Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals join WPSL

After a successful inaugural season on the men’s side in the National Premier Soccer League, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals will be adding a summer team for women this year.

The Women’s Premier Soccer League announced the addition of the Ukies on Tuesday. The team will join the Colonial Division of the national league, which includes local rivals Penn Fusion, Fever SC and SJEB FC along with Delaware Ospreys and Washington Dutch Lions.

SJEB FC made it all the way to the league final last summer out of the Colonial Division. Other area teams – Torch FC, Reading United, PA Classics, Hershey FC, Lehigh Valley Tempest and Real Central NJ – compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division.

The team will use “Liberty” in its name for branding purposes.

“We’re excited to add to the existing high-level programs represented at the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals,” Dan Harmon, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals strategic initiatives advisor, stated in a news release. “If [our] WPSL [team] is as successful as [our] NPSL [team] in year one this will be another tremendous step of progress for our club, our talented ladies program, the surrounding community, and the extended Ukrainian community.”

The club will be led by Dermot Carry and Marquita Feldman.

“I am honored to be part of this team in their inaugural year in the WPSL [and] excited for these talented women to be center stage and show how competitive women’s soccer has become in the U.S.,” Carry said. “It will be a fantastic opportunity for parents and their young soccer players to see future stars of the women’s game up close who may play at the highest level of the game in the future.”

The official schedule will be unveiled soon.