By Delorean Fleetwood
Snohomish, WA, Las Vegas, NV, and Detroit, MI: The 2025-26 arena soccer campaign continues to strike it rich, as the growth of women’s sports has made it’s reaches to the sport of arena soccer itself. With the recent rise of popularity for the NWSL, WNBA, MLV, USL Super League, and PWHL, the opportunity to grow the sport with young girls and women has been a longtime coming. Ever since Mia Hamm celebrated the US Women’s National Team winning the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Rose Bowl, the opportunity for the flood gates to open for women in sports was only a matter of time. The most iconic photo in women’s sports history is the iconic picture of Brandi Chastain on her knees.
Its a surprise that the women weren’t involved prior to 2021-22. That was when the now defunct (they technically merged with MLIS) National Indoor Soccer League opened the flood gates by having a men and women’s division. Each team would have a separate men and women’s side. In a unique twist, each team played a double header, having both men and women’s teams playing on the same day, back to back. So if you want to thank someone for the likes of the WMLIS’ Stephanie Nunez, Dominique Estrada, or McKenzie Evans-Tostado (more on them later), you have the old NISL to thank for breaking that glass ceiling in arena soccer. Before we begin our journey, lets take a look back at the Memphis Americans and the NISL, the place and team where women’s arena soccer all got it’s big break.
The Memphis Americans were the first women’s team to make a mark in arena soccer, as they won both women’s NISL Championships in their short existence. Their games were played in nearby Southaven, Mississippi, at the Landers Center. The Americans would go 15-4 in their inaugural season and 10-3 the following year, for a 25-7 record from 2021-23. The Americans would defeat the Rome Gladiators 5-3, on April 3rd, 2022, at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 2022-23, the Memphis Americans finished with the best record in the women’s NISL, but due to league operating issues, the NISL Tournament was not held in 2023, giving them the championship by default. Sadly, the Americans would not make it into the merger with MLIS, and thus remain gone for the time being. While the Americans did not survive the merger, the NISL provided the blueprint that is now in its second year of fruition, in 2025-26. With that, we began the our journey.
We will begin our sophomore season of arena soccer women’s league journey, where we began our men’s journey on Monday, May 11th, the Western Indoor Soccer League. The WISL-W.
The Snohomish Sky defeated Bellingham United at the Snohomish Sports Dome last year to win the inaugural WISL-W Championship. Would they repeat? They would have some serious competitionin the form of the Tacoma Galaxy in their bid to repeat. The 2025-26 WISL-W regular season would last six weeks, with the WISL-W Championship being played on February 21st, two weeks after the conclusion of the regular season.
The four teams and their arenas competing in the 2025-26 WISL-W Season are as follows:
- Tacoma Galaxy (Tacoma Soccer Center, Tacoma WA)
- Oly-Pen Force (Bremerton Sports Center, Bremerton, WA)
- Bellingham United (Bellingham Sportsplex, Bellingham WA)
- Snohomish Sky (Snohomish Sports Dome, Snohomish, WA)
Snohomish and Tacoma both went 5-1 during the regular season. They split the regular season series, with the home team winning both games. Snohomish won 7-4 on January 10th, while Tacoma won the rematch at TSC on January 31st, 4-2. That would be the closest game all season long, as no other game in the entire league was decided by less than three goals. Snohomish would clinch the regular season title and the right to host the 2026 WISL-W Championship on a better goal differential (+37 to +32). Of note, Oly-Pen was shutout TWICE and only scored 10 times all season.
2026 WISL-W FINAL
Tacoma had the second best offense and the WISL-W’s best defense, outscoring their opposition 51-19, going 39% on the power play, with a 75% penalty kill. Led by three players who registered double digit points: Peyton Chick (8G-7A-15PTS, 2nd in WISL-W in points, tied for 2nd in goals, 2nd in assists, team leader in points), Jordyn Bartleson (9G-5A-14PTS, tied for WISL-W Golden Boot, 3rd in points, tied for 4th in assists, tied for team lead in goals), and Nikayla Milby (9G-3A-12PTS, tied for WISL-W Golden Boot, 5th in points, tied for team lead in goals) the Galaxy were every bit as dominant as their record shows.
Our defending champions, Snohomish, had the best offense in the WISL-W and the second best defense, outscoring teams 61-24, with a white hot 67% power play and a stingy 88% penalty kill. They are led by three players in double digit points as well: Liv Larson (7G-11A-18PTS, WISL-W Top Playmaker, WISL-W Scoring Champion, team leader in points scored and assists), Danielle Strumbeta (9G-4A-13PTS, tied for WISL-W Golden Boot, 4th in points, team leader in goals scored), and Anna Roslander (6G-4A-10PTS).
The Galaxy scored the game’s first goal with 4:13 left in the first, a power play goal, assisted by Stephanie Spiekerman, scored by Jordyn Bartleson. Snohomish would respond with two goals in 19 seconds, with 3:08 left in the first from Elina Seppala, assisted by Mily Morton, and Liv Larson scoring on a feed from Mariah Biegaj, making it 2-1 Sky going into the 2nd. Bartleson would get her second from Alyssa Andrews with 6:01 to go in the half and Andrews would add a tally of her own from Madisen Gustafson with 53 seconds left to give Tacoma a 3-2 at half-time. The defending champions were on the ropes.
