Spokane Zephyr FC will not return for a third season in the Gainbridge Super League, the club announced Wednesday, ending professional women's soccer in the Inland Northwest after just two years of competition.
The Gainbridge Super League also confirmed the news, saying Spokane had made the decision "following careful evaluation of the long-term direction for professional women’s soccer in Spokane."
Katie Harnetiaux, founder and president of USL Spokane, addressed the news directly in a note to season ticket holders and in an identical club statement that praised the community's role in bringing the club to life, but was light on details about why the organization will not continue to operate a professional women's team. The statement closed with a pledge to "continue exploring ways to ensure women’s soccer remains an active and visible part of the Inland Northwest."
The league's geographic realities were likely a significant factor in the decision. As KXLY reported, the Zephyr's nearest opponent was in Dallas, a trip of roughly 1,500 miles, and three of the Super League's nine teams are based in Florida. No expansion is planned for the league until the 2027/28 season, leaving Spokane with no immediate path to closer competition. Those airline miles and hotel costs add up. As SWX Local Sports noted, Spokane likely traveled up to 60,000 miles if it flew back home after each of the club's 14 road games.
The Gainbridge Super League is now down to eight teams for the 2026/27 season, a number they can't fall below to maintain their Division One status. AC Boise, which launched a USL League One men's team this year, is scheduled to join the Gainbridge Super League in 2027, adding one more team in the West.
The Zephyr was one of the founding clubs when the league launched in 2024 as a new Division One tier of professional women's soccer. On the field, the Zephyr just missed the playoffs both seasons. The club went 11-8-9 in the 2024/25 season, finishing fifth and missing the playoffs by a single point. This past season, the Zephyr went 10-9-9 and again finished one point out of a playoff spot.
After averaging 2,537 in attendance for the 2024/25 season, the Zephyr’s average attendance was 1,564 through 14 matches this season, according to Backheeled’s attendance tracker, which was the third-lowest in the league and a 38% drop from their inaugural season.
