The Portland Hearts of Pine soccer team has received the official green light from the United Soccer League to launch a women’s squad, which will kick off its first season in 2027.
The team will compete in the USL W League, a pre-professional women’s soccer league designed to bridge the gap between youth, college and professional play by providing high-level collegiate athletes with meaningful summer competition while preserving their eligibility to play in the NCAA.
“The announcement of a USL W team is an incredible step for women’s sports in Maine,” said Hannah Sirois, vice president of fan experience for Hearts of Pine.
“We believe Maine can be a leader in the growth of women’s soccer, not just part of it,” she added.
The move is expected to add to Portland’s cachet as the country’s top minor-league sports town, an accolade bestowed by Sports Business Journal in 2024.
Name to be decided
The USL W League season will run from May through July. Season ticket deposits for the inaugural USL W League season are set to go on sale Thursday, June 11, starting at noon EDT.
The club said it expects inaugural season ticket plans to include around six home matches, with additional details on seat selection and single-match tickets to be shared in the coming months.
A Hearts of Pine spokeswoman said a team name has not yet been chosen.
“The club is working through the feedback received at the town halls,” she said.
The Portland Hearts of Pine, owned by a group of local investors including Maine Mariners owner Dexter Paine, is adding a women’s team amid growing national interest in women’s soccer and rising enthusiasm for the sport across Maine.