Tacoma doubled their lead on a power play goal just after the break, on a strike from Nikayla Milby to Adriana Montes for her first goal. Morton would score with 13:04 left in the third quarter unassisted, to make it 4-3. Morton then found Anne Ferguson for the tying goal with 10:23 remaining. Gustafson responded with an unassisted power play goal of her own with 8:45 to go, making it 5-4. Morton would feed Ferguson for the second time in the period to tie things up with 1:52 to go in the third quarter. The Sky shined in the final period scoring three times with Ferguson finding Anna Roslander with 5:23 remaining for what turned out to be the game winning goal. Roslander got another one, this time from Danielle Strumbeta with 2:57 remaining, to make it 7-5. The Sky iced the game with an empty netter courtesy of Julianna Barker, courtesy of Sydney Vidos with 1:05 to go, giving the Snohomish Sky their second consecutive WISL-W Championship by a score of 8-5.
Mily Morton (1G-3A-4PTS), and Anne Ferguson (2G-1A-3PTS) led the Sky. Jordyn Bartleson (2G), Alyssa Andrews (1G-1A-2PTS), and Madisen Gustafson (1G-1A-2PTS) shined for the Galaxy.
With the WISL-W on the up and up, the off-season provides a great opportunity to expand the WISL-W for 2026-27. Teams such as Vancouver, Everett, and even the Oly Town Artesians can get in the mix for next season. The WISL (M and W) have an opportunity to make this a Pacific Northwest based league, not just the Seattle area with Vancouver and Bellingham. Look at the Portland Blacktails. HUGE market being missed. Same goes for Salem, Yakima, Spokane, Eugene and others in the region. That’s a wrap on the WISL-W, I will see you all in 26-27!
Our final power rankings for the WISL-W:
- Snohomish Sky
- Tacoma Galaxy
- Bellingham United
- Oly-Pen Force
For our second sophomore league campaign, we turn to the ever emerging presence of the WMLIS for their 2026 season.
THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN
Las Vegas, NV: After a stellar inaugural WMLIS season that saw MVP Stephanie Nunez and the Big Blue Machine of the Chicago Mustangs capture the 2024-25 Championship, they would have some stiff competition in 2026. The WMLIS would grow from four teams to EIGHT. The only team that didn’t return from last season was Pao Chicago. Even better? Not only did the WMLIS welcome five teams, the WMLIS would also be split into two conferences, East and West. The WMLIS was starting to take off.
The teams that played in the 2025-26 WMLIS and their conference alignment are:
(New teams in BOLD)
WMLIS EAST CONFERENCE:
- Chicago Mustangs (Hoffman Estates, IL)
- Zoo City FC (Kalamazoo, MI)
- Summit City Sentinels (Fort Wayne, IN)
- New Jersey Angels
WMLIS WEST CONFERENCE:
- Utah Uprising (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Phoenix Pulse FC
- Las Vegas Turf Monsters
- New Mexico Lightning (Albuquerque, NM)
With an eight league divided into two conferences, the WMLIS will be much more competitive top to bottom. Teams will play a 10 game regular season schedule, spanning from January 17th to March 21st. Another measure that was used to cut down on travel, most games took place at just a handful of facilities during the course of the season. Most of these games took place at Big League Dreams in Las Vegas. Other facilities that hosted games were: Sport City Utah (Draper, UT), Grand Sports Arena (Hoffman Estates, IL), Classic City Center (Waterloo, IN), The Plex North (Fort Wayne, IN), Let’s Play Soccer (Portage, MI), and Arizona Sports Complex (Glendale, AZ). Each team will play a 10 game regular season schedule, with a mixture of mostly conference matchups with a few inter-conference showdowns. The playoff format for the WMLIS will mirror that of the MLIS with the top two teams from each conference heading to Orleans Arena for the WMLIS Final, but with the top team in the East taking on the runner up in the West, while the West’s top team will battle the runner up in the East. Let the games begin! The road to the 2026 WMLIS Final in Vegas starts now.
2026 WMLIS SEASON RECAP
WMLIS EAST RECAP:
Last year, the Chicago Mustangs capped off an undefeated season to win the inaugural WMLIS Championship at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This year, they would face some stiffer competition. Nunez and the Mustangs experienced little to no setback until the very end of the regular season, with the East’s top seed already clinched. The team’s first loss in franchise history came at the hands of an old foe in the Summit City Sentinels on March 21st, 8-5. Prior to this, they had to stave off Carmen Sweigard and company in a shootout, 8-7 just six days prior to their loss. With the last two games slowly breaking down the Big Blue Machine, Chicago started to look mortal. Was Chicago about to run out of steam? Would Fort Wayne finally get over the hump and get the respect that Sweigard and crew so desperately deserved? Both teams advanced as East Conference representatives. Chicago going 9-1 while Fort Wayne’s push to end the season had them at 6-4. Despite winning their tiebreaker against Fort Wayne, New Jersey did not make the tournament field from the East despite taking their lone game of the season on February 22nd, 7-6. Whether this related to travel, financial reasons, or something entirely different, has not been made known as of this article. With a 6-4 record (though three wins via a forfeit from the New Mexico Lightning, which possibly caused their disqualification from the WMLIS Final), New Jersey will look to make a divine presence in the WMLIS in 2026-27. Kalamazoo would have been winless if not for their forfeit win over New Mexico, going 1-9 in the process. Kalamazoo has massive work to do if they are to make any noise next season.
