Ajax America Women: WPSL Champions
Southern California now has two women's soccer national champions.
A day after Pali Blues won the W-League title, Rolling Hills Estates-based Ajax America Women took their first Women's Premier Soccer League crown Sunday night with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Rush.
It was the team's first WPSL title since 2001.
"Its been a long time coming," said Coach Brian Boswell, who saw his team make three straight trips to the Final Four (2006-08). "We're real happy with this one. Over the last couple of [Final Fours], we've been the bridesmaid and it feels good to be the winner. We're just a great team... it doesn't matter who's out there. We just play very well as a team. We play well for each other - more than any superstars."Earlier: more on the Pali Blues' title.



For the uninitiated among us, can you explain the relative status of the W-League and WPSL? Is the W-League clearly higher than WPSL in the way MLS is clearly higher than USL's A-League? Or are they competitor leagues?
Nick replies: They are competitors. The level of play is about the same. The W-League is affiliated with the United Soccer Leagues and has 41 teams in four conferences and until this year had a minimal West Coast presence; the WPSL has 51 teams in five conferences.
Next year both leagues will likely lose all their best players once the new Women's Professional Soccer league cranks up.