Reno Vikings round out the West Conference
Metuchen, NJ – The West Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS) has expanded to Nevada for the first time in league history. Reno Vikings will round out the 2023 conference lineup alongside FC Arizona, Los Angeles SC, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, and reigning conference champions Calgary Foothills WFC (Alberta). This past NWSL Draft saw nine UWS alums hailing from the West, including #1 pick Alyssa Thompson who played four seasons with SC Blue Heat.
“We are excited to welcome Reno into the West Conference of UWS,” said League Commissioner Joe Ferrara. “The Vikings join a Conference with some of the best women’s teams in the nation as evidenced by the draft selections in NWSL and pro signings abroad produced by teams in the West.”
Spearheaded by owner Robert P. Kleinberger, the Reno Vikings was reestablished in 2022 after over a decade from when it first began operations. The organization was formerly located in Southern California, and known as the Los Angeles Vikings.
The Los Angeles Vikings was a semi-pro women’s team that gave top professional players a chance to play at a high level during the WPS offseason. The team included Ali Riley, Brittany Bock, and Christen Press, just to name a few.
The LA Vikings competed against various national teams including Canada, USA, Mexico and the Philippines. One of their top successes was tying the USWNT 1-1, following their 2011 World Cup appearance.
Read more about LA Vikings in this 2011 article by The Equalizer: Destination SoCal: LA Vikings have pro vision.
Relocating to Nevada, the Reno Vikings re emerged and is ready to make their mark in United Women’s Soccer this upcoming season. Their home game venue will be Lake Tahoe Community College Stadium Field (One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150). Stay tuned for the 2023 West Conference schedule.
“I am extremely excited to join UWS League One,” said Reno Vikings Head Coach Dan Henriksen. “This is the first time any Women’s team from Northern Nevada has competed at this level. The UWS’ commitment to delivering not only great soccer, but a great experience for the fans is second to none. As a club, we are looking forward to not only competing against some of the best collegiate and international players in Canada and the United States, but also to provide a path for local players to compete in one of the highest levels of Women’s Soccer in the country.”
For more information on Reno Vikings, visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This article was originally published on United Women’s Soccer.