WMLIS WEST RECAP:
The Utah Uprising scorched their competition during the regular season, going undefeated and winning the regular season crown, going 10-0. The team from Salt Lake, showed every bit of domination in the same way that Chicago did last season. Would they finally meet their match in Nunez and the Big Blue Machine? Or would they leave a burn notice on the rest of the league heading into 2026-27? Either way, they are off to Vegas for the 2026 WMLIS Final at Orleans Arena.
Joining them, is another team that went 6-4 and was arguably a stiff test for Utah throughout the course of the season, the Phoenix Pulse. Their four defeats all came at the hands of the Uprising, 10-8 on January 31st, 7-3 on February 22nd, and 4-0/6-5 on March 7th, in a double header. With second place in the West wrapped up, they look to make some noise just across the Senora Desert.
The Las Vegas Turf Monsters had a slightly worse season than their male counterparts did, going 2-8, yet they were involved in four games that were shutouts, winning a double header against New Jersey and New Mexico 3-0/4-0 on February 7th, while getting shut out by Phoenix 10-0 the next day and 15-0 by Utah, to end their season on March 15th. Like the MLIS team, they have some work to do before being considered scary in 2026-27.
Last, but not least, the New Mexico Lightning (based in Albuquerque). The Lightning were by far and large, the WMLIS’ worst squad in 2026, they did not play any games after playing double headers on February 7th and 8th, losing all four by a combined score of 46-9, being shutout by Las Vegas 4-0 and losing 13-4 to Phoenix, while getting stomped by Salt Lake 16-2 and New Jersey 13-3. As of this article, I have made attempts to contact the New Mexico Lightning regarding their status from last season but have yet to hear an answer regarding their situation. After their season opening massacre, the Lightning didn’t play the rest of the season and 1-0 forfeit wins were given to the other remaining games for those teams. With an 0-10 inaugural season (including six forfeitures), it’ll take more than just catching lightning in a bottle if Albuquerque is gonna make any progress for next season.
With our recaps out of the way, we turn our attention to the main attraction at Orleans Arena.
2026 WMLIS SEMIFINALS
With the matchups of Salt Lake(W1) vs. Fort Wayne(E1) and Chicago(E1) vs. Phoenix(W2), we look at the stars of our tournament heading into the Las Vegas limelight:
We’ll start off with our defending champions, the Chicago Mustangs. They had the second best offense and defense in the WMLIS, outscoring teams 80-40 for a +40 goal differential, going 20% on the power play, with a 73% penalty kill. The Big Blue Machine is back, with a trio of 20 point scorers, led by Kelly Collins (17G-6A-23PTS, tied for 3rd in WMLIS in points and goals scored, led team in goals scored and points) Shannon Walter (12G-11A-23PTS, tied for 3rd in WMLIS in points, 2nd in assists, led team in assists), and last but not least, last year’s WMLIS MVP, Stephanie Nunez (11G-10A-21PTS, 3rd in WMLIS in assists). Six goalkeepers, led by Joana Mercado backstopped the Mustangs in net.
Nex up is last year’s finalist, Fort Wayne’s Summit City Sentinels. They had the fourth best offense in the WMLIS and the 6th best defense, getting outscored 58-57 for a -1 goal differential, going 20% on the power play, with a perfect penalty kill on the season, at 100%. Leena Thomas (14G-8A-22PTS, 5th in WMLIS in points, tied for 4th in goals, and assists, team leader in all scoring categories), Natalia Lima (12G-5A-17PTS), and Vivian Purmonen (7G-4A-11PTS) led the Fort Wayne attack, while Carmen Sweigard continues to be a stalwart in net and arguably the best player for the Summit City Sentinels at goalkeeper.
The Utah Uprising completely tore up the regular season, finishing with the league’s best offense and defense, outscoring their opposition 114-27 for a +87 goal differential, going 20% on the power play, with a sparkling 100% penalty kill. The WMLIS’s best one two scoring punch in Mckenzie Evans-Tostado (20G-12A-32PTS, WMLIS scoring champion, golden boot, and top playmaker, team leader in all scoring categories) and Dominique Estrada (18G-6A-24PTS, 2nd in WMLIS in points and goals scored) resides in Salt Lake City, and they’re ready to light Las Vegas on fire. Jasmine Espinoza backstopped Utah in net, leading the WMLIS in all goalkeeping categories.
Finally, we have the Phoenix Pulse, who provided a good foil to Utah, similar to how Fort Wayne has been for Chicago in the East. Phoenix had the third best offense and defense in the WMLIS, outscoring teams 69-44 for a plus +25 goal differential, going 0% on the power play with a 60% penalty kill. The Pulse attack were led by Justyse Smith (14G-3A-17PTS, tied for 4th in WMLIS in goals, team leader in goals and points scored), Jessica Salanic (13G-3A-16PTS) and team assist leader, Aly Moon (3G-5A-8PTS). Melissa Avendano and Angelina Valdez backstopped Phoenix at goalkeeper.
