Indoor soccer league
Football league
World Indoor Soccer League![]() |
| Founded | 1998 |
|---|
| Folded | merged with MISL in 2001 |
|---|
| Country | United States
Mexico |
|---|
| Number of clubs | 9 |
|---|
| Last champions | Dallas Sidekicks |
|---|
The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States–based indoor soccer league that operated from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.
History
After the demise of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, four of its teams decided to create a new indoor league to be called the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998. The teams complemented their schedules with games against international teams. In 1999, two more former CISL teams (the Houston Hotshots and Monterrey La Raza) joined the league, which then changed its name to World Indoor Soccer League.
The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was formed through a merger between the US-based Premier Soccer Alliance and an English Indoor Football League, resulting in a name change from the original Premier Soccer League Alliance in 1999. Initially, plans included a European Division with teams like London United and Manchester Magic, but this concept was scrapped due to conflicting rules and lack of approval from The Football Association.
In 2000, the World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) considered a groundbreaking move, attempting to become the first U.S. professional sports league to sell its naming rights. The proposed deal would have resulted in a rebranded league, potentially named "The Pepsi World Indoor Soccer League." However, the effort ultimately did not come to fruition.[1]
The WISL folded in December 2001 when Dallas, St. Louis, and San Diego agreed to join the MISL while the remaining teams, the Utah Freezz, the Sacramento Knights and the Houston Hotshots folded.
Champions
Season by Season
By Team
Annual awards
Most Valuable Player
- 1998 – Tatu, Dallas
- 1999 – David Doyle, Dallas
- 2000 – Mariano Bollella, Monterrey
- 2001 – Ato Leone, Sacramento
Goalkeeper of the Year
- 1998 – Dan Madsen, Sacramento
- 1999 – Brett Phillips, Portland
- 2000 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas
- 2001 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas
Coach of the Year
Rookie of the Year
- 1998 – Jorge Fernandez, Sacramento
- 1999 – Justin Labrum, Utah
- 2000 – Clint Regier, Houston
- 2001 – David Beltran, San Diego
Defender of the Year
Presidents
Gordon Jago 1998–2001
Teams
| Team
|
City/Area
|
Arena
|
| Arizona Thunder
|
Phoenix, Arizona
|
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
|
| Dallas Sidekicks
|
Dallas, Texas
|
Reunion Arena
American Airlines Center (One Game)
|
| Houston Hotshots
|
Houston, Texas
|
The Summit
Reliant Arena
|
| Monterrey La Raza
|
Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
|
Gimnasio Nuevo León
|
| Portland Pythons
|
Portland, Oregon
|
Rose Garden
|
| Sacramento Knights
|
Sacramento, California
|
ARCO Arena
|
| San Diego Sockers
|
San Diego, California
|
San Diego Sports Arena
|
| St. Louis Steamers
|
St. Charles, Missouri
|
Family Arena
|
| Utah Freezz
|
West Valley City, Utah
|
E-Center
|
References
