Hearts of Pine Announce Plans for Women's Team

New pre-professional club aims to sell out matches and provide a pathway to the pros for Maine's top female talent.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:57pm

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The founder of the year-old Portland Hearts of Pine soccer club, Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, announced plans to launch a women's team that will play in the USL W League, a pre-professional summer league. The intention is to sell out the team's home matches and provide a high-level environment for Maine's top female players to train, showcase their skills, and potentially earn opportunities with professional teams.

Why it matters

The addition of a women's team is seen as an important step in growing the sport of soccer in Maine and providing more opportunities for young female athletes to pursue their dreams of playing at the highest levels. The Hearts of Pine organization is aiming to replicate the community support and enthusiasm generated by the men's team, while also serving as an inspiration and pathway for the next generation of Maine's female soccer stars.

The details

The Hearts of Pine women's team will compete in the USL W League, which is described as a 'pre-professional' summer league that allows college players to maintain their amateur status while training and playing against high-level competition. The club plans to provide the women's team with the same level of support and resources as the men's side, including efforts to sell out home matches and create a celebratory game-day environment.

  • The Hearts of Pine men's team is currently preparing for their second season, having not yet played their first match.
  • The club held the first of four town hall meetings on March 7, 2026 to announce plans for the women's team.
  • The USL W League was launched in 2022 and by 2025 had over 90 member clubs across the country.

The players

Gabe Hoffman-Johnson

The founder of the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer club, who announced plans to launch a women's team that will compete in the USL W League.

Hannah Blair

A Portland resident who attended the town hall meeting and expressed a desire to see the women's team receive the same level of support and enthusiasm as the men's team.

Morgan McCormack

Attended the town hall meeting and emphasized the importance of the women's team being done right in order to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Brian Penley

The coach of the Rosevelt U14 club team, whose players expressed excitement about the potential for a professional women's team in Maine to serve as inspiration and a pathway to their own soccer dreams.

Molly

A player on the Rosevelt U14 team and the daughter of coach Brian Penley, who believes the women's team will help young girls chase their dreams of becoming professional soccer players.

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What they’re saying

“The intention is to sell out. The intention is to pack that place with 6,000 people that love Maine, that love this community, that love this game... We fully intend to sell the stadium out and have the same environment with the food trucks and that sort of communal celebration of place and pride and soccer.”

— Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, Founder, Portland Hearts of Pine

“I want to make sure that a women's team gets the same love, and to show that there's enthusiasm for it. People want to support it with their money. They want to buy tickets. They want to buy merch. I want just as much love shown to the women's team as the men's team.”

— Hannah Blair, Portland Resident

“Doing it right means that it's going to stay around.”

— Morgan McCormack, Portland Resident

“When the men's team came, it was cool for, like, young boys who wanted to be a soccer player when they grow up. But for girls, I think this will definitely help them push themselves and chase their dreams of becoming a professional soccer player just like they are.”

— Molly, Rosevelt U14 Player

“It's such an inspiration for young women athletes. And it gives them another chance to watch soccer, but more from their perspective.”

— Harper, Rosevelt U14 Goalkeeper

What’s next

The Hearts of Pine organization will continue to engage with the community through additional town hall meetings to gather feedback on the women's team, including potential names, jersey designs, and other key details. The club aims to have the women's team ready to compete in the 2027 USL W League season.

The takeaway

The launch of a women's team by the Portland Hearts of Pine represents an important milestone in growing the sport of soccer in Maine and providing new opportunities for young female athletes to pursue their dreams. By committing to sell out matches and create a celebratory environment, the club is positioning the women's team as a source of community pride and inspiration for the next generation of Maine's soccer stars.