cup cycle, finding ways to continue to identify and develop our USA players is vital.,” he added. “The MASL W comes at a perfect time.  It provides meaningful and competitive games. The league provides a foundation for the national team staff to identify new players. As the league grows, so will our women’s national team program,”

That MASL W comes with an international presence will be a big benefit, noted league Co-Commissioner Mark Litton, who also served as the goalkeeper and assistant coach for the U.S. Team in Croatia.

“The MASLW has already added Chihuahua in the Southwest Division, which has historically been a very strong team with a large connection to the Mexico National Team.,” Litton noted. “Competitive games will mutually benefit Mexico and the USA teams as the league continues to grow. There have been conversations about adding a division in Canada, which will in turn help the Canadian National Team. It’s just amazing to think about the potential of the MASL W and the opportunities it will provide to grow the Women’s game.”

Major Arena Soccer League Women – which came from this summer's unification of MASL 3 and the Premier Arena Soccer League men's and women's divisions –  begins in December with four divisions nationwide, ending with a playoff in March. For more information, please visit www.maslw.com. With the recent unification, some 80 teams from coast-to-coast and in two countries will play under the MASL banner for the 2024-25 season.