Inside of 20 seconds in the WMLIS Semifinal between Utah and Fort Wayne, it was very clear who was going to win this game, as Utah got into the attacking third and parked there for most of the game. Playing like their hairs were actively on fire, Utah made it clear they were on a mission. But it didn’t start out that way. It was only 2-0 after the first, thanks to Dominique Estrada scoring with 12:07 to go, assisted by Katrina Estrada, and Mckenzie Evans-Tostado firing one home with 3:07 to go, unassisted. Then the flood gates were opened and one could only wonder just how much Sweigard was going to take before she got Patrick Roy’ed in net. Dominique scored just one minute in, then saw Katrina score on a feed from Tostado, 2:50 later. With 8:24 to go, Kayla E. Gonzalez, from Hannah Rose Lee Flores made it 5-0. Tostado scored 2:13 later from Courtney Leme. Dominique would secure a hat trick on a pass from Tostado to make it 7-0. Dominique returned the favor, assisting on Tostado’s goal with 2:48 left, securing a hat trick for her. Utah led 8-0 heading into the break.
If you thought the second half couldn’t get any worse, Chelsey Campbell Sanchez on a pass from Katrina Estrada, just 20 seconds into the 3rd quarter, proved the worst was yet to come. A lot worst. Dominique Estrada would proceed to score FOUR times (the first one assisted by Tostado, the second unassisted, the other two by Katrina) in a mere 3:48 (7:03, 5:20, 4:02, and 3:15). Ruling with fire like the goddess of war, Athena, she made Las Vegas her domain. The Orleans Arena was her own personal Coliseum and her fans were eager spectators, looking to see a fiery spirit not seen, since the display by Judah Ben Hur in his chariot victory in Rome, a few millennia ago. She was your Venus and fire at your desire. By the time she was through laying waste to the Fort Wayne defense, it was 13-0. Finally, the Sentinels broke through for what would be their lone goal of the match, just 12 seconds after Dominique finished her conquest of Orleans. Natalia Lima would feed Leena Thomas for the only highlight on the day for Fort Wayne. Lee Flores would score just 1:03 into the fourth from Katrina for a 14-1 advantage. Allison Smathers would net her first from Tostado with 8:26 remaining. The next came unassisted, 37 seconds later, by Kristine Reynolds. Dominique would score one last time, before waving farewell to a dominating performance, at the 3:02 mark. Smathers would score twice in 35 seconds, securing her a fourth quarter hat trick, giving Utah a resounding 19-1 lead that would hold for the final 1:21. Safe to say, Utah made their ambitions known. Led by Dominique Estrada having the best single game performance you’re ever gonna see this side of “The Lord of All Indoors” himself, Steve Zungul, Dominique (8G-1A-9PTS), Mckenzie Evans-Tostado (3G-4A-7PTS) and Katrina Estrada (1G-6A-7PTS) paced the Utah attack while Allison Smathers secured a fourth quarter hat trick in just 7:05. Carmen Sweigard being left to dry like the Montreal Canadians did to Patrick Roy, was concerning to say the least, as she played the entire 60 minutes. Utah had 50 shots on the night. Utah was onto the WMLIS Finals.
In the second WMLIS Semifinal, Phoenix got off to a hot start, scoring twice in just 27 seconds due to Chicago miscues. Jessica Raybe scored unassisted just 61 seconds into the contest, while Jessica Salanic scored on a pass from Jessica Hale. Hannah Larson stepped up in a massive way for the Mustangs, as she would net a brace in just 3:05 to tie things up at two piece. The first with 8:13 in the first, unassisted, while the second was assisted by Carol Fernanda Soto. Raybe would net a second of her own exactly three minutes after Larson scored. Stephanie Nunez scored one the prettiest goals you’ll ever see, with just three seconds left in the first quarter, knotting it up a three each, going into the second period. Kelly Collins took over in the second, scoring the game’s next two goals, the first from Soto with 10:50 left, the second from Nunez, who drew multiple defenders before making the clean pass, setting her up with 3:30 left, making it 5-3 Chicago. Salanic would feed Emma Eddy with 1:39 remaining to make it 5-4. The one goal lead would hold until Aly Moon scored unassisted with 7:09 left in the third. Soto would give the Mustangs the lead back for good just 53 seconds later. Collins made it a hat trick after she scored unassisted with 52 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Phoenix would trim the lead to 7-6 on a Salanic feed to Cassie Hale with just 1:16 left. The Chicago Mustangs would hold on for the final 76 seconds to make their second consecutive WMLIS Finals.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Chicago Mustangs Defender #14 Valerie Battisti, as she suffered a grizzly knee injury during the win for Chicago. Prayers for a speedy recovery for Valerie.
Looking ahead, Fort Wayne took a slight step back this year with increased competition and some roster turnover. Fort Wayne will need to make adjustments to stay afloat in 2026-27. Expect Sunmit City to keep things competitive in the East Conference, especially with Sweigard in net. Phoenix on the other hand? They have a bright future with the likes of Smith and Salanic leading the Pulse offense. This is a solid group that is far better then their 6-4 record would indicate. They will be back next season and should push Utah in the West Conference.
And now, the match the WMLIS has been waiting for, since the beginning of this season. The defending champions versus the up and coming challengers. Will the Big Blue Machine keep marching through? Or will the Uprising continue to burn their competition? The 2026 WMLIS Final on March 29th, 2026 would provide that answer and a lot more, at the Orleans Arena, soon.
