When 6,500 fans packed into the TCO Stadium for the USL W League Championship, the organization saw potential. At that point, the league had 44 teams, Each one was developing a following — not least due to some of the talent on show.

And now, there will be more players, more teams, for fans to get behind. The league is adding six new squads to form a Northern California division complete with eight teams, it announced in a release Thursday.

“The establishment of a NorCal Division is a watershed moment for the W League,” said Amanda Vandervort, USL Super League and W League President. “Paired with our Northwest Division, the W League’s footprint is now truly national, which is what we’ve always envisioned. Creating this division with clubs of this caliber and notable sporting history is thrilling and we look forward to seeing these clubs excel on and off the pitch.”

The new division will feature a mixture of more recent and historic clubs, with Academica SC, California Storm, Marin FC, The Olympic Club, Pleasanton RAGE and San Franscico Glens joining Oakland Soul and Stockton Cargo for a summer 2023 start.

All of the clubs bring their own unique appeals to the league. The San Francisco Glens, for example, has been around since 1961 after being founded by a large Irish immigrant community. The Olympic Club celebrated its 162nd birthday this year and accounts for 90 olympic medals across all sports.

Most notably, though, the W-League will welcome California Storm, a four time WPSL champion with a glittering history. Its notable former players include Brandi Chastain, Sissi and Julie Foudy.

The new division presents a significant opportunity for college and youth talents in the region. Last year, the league featured a large cast of Division I standouts and promising teenage prospects. For those who didn’t have a clear option for summer soccer, the league offered a high level of competition, with crucial collegiality that best prepared participants for either the college season or a path into the professional game.

“California is one of the most talent-rich areas with exceptional women’s college programs. The connection between the W League and the colligate ecosystem is important to year-round player development,” Vandervort said.

That’s certainly the goal going forward for the league. With the addition of the Northern California division, it now stretches from coast to coast, with footholds in local communities across the country. The expansion brings opportunity as the pathway into professional women’s soccer continues to grow.