Without explanation, ownership shuts down Spokane Zephyr FC

WSLC President April Sims: “Ownership’s decision to shutdown Spokane Zephyr FC with barely a conversation with the players and staff impacted is disgraceful.”

SPOKANE, WA (May 28, 2026) — Last week, the owners of Spokane Zephyr FC, the professional women’s soccer team in Washington’s second largest city, announced the team would end operations after this season, saying the “economics of this type of club” didn’t fit with the local community. The announcement was met with shock and disappointment from supporters. Per the United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA), players themselves were given little explanation for the shut down, with ownership calling the women in for a three minute meeting, offering little insight into the decision making process, and telling players to take their concerns to HR.

“The decision for Spokane Zephyr FC to cease operating after the 2025/26 season is another reminder of the instability that continues to plague professional soccer in this country, and players should not be expected to accept that instability as normal,” said USLPA in a statement. “Over the past two years, players, staff, supporters, and the Spokane community have invested deeply in building professional women’s soccer in Spokane. That commitment deserved stability, long-term planning, and a clear vision for the future. Instead, once again, the people carrying the greatest risk are the players and workers whose careers and livelihoods depend on the sport being built responsibly.”

USLPA is the recognized collective bargaining representative for Spokane Zephyr FC players. However, the association notes that the players did not yet have a collective bargaining agreement.

Photo: Spokane Zephyr FC Instagram

“Players who signed multi-year contracts are now facing the reality that those agreements will be cut short without compensation or any protections. That should concern everyone who cares about the long-term success of professional soccer,” said USLPA.

In a social media post, USLPA shared the player’s perspective on how this lack of protection played out as ownership decided to disband the team: a sudden 9:00 a.m. meeting where the team was told, “at the end of June everyone is free to go.” Owners left, refused to return to answer questions, and then apparently walked across the hall to meet with the men’s team, who enjoyed a catered breakfast as owners informed them the women’s team was shutting down.

“Professional athletes, like all workers, deserve respect on the job,” said April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “Ownership’s decision to shutdown Spokane Zephyr FC with barely a conversation with the players and staff impacted is disgraceful, and underlines why so many professional athletes fight for collective bargaining agreements. Instability like this is bad for the players, bad for communities that turn out to support their teams, and bad for the game.”

Interest in women’s sports is surging in the U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Spokane Zephyr FC players raised concerns in local media that team ownership didn’t do their part to capitalize on that interest, failing to appropriately advertise and missing an opportunity to strategically grow a fan base.

“Sustainable growth requires stronger standards, greater intentionality, and a meaningful player voice in shaping the future of the sport,” said USLPA. “If the USL and its ownership groups want players to commit their careers to building this game, then they need to commit to protecting the people who make it possible. Our sport needs better. The players deserve better. Communities deserve better.”