After an exciting start, the USVISF Women’s Premier League continues to grow, welcoming new teams, new energy, and a clear vision for the future of women’s soccer in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A high-energy opening weekend left fans and players eager for more, and anticipation is building for the next round of matches. Now in its second season, the league is showing encouraging signs of progress for women’s soccer in the territory.
Assistant Technical Director and league organizer Dante Nicholas says that growth is no accident. “We started the women’s 7v7 competition last year to give more women a chance to play. To go from five clubs in 2024 to seven this season is huge,” Nicholas said. “It tells us that the interest is real and growing. The ultimate goal is to get to full-field games and build a fully established Women’s Premier League.”

Opening weekend brought energy and excitement—and a few growing pains. NV Lioness, the newly formed women’s squad under New Vibes SC, was forced to forfeit its first match against fellow St. Thomas club Rock City SC due to early roster challenges. Still, club president Carol Howell considers the launch of NV Lioness a major milestone. “It’s our first women’s team ever,” she said. “Just getting here took a lot. We’re facing everything—participation, scheduling, visibility, funding—you name it. But it’s worth it.”
For Howell, soccer is not just a game. It’s a tool for transformation. “Soccer is life,” she said. “The discipline and commitment the game requires are the same qualities you need to succeed in anything.”
Though the club is still building its player base, Howell’s mission is crystal clear: “We’re creating a space where women can get fit, make friends, and learn the game. This is about more than sport—it’s about community and confidence.”
Nicholas echoed that sentiment. “It’s not just about wins or losses. It’s about creating a consistent space for women to play, develop, and be seen,” he said. “What makes me most proud is the level of commitment these women are showing. Most are training two to three times a week while balancing full-time jobs and families. That kind of dedication is what builds the game.”
Rock City SC is also new to the league and already helping shift the landscape. Founded by former national team players Anna Scott and Magen Cullinan, the club was created specifically to expand opportunities for women and girls on St. Thomas. “We founded the club because we saw a gap that desperately needed filling—women and girls in our community didn’t have the same access to the game as men and boys did,” said Scott. “On St. Croix, there are five or more clubs with women’s programs. In St. Thomas, there was only one.”

Their vision was to build a club where women weren’t an afterthought, but the focus. “All the other soccer clubs on island are men’s clubs that may have a women’s program,” said Scott. “Rock City United is centered on developing women and girls. That’s been missing here.” Cullinan added that the women they serve are juggling demanding schedules—careers, families, and community responsibilities—yet still find time to compete. “No one’s making a living off this,” she said. Women are showing up to carry the vision forward and making a powerful statement by doing so.
Preparation for the season has been fluid. Many Rock City United players stayed sharp during the offseason by participating in the coed Frenchtown 6v6 league or attending national team training camps. With the league’s schedule confirmed only weeks before kickoff, formal team practices have just begun—but morale is high.
Nicholas believes this year’s Women’s Premier League is setting the standard for what’s possible. “They’re creating a blueprint,” he said. “They’re not just trying to win—they’re working to shift the culture around women’s soccer. That kind of leadership is what we need.”
Both Scott and Cullinan say their long-term goal is to make women’s soccer in the Virgin Islands a viable pathway—not only to fitness and community, but to higher education and professional opportunities. “For some girls, this could lead to college scholarships. For others, it’s about health and confidence,” said Scott. “Whatever the outcome, we want them to see that this game can give back in so many ways.”
As the next set of Saturday afternoon showdowns quickly approaches, momentum is building. The energy from the first matches made it clear: the players are ready, the community is watching, and the league is growing into something bigger than a summer competition.
“It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come in just a year,” said Nicholas. “But this is just the beginning. We want more women playing, more girls watching, and more clubs stepping up. That’s how we build something that lasts.”
Keep up with the Women’s Premier League by following USVISF on Facebook and Instagram.