Comets to participate in first ever women’s professional indoor soccer tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Comets are proud to announce they will take part in the inaugural MASL Women’s National Challenge Cup, a new competition from the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) that brings together five women’s indoor soccer teams from across the United States.

The tournament marks a significant milestone in the league’s efforts to grow the women’s game and create new opportunities for female athletes to compete on a national stage.

“This is the next step for both professional women’s soccer and the MASL,” said Brian Budzinski, Comets Managing Partner. “The Kansas City market has always been at the forefront of soccer opportunities and this is just another example of that.”

The KC CometsW will join four other established MASL markets in the competition:

• Empire Pulse

• Tacoma Galaxy

• San Diego SockersW

• St. Louis AmbushW

The Women’s National Challenge Cup will showcase the speed, skill, intensity and excitement of professional indoor soccer while giving women’s teams a competitive platform to represent their communities and compete for a national championship.

“This has been a long time coming, and I’m proud to see the MASL Women’s National Challenge Cup become a reality. Women’s sports are gaining momentum around the world, and it’s time for professional women’s indoor soccer to take its place,” said MASL Commissioner Keith Tozer. “This tournament gives talented women a professional platform to showcase their abilities and lays the foundation for our planned premier women’s league. We’re excited about what this means for the players, our fans and the future of our sport.”

The five participating teams will compete in a single, unified standings table, with each team playing four games during the opening round. After group play, the top two teams in the overall standings will advance to a single-game championship final to determine the inaugural MASL Women’s National Challenge Cup champion.

Games will be played under MASL rules, featuring four 15-minute quarters. Teams will earn three points for a regulation victory, two points for an overtime victory and one point for an overtime loss. Games tied at the end of regulation will feature a five-minute sudden-death overtime period, followed by shootouts if necessary.

The tournament will operate under established MASL competition standards, including officiating and game operations, ensuring a professional experience for athletes, teams and fans.

The tournament gives participating organizations an opportunity to develop women’s programs, cultivate emerging talent and strengthen relationships with fans and communities.

“In the coming weeks we will be announcing partnerships, coaching staff and the home opener date at Cable Dahmer Arena,” Budzinski said.

The KC CometsW join a prolific Kansas City soccer history that has lifted 13 major trophies over the past four decades, which includes three indoor championships: the Attack in 1994 and 1996, and the Comets in 2014. Sporting KC has produced success in cup competitions with four U.S. Open Cup titles, in addition to two MLS Cups and a Supporters’ Shield.

In the women’s game, FC Kansas City won back-to-back NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. The KC Current are now at the forefront of the women’s game, most recently winning the NWSL Shield in 2025.

Additional information about participating teams, player opportunities, tournament coverage and championship details will be announced through official league and team channels. Fans can follow the competition at maslchallengecup.com and on social media at @MASLWomensChallengeCup.