New Spokane women's pro soccer team to be called Zephyr

SPOKANE — United Soccer League (USL) Spokane unveiled the name, crest and colors of its new professional women’s soccer team — Spokane Zephyr FC — at an event attracting an estimated 2,000 to the Davenport Grand Hotel on Sunday.

The Zephyr, which means “a wind from the west,” will be one of eight inaugural teams in the new Division I USL Super League — along with Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lexington, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Tucson, and Washington, D.C.

The new league intends to launch as a first division league. Spokane Zephyr FC also includes a team in the USL’s W League, the nation’s premier pre-professional women’s league featuring outstanding collegiate athletes from across the country. 

“The USL Super League and Spokane Zephyr FC will give opportunity to hundreds of talented woman athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff members to pursue a career in professional soccer," said Katie Harnetiaux, President of USL Spokane and co-owner of Aequus Sports, which owns the club. "And the level of play — higher than any we’ve ever seen in Spokane — will wow our fans, inspire our youth, and grow our economy.” 

Spokane Zephyr FC will begin play in August 2024. In addition to the women’s professional club, USL Spokane is fielding the Spokane Velocity FC, a professional men’s Division III team in the USL League One that will kick off its season in April 2024. The women’s W League team will play a 10-week season starting in June 2024. 

USL Spokane is owned by Aequus Sports LLC; its principals are Katie Harnetiaux, the club president, and Ryan Harnetiaux, both of whom are originally from Spokane. Home games will be played in ONE Spokane Stadium that opened in September 2023 in downtown Spokane. 

Information: spokanezephyrfc.com