USASA National Women's Open

The USASA National Women's Open is an American women's soccer tournament run by the United States Adult Soccer Association. It began in 1996, and from 2009-2012 it was known as the Women's Cup. Before the formation of the Women's Open, the Women's Amateur was the top national cup competition.

Historically, it has only been contested by amateur and semi-pro teams, as teams from professional leagues (WUSA, WPS, and the NWSL) are not allowed to enter the competition. In 2012 though, the Chicago Red Stars, a professional club in the WPSL Elite, entered and won the competition. Similarly, the professional^[1] Houston Aces of WPSL won in 2013.

The defending Women's Cup champions are Olympic Club, who won the title over the ASA Chesapeake Charge after beating the Charge 2-0 in the final game day of the 2015 round robin group.^[2] Olympic Club also won the 2014 Women's Amateur.

Tournament Structure

2009–2012

In the regional phase of the competition, four to sixteen teams per region compete in a round-robin (or partial round-robin) tournament, playing at least three games.^[3]

The national finals feature the four regional winners in a two-round knockout tournament.

2013–present

Teams apply to take part in the national championships, which is contested as an initial round-robin group, followed by a championship game if there are more than four teams participating.

Finalists

By Year Year Winner Score Runner-up 1996 Details Dallas Lightning 2-1 Sacramento Storm 1997 Details Dallas Lightning ^[1] Sacramento Storm 1998 Details Ajax America 5-0 Dallas Lightning 1999 Details Auto Trader San Diego 14-0 Patrick Real Wyckoff 2000 Details Ajax America 2-1 Detroit Rocker Hawks 2001 Details Detroit Rocker Hawks 1-0 SoCal Blues 2002 Details SoCal Blues 5-0 Peninsula Aztecs 2003 Details Ajax America ^[2] 2004 Details Ajax America 2-1 Detroit Jaguars 2005 Details FC Indiana 4-0 DCS Titans 2006 Details Dallas Roma F.C. ^[2] Sockers F.C. Chicago 2007 Details Ajax America 2-1 FC Indiana 2008 Details FC Indiana ^[3] 2009 Details Chicago Eclipse Select 3-1 NYAC 2010 Details NYAC 2-0 (OT) Dallas Premier 2011 Details J.B. Marine S.C. 2-1 (OT) Sparta United WSC 2012 Details Chicago Red Stars 3-2 NYAC 2013 Details Houston Aces ^[4] Kansas City Dynamos 2014 Details NYAC 2-1 ASA Chesapeake Charge 2015 Details Olympic Club ^[4] ASA Chesapeake Charge [4][5][6][7][8] Notes Sources disagree on winner Losing finalist and semifinalists unknown All semifinalists known but results are not[9] Event contested as round-robin group

Cumulative Team Winners Runners-up Semifinalist / Top Four Ajax America 5 (1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007) - 1 (2008) NYAC 2 (2010, 2014) 2 (2009, 2012) 1 (2015^[4]) FC Indiana 2 (2005, 2008) 1 (2007) - Dallas Lightning 2 (1996, 1997^[1]) 1 (1998) - SoCal Blues 1 (2002) 1 (2001) - Detroit Rocker Hawks 1 (2001) 1 (2000) - Houston Aces 1 (2013^[4]) - 1 (2014^[4]) Olympic Club 1 (2015^[4]) - - Chicago Red Stars 1 (2012) - - J.B. Marine S.C. 1 (2011) - - Chicago Eclipse Select 1 (2009) - - Dallas Roma F.C. 1 (2006) - - Auto Trader San Diego 1 (1999) - - ASA Chesapeake Charge - 2 (2014, 2015^[4]) 1 (2011) Sacramento Storm - 2 (1996, 1997^[1]) - Salt Lake City Sparta - 1 (2011) 1 (2012, 2014^[4]) Kansas City Dynamos - 1 (2013^[4]) - Dallas Premier - 1 (2010) - DCS Titans - 1 (2005) - Detroit Jaguars - 1 (2004) - Peninsula Aztecs - 1 (2002) - Patrick Real Wyckoff - 1 (1999) - Fredericksburg FC - - 1 (2015^[4]) Fire and Ice Soccer Club - - 1 (2014^[4]) Tampa Bay Hellenic - - 1 (2014^[4]) Des Moines Menace - - 1 (2013^[4]) Kansas City Shock - - 1 (2013^[4]) Turbo D'Feeters - - 1 (2012) Triad United Aces - - 1 (2011) Kentucky Wanderers - - 1 (2010) Houston Challengers - - 1 (2009) Phoenix Inferno - - 1 (2009) Philadelphia United German-Hungarians - - 1 (2008) Dallas Sting - - 1 (2008)

References

1. "Anderson Inks Contract to Play with Houston Aces".
2. "Women's US Open Cup". BigSoccer Forum.
3. "United States Adult Soccer Association". United States Adult Soccer Association.
4. "United States Adult Soccer Association". United States Adult Soccer Association.
5. "USA History: The US Open Cup (National Challenge Cup)".
6. "United States Adult Soccer Association". United States Adult Soccer Association.
7. "United States Adult Soccer Association". United States Adult Soccer Association.
8. "U.S. Women's Open Cup 2012: Quest for results!". SportsMyriad.
9. "United States Adult Soccer Association" (PDF). United States Adult Soccer Association.

External links

USASA home page