The USISL has created a 15-team elite division of the W-League that will begin play in 1998. W-League teams promoted to the W-1 Division will adhere to the same minimum standards of the USISL’s Men’s D3 Pro League. In addition, each W-1 team will be required to employ at least one national team or national team-caliber player. Brandi Chastain, Amanda Cromwell, Julie Foudy, Debbie Keller, Christie Pearce and Sara Whalen played in the W-League in 1997. W-1 teams will play an expanded national schedule beginning May 15, while W-2 teams will continue to play only within their region. “We have completed the second step of what we started four years ago,” said USISL president Francisco Marcos. “The W-League is ready to take the step to the next level. The league’s growth [attendance tripled in 1997] is a reflection of the growth of women’s soccer in the United States. Should this lead to a professional women’s soccer league, the USISL and the W-League will be properly prepared to be the vehicle for it.” The following is the new alignment for the W-1 and W-2 leagues: