NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TEAM STARTED FROM RENOWNED SOCCER LEADERSHIP JOINS WPSL WITH A MISSION TO FUEL A COMMUNITY MOVEMENT THROUGH SPORT
SACRAMENTO (Dec. 7, 2023) – The Women’s Premier Soccer League continues to expand on the West Coast with the unveiling of the latest 2024 expansion side, Roseville Iron Rose. With the announcement made today, the Roseville-based club joins The Town FC and Rebels Soccer Club as the League’s third expansion team in California for the 2024 season.
“Iron Rose is thrilled to join WPSL,” said Blue Ribbon Football Group Managing Partner Peter Wilt. “This is an opportunity to provide high level playing and coaching opportunities for young women in Roseville and help them develop”, Wilt said.
“This is an important part of our relationship with the Roseville Soccer Club. President Kevin Stringer, the entire Roseville Youth Soccer Board, COO Evin Nadaner and all the coaches, players, referees and volunteers at Roseville Soccer Club have created a tremendous foundation for a successful WPSL Club,” Wilt said. “This team will be aspirational for all youth players in the area who want to watch the game played at a high level and hope to play for Iron Rose in the future.”
Dates and location of Iron Rose tryouts will be announced later this month.
Iron Rose will enter its inaugural season as a newly formed club fronted by four managing owners – Peter J Wilt, Michael Hitchcock, Chris Knowlton, and Evin Nadaner. This leadership group collectively brings extensive experience in developing clubs on and off the field, including work across some of the most recognizable American soccer leagues.
Iron Rose was established to become more than just a soccer team, but rather a community movement. The club will operate through a partnership with Roseville Youth Soccer Club – a community-driven, non-profit, volunteer-based club with over 4,000 youth players. Through the partnership, Iron Rose will launch comprehensive youth development programs as the club recognizes the importance of nurturing young talent.
“We are proud and excited to be partnered with one of the largest youth clubs in the country that shares our vision in growing the beautiful game,” Iron Rose club leadership said in a statement. “These initiatives will provide aspiring soccer players with top-notch training and mentorship [to create] a pipeline for local talent to shine on the national stage.”
Roseville Soccer Club President, Kevin Stringer, says, “what an incredible moment for our club, our city, and all of Northern California. Our club is home to 2,000 female players and is the premier club in the region for youth development. With so much passion and talent for soccer, we are excited to extend more opportunities to play the game at the highest level and thrilled to be joining the WPSL family.”
Further, Stringer says: “The Iron Rose WPSL expansion team reflects the commitment of our entire community for nurturing the development of talented youth players in the region and marks just the initial phase of our shared vision for expansive growth in women’s soccer. There has never been a greater time to be part of Roseville Soccer!”
The Iron Rose believes in using the power of sport to unite and uplift its community and is dedicated to actively engaging local residents through community events, school programs, charitable initiatives, and creating a fan-centric experience.
“Our community has long been proud to be the home of Olympians, Super Bowl, and World Series winners. We’re thrilled to welcome these two semi-pro soccer teams to Roseville,” said Roseville Mayor Bruce Houdesheldt. “Strengthening sports tourism is one of our Council’s strategic priorities. Our investment in the 10-field Soccer Complex that broke ground in West Roseville several months ago is the latest testament to that. This is the kind of activity that we were hoping to attract, and I know the athletes and fans will find a warm welcome here.”
About the Women’s Premier Soccer League
The WPSL returns for its 26th season of play as the longest-active women’s soccer league in the United States. Boasting more than 125 clubs nationwide while occupying 35 states coast-to-coast, the WPSL solidifies itself as the largest women’s soccer league in the world. Team rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s national team players have played in the WPSL since its inception in 1998, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, and Brandi Chastain.