2026 WMLIS FINAL
Utah drew first blood with 5:39 remaining after Hannah Bruce scored on a feed from Dominique Estrada. Chicago would answer with two unanswered goals, the first from Stephanie Nunez, assisted from goalie Joana Mercado, just 1:57 later, while they took the lead on a Carol Fernanda Soto strike from Shannon Walter with 27 seconds left, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead going into the second. Dominique Estrada and Hannah Rose Lee Flores would score twice each, in a span of 5:57 to give Utah a lead they would never relinquish. Dominique scored 58 seconds into the 2nd from Mckenzie Evans-Tostado. Tostado would assist on the first Lee Flores goal just 70 seconds later, giving Utah the lead for good. Just 2:08 later, Dominique would score unassisted, before assisting on the second Lee Flores goal with 8:05 left in the half, completely turning the game on it’s heels. With 4:42 left, Soto would score from Kelly Flores, making it 5-3. Lee Flores completed a hat trick on her strike from Tostado with 43 seconds left in the half, giving Utah a 6-3 half-time advantage. Chicago was on the ropes at halftime.
Jasmine Espinoza would record an assist on the only third period goal, this one from Tostado, to give Utah a 7-3 lead, going into the final period. Lee Flores would assist on a goal by Chelsey Campbell Sanchez just 1:57 into the period, making it 8-3. The Big Blue Machine wasn’t broken just yet, as Kelly Collins scored on a strike from Soto, making it 8-4 with only 5:07 remaining. But time was running out. Tostado and Sanchez would ice the game exchanging points on the final two goals of the Final, both empty netters. Tostado with 1:50 remaining, assisted by Sanchez, while Tostado would assist on Sanchez’s goal with just 54 seconds left, giving the Utah Uprising a convincing 10-4 victory and crowing them the new queens of the WMLIS. They came, they saw, and they conquered in Vegas.
Our final WMLIS power rankings for 2026:
- Utah Uprising
- Chicago Mustangs
- Phoenix Pulse
- New Jersey Angels
- Summit City Sentinels
- Las Vegas Turf Monsters
- Zoo City
- New Mexico Lightning
LOOKOUT! ⚽️
Now the moment you’ve been waiting for. The “shot blocked ound the world” that happened during the 2026 WMLIS Finals.
At the start of the second half, a battle for the ball between Chicago’s Carol Fernanda Soto (#32), and Utah’s Hannah Bruce (#5), turned into one of the best moments for me at the tournament. The errant ball struck me on the face, destroying my silver sunglasses (RIP) and knocked my hat clean off my head. The easily removable cover for the phone I was recording with, was also taken off. Fortunately, my face is like a Chevy Silverado (like a rock). Friendly reminder when you come to these games and sit in front row, please be aware of your surroundings, as balls can be hit into the stands at any given notice. I know this risk when I sit in the front row at games.
WMLIS LOOKING AHEAD
Utah will be the favorites heading into 2026-27, but Chicago will be locked and ready to get the Big Blue Machine working again. With Nunez and Co. back for another go around, this team will hum once more at the Grand Sports Arena for their fans. Phoenix will also contend for the West and arguably has the third best team in the league. Expect the gap in the West to close by the end of next season, even if it doesn’t show in the standings or scoresheet for the Pulse. Chicago is the ice to Utah’s fire. Chicago’s offense takes teams apart similar to 90’s Bulls’ Triangle led by Tex Winter, while Utah is like the 90’s RUN TMC of the Don Nelson “Nelly Ball” Golden State Warriors. Don’t be surprised if we get a rematch, with Chicago taking the throne back in 2027. Where will that game be? Who knows. At this point, I am very excited for what lies ahead in the next WMLIS season come 2026-27. I will see you all next season!
Finally, for our last sophomore women’s league journey, we take a look at the Major Arena Soccer League Women, in what might be the most anticipated of all three leagues we cover. The MASLW was back and with more teams than the other two combined heading into the 2025-26 MASLW season.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Detroit, MI: On September 3rd, 2024 the Major Arena Soccer League announced a unification process that not only would merge the PASL (Premier Arena Soccer League with MASL2 and MASL3, but it would allow for the creation of a new women’s league under the MASL umbrella, the MASLW. The MASLW, just like the WISL-W and WMLIS did, began play for the 2024-25 arena soccer season. The inaugural season ended with the Chihuahua Savage taking down Detroit City, 16-3 at Buccaneer Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa, March 30th, 2025. The Savage completed a rare trifecta, winning the MASL Ron Newman Cup, M2, and MASLW Championships for 2024-25.
With 24 teams for 2025-26, split up into five divisions (The Great Lakes North, Great Lakes South, and Midwest with four teams, and the South and Heartland Division with six teams each), each team will play a 10 game regular season.
On February 12th, 2026. MASLW announced that Detroit City would host the 2026 MASLW Tournament from March 20th-22nd at the Detroit City Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan. The playoff format was also announced. Eight teams would qualify. The five division winners and the three best second place finishers in their respective divisions. Detroit, as the host team, would automatically qualify, regardless of division placement, meaning if they finished second in their division, only two other division runner ups would qualify.
MEET THE MASLW
With the season and playoff format set, let us meet the 24 (it would be 23 by the end of the season, but we’ll address that in a little bit) teams competing in the 2025-26 MASLW season:
Of note, on January 14th, 2026, the MASL permanently expelled Indiana United for failure to comply with league bylaws. Without Indiana United, the 2025-26 MASLW season was completed with 23 teams, up from 18 at the end of last season.
With our 23 team, 5 division alignment set, let us recap the MASLW regular season, going by division. We will start with the Great Lakes, both North and South, before finishing up with the Heartland, Midwest and South Divisions for 2025-26.
