Chicago, December 3, 2020
Chicago Dutch Lions FC is the third Dutch Lions FC Women's team in the USA. The first team to add a Women's team was Dayton Dutch Lions FC (2011), the second was Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC (2017). Both clubs have won their Conference Championship.
Dayton Dutch Lions FC added a Women’s team in 2011. They played in the USL W-League from 2011 until 2015. In 2013 they won their Conference Championship and were awarded the “USL Organization of the Year Award”. Since the League folded in 2015, the club switched to play in the Women’s Professional League (WPSL) in 2016. They won the WPSL Conference Championship in 2016.
USNWT player and 2019 World Cup winner and Best XI player Rose Lavelle played for the Women’s team in 2014 and 2016. After her two years with Dayton Dutch Lions FC, she played in the NWSL for the Boston Breakers, Washington Spirit and now for Manchester City in England. On March 4, 2017 she made her debut for USWNT. Besides Rose Lavelle, Josee Stiever earned recognition with her selection for the USNWT U23 team, as well as Claire Falknor. Claire not only played for the USNWT U23 team but also signed a contract in Europe with German powerhouse Bayern Munich. 2013 standout Emilie Fillion signed a professional contract with FC Twente in The Netherlands in 2014. In 2015 she signed with Duisburg in Germany. Brittany Persaud and Alex Warren both signed with Dutch Premier League club ADO Den Haag.
Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC added a Women’s team in 2017. They play in the WPSL Sunshine Conference. In 2018 they won their Conference Championship. Monique Elliot (2017) and Emelie Liljered (2020) both went on trail with Dutch Premier League club ADO Den Haag.
