The Missouri Reign gear up to head into their third season competing in the Women's Premier Soccer League. As the only team based in Columbia, Missouri, the Missouri Reign join many Kansas City and St. Louis based teams in the Midwest Conference.

The 28th season of the Women's Premier Soccer League is slated to kick off on May 4th, 2026. They serve as a stepping stone for developing players, many of which advance to professional status and have represented their countries in international play. 

The WPSL is the largest women's soccer league in the world, hosting over 150 teams across 40 states. The league has been growing rapidly, hitting the 50 team mark in 2009, then 100 in 2016. The league is split into four regions: West, South, East, and Central.

Nearly three decades of service has solidified the WPSL as the longest running women's soccer league. Throughout it all the goal has remained the same, empowering women and providing opportunities to grow the game of soccer.    

Last season the Reign saw a fourth place finish in the division, but the organization continues to garner respect and make gains in the right direction. Along with the entire rest of the coaching staff, Head Coach Dakota Acock has returned for another season with the Missouri Reign.  

“Last year I really thought we made some big strides in terms of our competitiveness in games. We really put ourselves out there, played in challenging matches, and forced ourselves to grow,” Acock said.

Finding a way to come out on top in those close matches is a key focus for the upcoming season. This year's schedule is less compact, meaning there is more time in between each game. Because of this, players will be able to recover better making a huge difference throughout the year. 

Continuity is a big theme for the 2026 season, as not only are the coaches set to return, but many familiar faces on the field too.

“I love that we have a lot of returning players in key positions. That really helps us grow and while we have made some great additions, it gives us a starting point,” Acock said.

While a handful of those players prepare for their third year with Missouri Reign, Acock remarked that this will kind of feel like the first time they aren't a brand new club. 

The Reign are in the Central Region, which is sectioned into four conferences. The Midwest Conference is home to 11 teams and two divisions, this marking the second season in the Gateway Division after moving over following the Reigns inaugural season in the Heartland Division. 

The winners of both divisions make a conference championship game for a chance to go to the playoffs in July. With the WPSL alignment set for the upcoming 2026 season, here is a sneak peak at the other teams in the Midwest Conference.     

Gateway Division:

Missouri Rush:

New to the WPSL as of Jan. 15, 2026, Missouri Rush is located in O’Fallon Missouri. They previously spent time in the Elite Club National League, where they won two championships since 2020. They will be coached by Scott McCall, and have been working on improving their facility and organization over the last half-decade. Missouri Rush have replaced Peoria City in the conference, who had spent just one year in the WPSL. 

Lou Fusz:

Heading into their fourth year in the league, Lou Fusz improved and had their best year yet in 2025. They made it to the conference championship after winning their first division title. A 3-2 loss to Oklahoma City FC ended their year, but the progress they made throughout the season made it a successful one. Lou Fusz will be one of the top contenders for the gateway division title this summer.   

Junction Football Club:

With two years of WPSL experience, Junction Football Club heads into year three hoping to erase the tough season they just had, though their results steadily improved throughout the year. This came as a bit of a surprise, as they had had a decent inaugural season that saw them finishing second in the division. Junction will attempt to find their form again during the upcoming season. 

FC Pride:

As the seasoned veterans of the Gateway Division, FC Pride made their WPSL appearance in 2014 and are now entering their 12th year in the league. A bit of a down year last year means they went 5-2-1 and weren't able to secure a playoff spot. However, in 2024 they were among the league's best teams, and made it all the way to the final four. They are another big name that will be gunning to end on top of the division standings. 

Heartland Division:

Side FC:

The struggling Side FC look to turn things around during their third season in the league. It's been a rough first two seasons for the team located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They have a record of 2-16-2, but have improved between the two years. Side FC looks to try and continue making strides in the right direction and secure a winning season for the first time in their WPSL history.  

Sunflower State Football Club:

Finishing in third place in the Heartland Division last year is the Sunflower State Football club, located in Overland Park, Kansas. They merged with Ozark FC in 2022, and the following year they joined the WPSL. Although they have been solid during their three years, Sunflower State FC is still looking for their first playoff appearance and division title. 

Oklahoma City FC:

The historically great Oklahoma City FC had another fantastic year last year, ending their season on a 2-1 loss to St. Croix Legacy in the elite eight. Oklahoma City FC boasts the most impressive resume out of any team in the Midwest Conference, as they head into their whopping 18th year in the league. They will likely resume their role as goliath this upcoming season.  

FC Wichita:  

FC Wichita returns in 2026 for its third consecutive season since rejoining the league, marking the club’s sixth overall year of WPSL competition. The Kansas-based side originally debuted in the WPSL in 2017 and competed through the 2019 season before league play was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a four-year absence, FC Wichita made its return to the league in 2024. The club’s strongest campaign came during its inaugural season, when expectations for long-term success were high. Since then, FC Wichita has continued to grow but has yet to record a winning season or earn a playoff appearance. Last year FC Wichita competed in the Heartland Division, where they finished fourth with a 3-4-3 record. While the results kept them outside the playoff picture, the season reflected a competitive side capable of challenging opponents throughout the division.

KC Current II:

Another new face in the Midwest Conference is KC Current II, who have replaced KC Courage from last year. KC Current’s first team play in the National Women’s Soccer league, and they recently launched a second team in August 2025 with the KC Current II. The Current became the first NWSL team to launch a second team, including the renovations to their new facility. The purpose for KC Current II is that it will act as a feeder team for their higher up club, providing experience for players in the development pipeline. They have stellar resources and talent and will be a top contender for the Heartland Division title. 

Union Soccer Club:

Throughout their three seasons in the WPSL, Union KC Soccer Club has seen much success. Last year they made the playoffs, but lost in the first round 2-1 to St. Croix Legacy. Their finest season came in 2024, where they made it all the way to the elite eight before falling 2-1 to FC Pride. Union KC have plenty of experience in the league and have made the playoffs in back-to-back years. Union rounds out a very competitive Heartland Division that is toploaded with talent.