2025-26 MASLW SEASON REVIEW
GREAT LAKES NORTH RECAP:
Detroit and FC Berlin had a good rivalry during the season, splitting the two games between them, each team winning at home. Berlin’s lone win that didn’t come in regulation was a shootout win against the Cincinnati Sirens, giving Detroit an edge on point, though Detroit held all other tiebreakers, making the shootout win moot. Detroit lost to the Louisville Triumph in their only other defeat. As for Youngstown? Yikes. That’s all I have to say about that. Just 26 goals in 9 games and their lone win was forfeiture from FC Indiana being expelled. With Detroit clinching as a division winner/host and Berlin clinching a playoff berth as the best division runner up, both head to the Fieldhouse for the 2026 MASLW Tournament.
GREAT LAKES SOUTH RECAP:
The Great Lakes South was won on the last day of the season for Louisville as they held on to beat Cincinnati in OT , sweeping the season series. The Triumph’s only loss was to Detroit in fantastic crossover game that felt like a playoff preview. Susserfuss’ season was anything but sweet, going only 3-7, representing the Akron/Kent area. Columbus had a pretty bad season as well, also going 3-7. As for the Sirens? This is a legitimate championship contender, with the best defense in the MASLW, only allowing 26 goals. That’s the total amount the Youngstown Nighthawks had all season. Cincinnati is no stranger to success in indoor soccer royalty, having played serve to the Kings and Silverbacks in their glory days. Cincinnati was the second best division runner up, clinching a playoff berth alongside Louisville. They both head up north along the Rust Belt for the 2026 MASLW tournament in Detroit.
HEARTLAND DIVISION RECAP:
Three teams in Wichita (including a favorite of mine, the Lady Luck) along with three teams in Oklahoma would battle it out for control of the Heartland. In the end, the Aztecs conquered Wichitan and the Heartland Division along with it. Their lone setback was a game that they didn’t win in regulation. The Luck and Aero battled it out to a 6-4 and 6-3-1 record respectively, but not quite enough to make the playoffs. Tulsa got stuck in the middle of the pack, as if they got lost on Route 66, going 5-5, becoming the definition of “mid”. As for the teams out of Oklahoma City? They might have better luck signing SGA, in a situation straight outta Ladybugs (Kudos if you remember the 1992 film starring Rodney Dangerfield). With the lone playoff berth clinched by the team with the second best regular season record, the Aztecs look to take their conquistading to Detroit for the 2026 MASLW tournament at the Fieldhouse.
MIDWEST DIVISION RECAP:
Not withstanding an issue with the Astras being unable to play in the KC area due to a contract obligation with the Comets MASL team for territorial reasons (named was changed from Kansas City to just Kansas, as a result they had to play games in Des Moines, Iowa, as all the local places were booked during the season), the Midwest was a battle that saw the Iowa Demon Hawks clinch the best record in the regular season, winning all their games in regulation, going 10-0. Their Hawkeye State counterparts in Cedar Rapids were awful, worse than Youngstown (and that was already pretty bad). It will take a lot more than Dr. John Hammond creating new talent on Isla Nubar, background music from John Williams and archeologist expertise from Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum to make the Raptors a contender in the Heartland for 2026-27. Both the Astras and Queens duked it out for second place, but neither could break even, going 5-5 each, missing the playoffs. With the lone spot from the Midwest, the Demon Hawks fly northeast for the 2026 MASLW tournament at the Fieldhouse, in Detroit.
SOUTH DIVISION RECAP:
The South was won by RPFC of Dallas, going 9-1 and losing only to a much better than advertised Monterrey team on the road, in the first game of a back to back. Lone Star only had a +3 goal differential, but they were the only other division runner up, outside Berlin and Cincinnati, to win 7 games in the regular season, effectively giving them the last playoff berth. Monterrey and Houston Indoor Club had one game that was cancelled, as it did not affect playoff positioning. Monterrey was a very good team and should challenge RPFC for the top spot in the South next year. Both Houston teams are a mere shell of what used to be royalty in the area for the sport, back when the Hotshots were playing in what is now known as Lakewood Church (maybe Pastor Olsteen will bring the Hotshots back?). The Bolt certainly didn’t impress, going 5-5, while HIC won just once all season, coming against Lone Star. 512FC will look to improve their paltry 2-7-1 record, so as not to drive the fans in the Austin area batty. With RPFC and Lone Star staking their claims for the postseason, they trek their way up north to Detroit for the 2026 MASLW tournament at the Fieldhouse.
2026 MASLW PLAYOFFS
The 2026 MASLW Finals took place from March 20th to 22nd at Detroit City Fieldhouse, in Detroit, Michigan. For the next few paragraphs, I’m gonna let the official Playoff Guide for the 2026 MASLW playoffs do the talking for a little bit. Have a look.
LEAGUE LEADERS
I’ll let the official Playoff Guide courtesy of the MASLW website take over for just a bit longer to highlight the scoring leaders.
With our 2026 MASLW Playoff introductions out of the way, we move ahead the MASL Quarterfinals. Let the games begin!
