TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced that Missy Price, PhD, has been named Vice President of Women’s Soccer. In this role, Price will lead on-field initiatives for the USL’s youth-to-pro women’s pathway and support USL Super League and W League Clubs in structuring their technical departments.
Price brings more than 20 years of experience as a coach, instructor, consultant, author, and public speaker. She earned her Doctorate of Education in Sport Psychology at the University of Virginia and played collegiately at the University of Maryland. Price also holds a United States Soccer Association “A” coaching license, a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, and a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology. This month, Price will complete her term as President of the United Soccer Coaches Board of Directors.
“Dr. Missy Price is an outstanding soccer executive,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “Like many of us here at the USL, she is a proven leader who has played and coached the game at a high level. We are building an unprecedented pathway for girls and women that culminates in the USL Super League, which will be a globally admired professional league. Our commitment is creating career opportunities for women players, coaches, technical directors, professionals and executives.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Missy to the USL because she’s a tremendous person who brings such an impressive and unique set of credentials,” said USL Super League President, Amanda Vandervort. “Missy is incredibly well respected in the women’s soccer landscape. Very few women’s soccer executives focus squarely on the technical side, and Missy has all the knowledge and ambition to help build our women’s pathway into one of the best in the world.”
USL’s distinct youth-to-professional women’s soccer pathway is creating thousands of opportunities for players, fans, coaches and staff in the women’s game. This year the pre-professional W League will kick off its inaugural season with more than 40 teams across the country. The fully professional USL Super League takes shape this year and will begin playing in 2023 with 10-12 teams. The USL Academy girls’ teams extend the pathway to the elite youth level, while the college game continues to develop and produce players for the next steps.
“I am delighted to join the USL and its massive commitment to growing the women’s game at all levels,” Price said. “We are creating a full, sustainable pathway that elevates and prioritizes women in soccer – and we’re building on a solid foundation of experience and infrastructure. It’s truly exhilarating to be able to play a part in that evolution.”
Price served as head soccer coach at Wellesley College (2016 – 2021) and as head women’s soccer coach at the University of Nevada (2010 – 2016), after two years as an assistant coach there. She also served as an assistant coach at the University of Miami, University of Illinois, and the University of Virginia.
Price has coached at various levels within the game, conducted coaching education seminars, and instructed for both US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches educational programs. She has delivered academic presentations and published articles in The Sports Psychologist and The Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine. A longtime advocate for the women’s game and women in coaching, Price was selected as one of 30 mentors for the inaugural US Soccer SheChampions Mentorship Program.
Price joins the USL’s growing league office of more than 75 full-time professionals across 18 functional areas, including a robust club services group. The USL Super League will benefit from USL’s extensive media landscape, commercial and strategic partnerships, and national footprint, with clubs in more than 120 communities across the country. USL Championship and League One clubs play in 26 soccer-specific venues across North America, with another 25-30 expected in the next five years.
For more information about the USL Super League, visit uslsuperleague.com and follow and @USLSuperLeague on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.