Episode Details

Up the Hearts — we’re back in the Portland studio with Charles, Sean, and Rob, and we’re digging into what could be the next big chapter for soccer in Maine: a USL W League team in Portland.We’re joined by Olivia (Dirigo Union member and proud "Dirigal") to talk about the Dirigals crew, why women’s soccer has so much momentum right now, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes in Portland — including the three upcoming town halls (fan, business/community, and youth development).We get into the questions everyone’s already kicking around:What does a “successful” first season look like here?Can Fitzpatrick Stadium realistically handle another team — and what would need to change?Do you keep the Hearts of Pine identity for the women’s team, or build something separate?Why start with the W League instead of jumping straight to the Super League — and what that means for travel, schedules, cost, and roster turnover.We also talk about the women’s soccer community that already exists here, how to get more people into the game (even if you’re brand new), and what supporters culture might look like as this grows — Dirigals, the DU, and the early chatter around a USL W team in Portland. If you’ve been curious about women’s soccer in Portland, this is a good one to jump in on.

Link to upcoming Town Halls info - https://www.heartsofpine.com/news/2026/02/04/hearts-announce-womens-team-town-halls/