About · U.S. Soccer Division III
An open system built on merit
Velocity is the only professional women's league in the United States operating an open, promotion-and-relegation structure — where what happens on the pitch decides who rises and who falls.
Velocity Pro · Championship
Division III · 12 clubs · 2 groups
Velocity Pro · Expansion Tier
Clubs meeting Div III standards
Velocity Nation
Amateur incubator · velocitynation.com
Regional & Affiliate Clubs
Grassroots pathway
Promotion
Win your way up
Top Velocity Nation amateur clubs that meet Division III standards earn the right to apply for promotion into the professional league — performance first, not pay-to-play.
Relegation
Nothing is guaranteed
Bottom-placed pro clubs face the drop, keeping every fixture meaningful from the first whistle of the season to the last.
Division III Standards
To join the professional league, clubs must satisfy U.S. Soccer's sanctioning requirements across four pillars.
Facility
Min. 1,000 seated capacity
Lights for night matches
Approved playing surface
Financial
Performance bond
Operating reserves
Audited financials
Ownership
Principal owner ≥ 35%
U.S.-based control
Net-worth thresholds
Market
Metro population minimums
Geographic diversity
Travel viability
League Governance
Competition & Scheduling
Fixture calendar, U.S. Open Cup & Pro Cup coordination, referee assignment.
Club Sanctioning
Annual Division III compliance review and licensing for every member club.
Commercial & Broadcast
League-wide media rights, Velocity+ streaming, and partnership programs.
Integrity & Discipline
Roster registration, disciplinary process, and competition integrity.
Own a Club
Bring pro soccer to your city
Investment and expansion inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis. Tell us about your market.