The USL Super League, a new first division women’s league kicks off its inaugural season this Saturday. I’ll be at the Tampa Bay Sun opener against Dallas Trinity on Sunday, which is the final match of the opening weekend. Meanwhile the Fort Lauderdale team, Fort Lauderdale United FC kicks off its existence in Spokane, Washington on Saturday.

Here is the opening weekend schedule:

Saturday August 17:

Carolina Ascent v DC Power – 7pm Eastern, Peacock

Spokane Zephyr v Fort Lauderdale United – 7pm Eastern, Peacock

Sunday August 18

Tampa Bay Sun v Dallas Trinity – 6:30pm Eastern, Peacock

What to look for in terms of level of play

Fortunately Brooklyn and Lexington, two of the three clubs that have from my vantage point done to poorest job of roster construction have the first weekend off. This will give both sides additional time to gel. DC Power the other side I feel has done a particularly poor job with its squad build faces Carolina Ascent in the first match in league history.

My view is the league is already in three tiers in terms of the levels of squads:

Tier 1: Carolina, Dallas, Spokane, Tampa Bay

These four clubs are likely to look not that different than midtable squads in Europe’s top leagues and teams toward the bottom of the middle of NWSL. USL Super League being given a Division One designation will probably only look proper in terms of level of play when these four squads play against one another.

All four of these squads have dipped into the transfer market to secure players with European club experience as well as pick up some scraps from NWSL. Notably Tampa Bay has seemingly splurged on higher-level but somewhat older experienced players whereas Spokane and Carolina have gone younger. Dallas’ approach seemed to be a mix but one which at least on paper lacks depth of the other three squads.

Importantly, both Carolina and Tampa Bay are using the ability to connect an academy to a pro squad well already and this should be beneficial for years to come.

Tier 2: Fort Lauderdale

This squad resembles a second division club playing in a top flight – a newly promoted squad in Europe or an expansion team in NWSL. The level of player signed is mid-level but the squad was built out early and training together for six weeks which is why they are not in the bottom tier. Perhaps in time the limitations of the squad build will catch up with them, but for now they look like a competent pro squad but not one I would consider a first division level team.

Tier 3 – Brooklyn, DC, Lexington

Of this group, Lexington which has spent as freely as can be anticipated on the men’s side is the standout given they did not have the late start the other two squads (which are in TV markets that contain NWSL teams) did. Perhaps the long-planned and now official move of Lexington on the men’s side to the USL Championship took potential resources both in terms of technical direction and finances away from the new women’s side?

In terms of Brooklyn, they got a late start and it showed while DC Power, not only started late due in large part to an operational shift away from Loudoun United and toward DC United but now must call Audi Field home – with its torn up pitch and availability only on weeknights.