Lorain County: Leviathan FC adds women's squad for 2027
The semi-pro club plans to launch a new team next year, joining a growing cluster of women's professional soccer initiatives in Northeast Ohio.
By Noor Graham ·
Northeast Ohio is seeing a rapid increase in professional women's soccer investments. On Thursday, the Lorain County Leviathan FC announced it will launch a women's team in 2027. This move adds to a growing list of new clubs entering the region. The announcement follows the recent naming of Cleveland Astra, another new professional team in the area.
The Leviathan currently plays at ForeFront Field in Avon. This venue also hosts the Lake Erie Crushers baseball team. The club began play in 2025 as a semi-professional men's squad. A banner on the outfield fence now declares Lorain County as Soccer County, USA. Chairman Andrew McDonnell said the team has become a central part of the local community.
McDonnell stated the decision to add a women's team was logical. He noted a clear demand for a local competitive option. He said the club aligned this community desire with an ownership group capable of funding the new program. The new team will focus on recruiting current and former college athletes. These players seek a place to continue developing and showcasing their skills.
McDonnell explained that high-level players currently lack a local venue to compete. The new program aims to fill that gap. The Leviathan plans to build a talent pipeline. They will work with Cleveland Astra, local collegiate teams, and youth programs. The goal is to associate the county strongly with soccer.
Cleveland Astra is another new entry in the local soccer scene. The Cleveland Soccer Group announced the team's name in May. The club will compete in WPSL Pro. This new league sits between amateur soccer and top-tier professional teams. Astra co-founder Gina Prodan Kelly said initial reactions to women's sports were mixed.
Prodan Kelly noted that skepticism faded after the club received 16,000 season ticket deposits. She said that financial support changed the perception of the market. The team is still searching for a permanent home. Prodan Kelly believes support for women's sports is building across the region.
Prodan Kelly cited the launch of Astra, the arrival of a WNBA team, and the Leviathan's new program as evidence of this growth. She described the current moment as the second inning of a long game. She said momentum is picking up now. Both McDonnell and Prodan Kelly believe the region has a strong appetite for more soccer.
The Leviathan's new women's team is scheduled to debut in 2027. The club will continue playing at ForeFront Field in Avon. Cleveland Astra remains in the process of finding a permanent stadium. Both organizations plan to collaborate on player development. The region now has multiple professional and semi-professional soccer teams actively recruiting.
