It all begins in 1985, shortly after the demise of the North American Soccer League, which tasted brief success. A few soccer loyalists stuck with the goal to create a professional league in the United States by creating the four-team Western Soccer Alliance consisting of the San Jose Earthquakes, F.C. Seattle, Victoria Riptides and F.C. Portland.

 

In the “Western Alliance Challenge Series,” the four clubs played host to the World Cup-bound Canadian National Team. San Jose won the first title with a 4-2-1 record.

 

In 1986, the WSA jumped to seven clubs with the addition of the Hollywood Kickers, L.A. Heat, San Diego Nomads and the Edmonton Brick Men (replacing Victoria). The schedule doubled to 14 matches with Manchester City (England) and Dundee F.C. (Scotland) visiting each team.  Hollywood finished first by a comfortable margin, and defender Paul Caligiuri of San Diego was selected as the WSA’s first Player of the Year.

 

Late that year, a group led by NASL pioneer Clive Toye began discussions about the construction of a new professional league in the East.

 

In May of 1987, the American Soccer League announced it would commence play in April of ‘88 with the New Jersey Eagles, Maryland Bays, Boston Bolts, Washington Diplomats and Washington Stars.

 

The WSA replaced draws with overtime and penalty kick tiebreakers and added a playoff. In a tight race, only one game separated first-place San Diego from last-place California (formerly Hollywood). San Diego topped San Jose, 3-1, for the championship.

 

When 1988 rolled around, the ASL was 10 teams strong and nearly a quarter-million fans saw the league’s inaugural season of 20 matches per club. The Washington Diplomats, the regular season runners-up, knocked off Northern Division champion New Jersey in the semi-finals two games to one and then swept the Southern Division champion Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the ASL Final. 

 

The ‘88 WSA season saw the Seattle Storm go 10-2 and crush the  Earthquakes, 5-0, in the Final. The defending Canadian Soccer League champion Calgary and Vancouver 86ers visited each WSA club, with the WSA clubs winning seven of 12. In the fall of ‘88, the WSA alters its name to Western Soccer League.