2026 MASLW QUARTERFINALS
In our 1 vs 8 matchup, we have Iowa vs Lone Star. Texas would score with 2:42 left in the first to go up 1-0, thanks to Ana Bonilla. That lead would hold into the second before the Demon Hawks began to take flight, scoring three times in 7:22, to turn the game on its heels. Denise Valdez with 9:54 left, Karina Katz with 5:16 left, and Andrea Gallegos with 2:32 remaining, making it 3-1 at the half. Gallegos scores again, just 64 seconds into the third, while Texas would score with 9:57 left, courtesy of Sofia Ochoa. Katz would score with 6:18 and 35 seconds left, to complete a quarterfinal hat trick, making it 6-2 going into the fourth. Martha Saenz and Silvia “Azee” Castillo would ice the game for Iowa, with 7:05 and 2:36 left respectively, powering the Demon Hawks to an 8-2 win over Texas Lone Star and advancing to the 2026 MASLW Semifinals, after a slow start.
Next up, our 2 vs 7 matchup with ICT vs Cincinnati. The Sirens would score three first period goals in 7:38 (including twice in 16 seconds), by Natalie Oronoz, Asha Vilaythong, and Kelsey Keown, with 8:33, 8:17, and 55 seconds left, to give Cincinnati a 3-0 heading into the second. Keown would score her second with 11:33 in the half, making it 4-0 Sirens. ICT would score twice in 2:29, thanks to Makayla Morgan and Nayeli Gallo, to make it 4-2. Oronoz would net her second with 2:23 to go in the half, making it 5-2. The second half saw only one goal in each quarter, an ICT marker by Emma Gervy with 12:09 left in the third, and Keown securing a hat trick in the quarterfinal, with 2:41 remaining in the game, pacing the Cincinnati Sirens to a 6-3 upset win against the previously unbeaten Aztecs. Cincinnati advanced to the 2026 MASLW Semifinals.
In our third game, the 3 vs 6, RPFC takes on FC Berlin. RPFC would score two late first and second period goals in quick succession. Kenne Kessler and Sofia Munoz scoring with 4:04 and 2:51 left in the 1st, and Munoz and Taylor Tufts scoring with 2:39 and 52 seconds left in the half, to make it all RPFC going into the locker room, up 4-0. Berlin’s Brianne Desa, assisted by April Syme, with 12:10 left and Munoz securing a hat trick, assisted by Tufts, with 3:05 left were the only third period goals, giving RPFC a 5-1 lead going into the fourth. Berlin made it 5-2 with 9:30 to go, on the second Desa goal, assisted, by Syme, while Munoz scored her fourth of the contest with 4:38 to go. Violet Hipkin scored, assisted by Desa, just 55 seconds later. Leslie Razo would ice the game with 1:41 remaining for RPFC and Marisa Oliveira, assisted by Hipkin, with 38 seconds left would get one more for Berlin, but RPFC conceded no further, sending RPFC to a Semifinal showdown with Cincinnati, after their 7-4 victory over the runner ups from the Great Lakes North Division.
Finally, in our 4 vs 5 matchup, we have a rematch from the regular season, Louisville vs Detroit. Emma Nicholson would score 29 seconds into the game to stun the home crowd, giving Louisville a 1-0 early on, then Erin Torrence happened. Taking a cue from Dominique Estrada in the WMLIS Semifinals in Vegas, she torched Louisville for a hat trick in just 9:53 (including two in just 30 seconds), scoring with 12:27, 3:04, and 2:34 to go in the opening period, making it 3-1 Detroit early on. Brielle Heuglin would score with 57 seconds left to make it 3-2, going into the second quarter. Torrence and Heuglin would trade goals with 9:33 and 2:46 left, making it 4-3 Detroit, going into the half. Kayla Addison and Nicholson would trade goals with 10:32 and 1:26 left in the third, making it 5-4 going into the final period. Kamder Pierce tied the game with 4:38 left, but Torrence and Detroit got the last laugh, as she scored her fifth of the game with 2:13 left, sending Detroit to the MASLW Semifinals with a thrilling 6-5 win over the Louisville Triumph.
Our Quarterfinal stars go to Detroit’s Erin Torrence (5G-5PT), RPFC’s Sofia Munoz (4G-4PTS), Cincinnati’s Kelsey Keown (3G-3PTS), and Iowa’s Karina Katz (3G-3PTS). With the first day out of the way, we move on to the 2026 MASLW Semifinals.
2026 MASLW SEMIFINALS
Our first semifinal, is a 1 vs 4 matchup, with Iowa vs Detroit. Alondra Tinajero and Andrea Gallegos scored with 14:06 and 10:29 left in the first, giving the Demon Hawks a 2-0 lead early on. Detroit’s Katie Coleman and Mackenzie Reuber responded with 10:12 and 8:56 left in the period, making it 2-2. Finally Brissa Valdez and Silvia “Azee” Castillo answered right back with 8:06 and 1:28 left, to make it 4-2, heading into the second, after a wild start to the game. Things settled down in the second, with the only goal coming from Detroit’s Megan Verant, making it 4-3 at halftime. Gallegos scored the only third period goal with 43 seconds left, making it 5-3 Iowa, heading into the final period. Kayla Addison scored just four seconds into the final period to make it 5-4. The Demon Hawks responded with goals by Valeria Macias and Marta Gonzalez, with 10:36 and 7:48 left, icing the game for Iowa. Kyra Karfonta scored for Detroit with 1:14 left, but it was too late for the hosts, as Iowa defeated tournament hosts Detroit City FC 7-4 and advance to the 2026 MASL Championship Game.
