NISA has apparently taken a break from posting random pictures of the 2022 season to update the lower-league soccer world on its intentions for the 2023 season.
According to NISA, three new clubs will be joining the league for 2023; Club de Lyon FC (Orlando), Savannah Clovers FC, and Gold Star FC Detroit. Additionally, ALBION San Diego, who was previously thought to be gone from the league, will make their return along with the LA Force, Chattanooga FC, Maryland Bobcats FC, last year’s champion Michigan Stars, and the newly merged City Union (Syracuse Pulse and Flower City Union) for a total of nine clubs. Noticeably absent are the Cal United Strikers who according to the league “will be under new ownership and is expected back in the 2024 season.”
Given the large disparity between east and west coast teams, the 2023 season format will feature a single table and “an unbalanced schedule weighted on regional play” that will reportedly kick off the first weekend in April. A schedule is still TBD, however, the league did confirm that each of their nine active clubs this season will participate in the U.S. Open Cup.
“We begin this season with even more optimism than we did in 2022, and last season provided so many highlights,” says NISA Commissioner John Prutch. “While our numbers haven’t grown, the stability of our clubs has – and that is great for the long-term health of our league and the players.”
Last year, NISA lost two teams midseason in Valley United and Bay Cities. Currently, at nine clubs, NISA sits just two clubs clear of the division three requirement mandated by the USSF. As it stands, all division three leagues must maintain at least eight clubs for pro-sanctioning giving the often cash-strapped league little room for error in 2023.