Tombstone
Formed: 1999 – Re-branded from Premier Soccer Alliance
Disbanded via merger: December 19, 2001 (Merged into Major Indoor Soccer League)
First Game: July 24, 1999
Last Game: December 22, 2001
Seasons: 3/4*
States: 6 plus Mexico
(AZ, CA, Mexico, MO, OR, TX, UT)
*Three seasons under the WISL brand name from 1999-2001. The WISL also claimed the 1998 season, played under the name of the Premier Soccer Alliance, as part of its formal history.
Leadership
President:
- 1999 – December 2001: Gordon Jago
Attendance
*1998 figures are for the Premier Soccer Alliance, which played an abbreviated season of just 28 total games. The WISL claims the 1998 PSA season as part of its official history.
Sources:
- 2000 World Indoor Soccer League Media Guide (1998 PSA and 1999 WISL Figures)
- Kenn.com Attendance Project (2000 & 2001 WISL Attendance Figures)
Trophy Case
World Indoor Soccer League Coach of the Year
| YEAR | COACH | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1998* | Tatu | Dallas Sidekicks |
| 1999 | Iain Fraser | Sacramento Knights |
| 2000 | Jeff Betts | Utah Freezz |
| 2001 | Iain Fraser | Sacramento Knights |
Background
The World Indoor Soccer League was a successor league to the failed Continental Indoor Soccer League (1993-1997). The CISL was a summertime indoor league with a number of NBA and NHL investment groups behind it. The league folded in December 1997.
Four ex-CISL franchises in Dallas, Phoenix, Portland and Sacramento re-grouped as the Premier Soccer Alliance for a short 10-game season. In 1999, the group admitted two more former CISL clubs (Houston Hotshots and Monterrey La Raza) plus an expansion team in Utah. Now up to seven franchises, the circuit changed its name to the World Indoor Soccer League.
The WISL contracted back to just 5 clubs for the 2001 season. On December 19, 2001, between games 1 and 2 of the league championship series, the WISL announced it would merge with the rival Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2002-03 season. The Dallas Sidekicks defeated the San Diego Sockers three days later in the league’s final match. Dallas, St. Louis and San Diego joined the MISL. The WISL’s Sacramento and Utah clubs folded rather than take part in the merger.
World Indoor Soccer League Franchise List
| FRANCHISE | YEARS ACTIVE | WISL Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Thunder | 1999-2000 | Never |
| Dallas Sidekicks | 1999-2001 | 2001 |
| Houston Hotshots | 1999-2000 | Never |
| Monterrey La Raza | 1999-2000 | 2000 |
| Portland Pythons | 1999 | Never |
| Sacramento Knights | 1999-2001 | 1999 |
| St. Louis Steamers | 2000-2001 | Never |
| San Diego Sockers | 2001 | Never |
| Utah Freezz | 1999-2001 | Never |
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2 Responses
I loved going to the Utah Freezz games in the old WISL. I still have a bunch of Freezz t-shirts in my closet. Wish I had a jersey.
I am still going to Dallas Sidekicks games in 2022. They are currently members of the Major Arena Soccer League. By the way, the Sidekicks also won the inaugural 1998 WISL Championship.