LA Watford Women FC Captures SOCAL North Crown in First Season

LA Watford Women FC has made an immediate impact in its first UPSL Women season, capturing the SOCAL North Conference title while building a club identity rooted in culture, community, and purpose.

The team was created through the ongoing work of The Sound of GOL, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to expanding access to football by creating pathways to training, mentorship, and leadership for young women of color. Twelve years ago, the foundation launched a U12 girls’ team in New Jersey built on those same principles.

For George Valencia, owner and founder of LA Watford Women FC, the vision was to build on the organization’s partnership with Watford FC Women by creating a women’s sister team in Los Angeles. With the Latino community facing increasingly difficult challenges in the United States, Valencia saw an opportunity to bring women together through football while creating a space where they could exchange ideas, celebrate their culture, strengthen their community, and support one another. “This is our form of protest,” Valencia said.

That purpose has helped shape the team’s inaugural season. While launching a new organization has come with challenges, Valencia said one of the biggest obstacles has been navigating the day-to-day issues that clubs face throughout the season. He believes more meetings with club leaders could help address common challenges across the league, but the rewards of the club’s first season have already been greater than expected.

“We could never have imagined assembling a group of women who have embraced this opportunity with such commitment,” Valencia said. “They have taken ownership of the experience and fully participated in the off-the-pitch activities, demonstrating a genuine commitment to their personal growth.”

A major part of LA Watford Women FC’s identity is its strong Latina representation. For many players, this season marked the first time they had ever played on an all-Latina team, creating a cultural connection that has made the experience especially meaningful.

“It’s everything,” Valencia said. “Most, if not all, of the women have never played on an all-Latina team before. The cultural connection, shared experiences, and sense of unity have made the experience truly unique and special.”

That unity has also translated onto the field. While Valencia did not necessarily expect the team to win the SOCAL North Conference title this quickly, he knew it was possible. Reflecting on his own years playing football for ethnic clubs in Northern New Jersey, Valencia said he understood the importance of creating an environment where players feel respected, supported, and valued.

“Creating that kind of environment is the foundation of success,” Valencia said. “Thanks to our coaches and staff, who have embraced that philosophy, I’m not surprised to see us at the top of the table.”

Beyond the results, Valencia said what makes this group special is the shared purpose among the players. The team’s cultural connection, combined with the challenges many women of color face in the United States, has helped create a strong sense of unity within the group.

“When people are united by purpose, there’s really nothing you can’t collectively achieve,” Valencia said.

For Samantha Valencia, being part of the club’s inaugural team means helping set the standard for future players.

“We are incredibly grateful to be part of this from day one because we have the opportunity to help set the standard for future players, not only through the success we’ve been having on the field, but through the way we support one another and the values we uphold as a sisterhood,” Samantha Valencia said.

Top scorer Delia Bocanegra also emphasized the importance of building something meaningful in the club’s first season.

“It means a lot to play such a special role in the creation of something so unique and historical,” Bocanegra said. “Creating a legacy for LA Watford is not something we’ve taken lightly. This opportunity given has been such a grand blessing itself and the impact it has had on me and my teammates both on and off the field is something that will for sure never be forgotten.”

With the SOCAL North Conference title secured, LA Watford Women FC now turns its attention to regional play, where the club will look to continue its inaugural run and compete for a place at the UPSL Women National Tournament.

As LA Watford Women FC looks ahead, Valencia said the priority is to build on what the club has started while understanding the short- and long-term challenges ahead. The goal is to keep as many members of the group together as possible and continue providing opportunities off the pitch to educate, empower, and help players better serve their communities.

In year one, LA Watford Women FC has already earned a conference title. But its bigger impact may be the foundation it is creating through culture, sisterhood, and a shared sense of purpose.

About the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) 

Founded in 2011, the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) serves as the unofficial fourth tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. With over 800 teams competing across its Premier, Division 1, A-League, Academy, and Women’s divisions, the UPSL is the largest Semi-Pro Pro League in North America. A National Affiliate member of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), the UPSL is made up of independently owned and operated clubs. Through its USSF affiliation, UPSL teams are eligible to compete in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds. 

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