Our second semifinal, is a 3 vs 7 matchup, with RPFC vs Cincinnati. After a scoreless first quarter, RPFC broke through, courtesy of Kenne Kessler, making it 1-0 with 12:12 remaining in the half. The Sirens responded with two goals in 2:29, by Mackenzie Kent and Torai Abbott, with 8:51 and 6;22 left, making it 2-1 Cincinnati heading into the locker room. Natalie Oronoz scored with 12:37 left in the third, making it 3-1 Sirens. RPFC would score three times in 3:39 to erase that two goal deficit, thanks to Arianna Arboleda, Kenne Kessler, and Emilie Torres, with 7:24, 3:35, and 2:35 left, making it 4-3 RPFC going into the fourth quarter. Fernanda Sarellano scored just 47 seconds into the fourth, making it 5-3 RPFC. Abbott scored her second with 9:25 to go, making it 5-4. RPFC would ice the game with three goals late in the period, courtesy of Mitzy Guereca, Leslie Razo, and Kessler, giving her a semifinal hat trick, with 5:40, 5:02, and 38 seconds remaining, making it 8-4. Cincinnati got a meaningless goal with 12 seconds left by Gabby Byorth, for a final of 8-5, sending RPFC to the 2026 MASLW Championship Game and a showdown with the Iowa Demon Hawks on Sunday March 22nd, 2026.
Our semifinal stars are RPFC’s Kenne Kessler (3G-3PTS) and Iowa’s Andrea Gallegos (2G-2PTS). With the semifinals wrapped up, we move ahead to the 2026 MASLW Championship Game.
2026 MASLW FINAL
Finally, our 2026 MASLW Championship game is a 1 vs 3 matchup, Iowa vs RPFC. Nely Ramos scored the first goal of the match, just 1:45 in, giving the Demon Hawks the early lead. RPFC would respond just 1:31 later, courtesy of Taylor Tufts. Iowa would take flight to close out the first, with 3 goals in just 4:22, thanks to Andrea Gallegos, Martha Saenz, and Gallegos again, with 4:26, 3:08, and four seconds left, pacing the Demon Hawks to a 4-1 lead going into the second. Iowa would score twice more, late in the second, courtesy of Silvia “Azee” Castillo and Saenz once more, with 2:36 and 46 seconds left, padding the Iowa lead at the half, 6-1. RPFC would respond with two goals in the third, thanks to Tufts’ second, and Leslie Razo, with 8:28 and 1:20 left, making it 6-3, going into the final period. Would Iowa respond once more? Martha Saenz answered that question, securing her a championship game hat trick, just 75 seconds into the final period, making it 7-3 Demon Hawks. Arianna Arboleda scored with 3:20 remaining, but Iowa would concede no further, holding on to win the 2026 MASLW Championship at Detroit City Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, by a final score of 7-4, against RPFC in the championship game.
Our star for the Final is none other than Martha Saenz (3G-3PTS) with a championship game hat trick. With the Iowa Demon Hawks crowned as the new Queens of the MASLW, the Hawks will be the favorites to repeat next season. But RPFC, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Louisville will be in the mix as well. All in all, 23 teams, up from 18 last year, head into the MASLW offseason looking to make it all happen come 2026-27.
Our final Super Six power rankings for the MASLW in 2026:
- Iowa Demon Hawks
- RPFC Dallas
- Cincinnati Sirens
- Detroit City
- Louisville Triumph
- ICT Aztecs
FOR THE W
With that, we put a bow on an amazing sophomore season for the MASLW, who undoubtedly are pleased with the results from start to finish, minus the issue with the Astras (which could have been completed avoided), and Indiana United. The MASLW will continue to explode with popularity and help attract more and more youth, teaching young girls that they too, can be among the likes of Stephanie Nunez, Mckenzie Evans-Tostado, Dominique Estrada, and many more. With the talents of Erin Torrence, Kenne Kessler, Kelsey Keown, Martha Saenz, and Sofia Munoz, the talent pipeline for MASLW is brimming with bright shining stars. Expect that to grow exponentially in the next five seasons. Count on it. This league is being handled with such care and the rise of the TST (The Soccer Tournament) and the Kings/Queens League, the game of arena soccer is destined to rise out of the ashes to a new golden era, not seen since the Seattle SeaDogs empty net goal against the Houston HotShots, securing them the 1997 Continental Indoor Soccer League Championship, ending the golden era of big time arena soccer. Expect to see that in 5-10 years, tops.
Better yet? Those that love covering these sports get more opportunities to do what they love most. No matter what.
With that, we put a nice little bow on the women’s seasons, all sophomore seasons, for the WISL-W, WMLIS, and MASLW. The seasons provided not only top notch competition, but gave the sport a new fanbase, while reinvigorating the old heads, people like none other, than Greg Suttie from Suttie on Soccer and MASL Off The Wall. The mustache knows. All three leagues committed to not only putting an amazing product on the field, but helping it nurture and grow, giving this tree a chance to grow from being a sturdy looking oak, to a gorgeous Douglas Fir and Blue Spruce tree covered with snow at Christmas time, showing the true beauty of the product they have created, that goes a lot more than just skin deep, but with passion and heart.
Thank you all so much for joining me on this women’s arena soccer journey. I will see you all at the next game. Take care.
Tomorrow, on Thursday, May 14th, we will go over the MASL2 and MASL3 season for 2025-26. Until then, I’ll see you next time.
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