WPSL: California Storm blanks So Cal Union FC to win West Region and advance to third Final Four in four seasons
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
TEMECULA, Calif. — California Storm struck early and never looked back, earning a 2-0 victory over So Cal Union FC on Sunday to capture the WPSL West Region championship and advance to the national semifinals.
It was another dominant performance for the Storm, who moved to 9-1-0 on the season and increased their numbers to a 30-6 scoring edge this season.
Erica Grilione opened the scoring in the seventh minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to slot home from close range. Just four minutes later, Miya Alamares doubled the lead with a composed finish off a well-placed through ball, giving the Storm a two-goal cushion before the match was even 12 minutes old.
From there, California controlled possession and tempo, limiting So Cal Union's chances while keeping goalkeeper Angelina Anderson largely untested. The clean sheet was the Storm’s fourth of the postseason.
With the win, California Storm — one of the most decorated clubs in WPSL history — returns to the national semifinals for the third time in four seasons.
So Cal Union, who entered the match unbeaten, saw their season come to an end in their deepest playoff run to date. So Cal Union finished with a fine 9-1-2 record with a .750 win percentage, four shoutouts, a 23-12 scoring edge, and a 1.00 goals-against-average with five one-goal victories to boot.
The defending national champions are 5-2 all-time in national title games, with championship runs in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2022 and 2024. The Storm also lost in the finals in 2003 and 2005.
The Storm will play in the national semifinals July 18 at 9:15 ET at Oklahoma State University against South Region winner Chattanooga FC.
WPSL ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
1998: Silicon Valley Red Devils
1999: California Storm
2000: San Diego SeaLions
2001: Ajax America Women
2002: California Storm 1,Ajax America Women 0
2003: Utah Spiders 2, California Storm 1
2004: California Storm 3, New England Mutiny 1
2005: FC Indiana 5, California Storm 4 (5-4 SO)
2006: Long Island Fury 1, River Cities FC 0
2007: FC Indiana 3, New England Mutiny 0
2008: Ajax America Women 1, Arizona Rush 0
2009: Long Island Fury 1, Ajax America Women 0
2010: Boston Aztec 2, Ajax America Women 1
2011: Orange County Waves 2, Chicago Red Stars Reserves 1 (2OT)
2012: Not listed.
2013: Not listed.
2014: Beach Futbol Club 1, Houston Aces 0
2015: Chicago Red Stars Reserves 2, So Cal FC 1
2016: Boston Breakers Reserves 3, San Diego SeaLions
2017: Fire & Ice FC 2, Pensacola FC 1
2018: Seattle Sounders Women FC 3, Pensacola FC 1
2019: Pensacola FC 3, Utah Royals FC Reserves 2
2020: No tournament contested due to Covid restrictions.
2021: No tournament contested due to Covid restrictions.
2022: California Storm 3, Colorado Rapids Women 1
2023: Charlotte Eagles FC 1, Salvo FC 0
2024: California Storm 1, Charlotte Eagles FC 0
2025: TBD.
MOST WPSL CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 – California Storm
2 – Ajax America Women
2 – Long Island Fury
2 – FC Indiana
1 – Charlotte Eagles FC
1 – Pensacola FC
1 – Seattle Sounders Women
1 – Fire & Ice FC
1 – Boston Breakers Reserves
1 – San Diego SeaLions
1 – Chicago Red Stars Reserves
1 – Beach Futbol Club
1 – Orange County Waves
1 – Boston Aztec
1 – Utah Spiders
1 – Silicon Valley Red Devils
MOST WPSL RUNNERS-UP
3 – Ajax America Women
2 – Pensacola FC
2 – California Storm
2 – New England Mutiny
1 – River Cities FC
1 – Arizona Rush
1 – Houston Aces
1 – So Cal FC
1 – Chicago Red Stars Reserves
1 – San Diego SeaLions
1 – Utah Royals FC Reserves
1 – Colorado Rapids Women
1 – Salvo FC
1 – Charlotte Eagles FC
MOST FINALS APPEARANCES
7 – California Storm
5 – Ajax America Women
3 – Pensacola FC
2 – Charlotte Eagles FC
2 – San Diego SeaLions
2 – Chicago Red Stars Reserves
2 – Long Island Fury
2 – FC Indiana
2 – New England Mutiny
1 – Salvo FC
1 – Colorado Rapids Women
1 – Utah Royals FC Reserves
1 – Seattle Sounders Women
1 – Fire & Ice FC
1 – Boston Breakers Reserves
1 – So Cal FC
1 – Beach Futbol Club
1 – Houston Aces
1 – Orange County Waves
1 – Boston Aztec
1 – Arizona Rush
1 – River Cities FC
1 – Utah Spiders
1 – Silicon Valley Red Devils
MOST WPSL FINAL FOUR TEAMS
Not available.
MOST WPSL FINAL FOUR TEAMS WITHOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP
Not available.
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