The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States–based indoor soccer league that operated from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.
History After the demise of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, four of its teams decided to create a new indoor league to be called the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998. The teams complemented their schedules with games against international teams. In 1999, two more former CISL teams (the Houston Hotshots and Monterrey La Raza) joined the league, which then changed its name to World Indoor Soccer League.
The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was formed through a merger between the US-based Premier Soccer Alliance and an English Indoor Football League, resulting in a name change from the original Premier Soccer League Alliance in 1999. Initially, plans included a European Division with teams like London United and Manchester Magic, but this concept was scrapped due to conflicting rules and lack of approval from The Football Association.
In 2000, the World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) considered a groundbreaking move, attempting to become the first U.S. professional sports league to sell its naming rights. The proposed deal would have resulted in a rebranded league, potentially named "The Pepsi World Indoor Soccer League." However, the effort ultimately did not come to fruition.
The WISL folded in December 2001 when Dallas, St. Louis, and San Diego agreed to join the MISL while the remaining teams, the Utah Freezz, the Sacramento Knights and the Houston Hotshots folded.
Champions
Season by season SeasonChampionScore / seriesRunner-up 1998 Dallas Sidekicks 6 to 2 Sacramento Knights 1999 Sacramento Knights 7 to 6 Dallas Sidekicks 2000 Monterrey La Raza6 to 5 (SO 3-1) Dallas Sidekicks 2001 Dallas Sidekicks 2-1 San Diego Sockers
By team Team Championships Runner up Champions Runner up Dallas Sidekicks 2 2 1998, 2001 1999, 2000 Sacramento Knights 1 1 1999 1998 Monterrey La Raza 1 0 2000 San Diego Sockers 0 1 2001
Annual awards
Most Valuable Player 1998 – Tatu, Dallas 1999 – David Doyle, Dallas 2000 – Mariano Bollella, Monterrey 2001 – Ato Leone, Sacramento
Goalkeeper of the Year 1998 – Dan Madsen, Sacramento 1999 – Brett Phillips, Portland 2000 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas 2001 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas
Coach of the Year 1998 – Tatu, Dallas 1999 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento 2000 – Jeff Betts, Utah 2001 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento
Rookie of the Year 1998 – Jorge Fernandez, Sacramento 1999 – Justin Labrum, Utah 2000 – Clint Regier, Houston 2001 – David Beltran, San Diego
Defender of the Year 1998 – Rusty Troy, Dallas 1999 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento 2000 – Rob Baarts, Utah 2001 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento
Presidents Gordon Jago 1998–2001
Teams
TeamCity/AreaArenaArizona ThunderPhoenix, Arizona Arizona Veterans Memorial ColiseumDallas SidekicksDallas, TexasReunion Arena American Airlines Center (One Game) Houston HotshotsHouston, Texas The Summit Reliant ArenaMonterrey La RazaMonterrey, Nuevo León, MexicoGimnasio Nuevo LeónPortland PythonsPortland, Oregon Rose GardenSacramento KnightsSacramento, CaliforniaARCO ArenaSan Diego SockersSan Diego, California San Diego Sports ArenaSt. Louis SteamersSt. Charles, Missouri Family ArenaUtah FreezzWest Valley City, Utah E-Center
References