The United Soccer League (USL) today announced the Westchester Flames as the latest club to join the USL W League. The New York-based club will compete in the league’s inaugural season in 2022.

“We are happy the W League is back, said Gus Skoufis, CEO of the Westchester Flames. “We are very excited that we can offer this opportunity to female players in the Westchester area.”

The Westchester Flames have been servicing the Westchester soccer scene for over two decades through the club’s elite development programming. Founded in 1998, the club has worked diligently to provide high-level soccer training and competitive playing opportunities for players from 10 years of age and up. In creating these opportunities, the Westchester Flames have consciously built established pathways to the professional level through membership in the USL’s youth system in the Super Y League, the USL’s development league in the Academy League and rounding out its programming with both a men’s and women’s pre-professional team in USL League Two and the USL W League.

The club’s main goal of attaining elite player development while instilling a “championship character” both on and off the field is nurtured through the club’s core values of respect, teamwork, ambition, effort, excellence and enjoyment. The Westchester Flames’ core values are an essential part of the club’s fabric, shaping the standard of behavior and performance for each of its members.

In joining the W League, the Westchester Flames will establish a commitment to the growth of the women’s game and provide equal opportunity to all of its players to reach the next level of their game. Membership in the W League will not only solidify a pathway to the women’s senior level for the Westchester Flames’ membership but also create additional coaching and executive opportunities for Westchester Flames’ technical and front office staff.

“Today we welcome yet another strong club to the W League out of the Northeast,” said Betsy Haugh, USL Director of Women’s Soccer. “The Westchester Flames’ leadership team expressed a strong desire to grow the women’s game in the Westchester community and in joining the W League they will do just that as they provide avenues for growth to all current and future members of the club. We are excited to see what the club will accomplish during the 2022 season and beyond.”