CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Ascent is the Queen City's newest soccer team, joining Charlotte FC and Charlotte Independence.
With yet another team in town, the WCNC Charlotte Verify team wanted to break down the levels of professional soccer here in the United States.
THE SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
On the men’s side, the soccer pyramid has five levels.
At the top is Major League Soccer. That is the league Charlotte FC plays in.
The third level is where the USL League One sits. That is the league that Charlotte Independence plays in.
Both of these teams are professional teams.
On the women’s side, there are four levels.
At the top is the National Women’s Soccer League. The North Carolina Courage, who play in Cary are in that league.
On the second tier is the USL Super League, which just debuted in August. Carolina Ascent plays in that league.
Both of these teams are also professional teams.
Williams said the soccer pyramids in the U.S. are different than the one in England, as teams can’t move up and down.
"When we think of the soccer pyramid of England, they can earn their way up so we can watch the 'Welcome to Wrexham's stories of not being in the league and then, you know, if they can continue to pour money into it, there's no reason they can't be in the Premier League in a matter of years," Williams said. "And that doesn't exist on the youth or professional level here in the United States."
While teams can’t move up and down, players can -- much like in baseball.
"It's like looking at Major League Baseball, who's drafted? Oh, I'm drafted by the Giants and now you spend three years in rookie ball, and then Senior A, or a year in rookie ball and then Senior A or AAA, sorry, and then AA and then Single A and you move up with the -- it's the same thing in the soccer pyramid, players are flowing in and out" Williams said.
Despite this, MLS teams don’t have farm teams the same way baseball does.
"It's not common," Williams said. "It's not like every every USL team in the country is now tied as an affiliate to an MLS team. Some are independent and off on their own."
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.