Lorain County Leviathan FC to launch women's soccer club in 2027
The move expands the professional soccer footprint in Northeast Ohio, following the naming of Cleveland's new women's team and a surge in local ticket sales.
By Priya Marino ·
The Lorain County Leviathan FC will begin play with a women's soccer team in 2027. The club announced the expansion on Thursday, marking the latest addition to a growing number of professional women's sports franchises in Northeast Ohio.
The Leviathan currently fields a semi-professional men's team that plays at ForeFront Field in Avon. The site serves as the home ground for the Lake Erie Crushers baseball club. Since the men's team confirmed its presence there in 2025, the venue has become a central hub for local soccer activity.
Andrew McDonnell, the chairman of the Leviathan FC, stated that the addition of a women's squad is a direct response to local demand. He noted that the club has become an integral part of the community and that the next logical step was to align existing desire with an ownership group capable of execution.
The new program targets current and former collegiate athletes who wish to continue developing their skills. McDonnell said that high-level players in the area currently lack a place to compete and showcase their abilities. The team aims to fill that gap by providing a competitive environment for these athletes.
This development follows a similar push by the Cleveland Soccer Group. In May, that organization revealed its new team will be called Cleveland Astra. The club will compete in the WPSL Pro, a league designed to bridge the gap between amateur soccer and top-tier professional teams.
Gina Prodan Kelly, co-founder of Cleveland Astra, said the initial public reaction to the women's team was mixed. However, support has grown since the team's first campaign. The group received 16,000 season ticket deposits, a number that has drawn attention to the market for women's sports in the region.
Prodan Kelly believes the region is experiencing a momentum shift. She cited the launch of Cleveland Astra, the arrival of a WNBA team, and the Leviathan's expansion as evidence of a broader wave of investment. She described the current state of women's soccer as being in the second inning, with momentum picking up.
The Leviathan plans to collaborate with Cleveland Astra, collegiate teams, and youth programs. McDonnell said the goal is to create a talent pipeline that connects these groups. He wants to ensure that when people think about soccer in the region, they associate the sport with Lorain County and the Leviathan brand.
A banner on the outfield fence at ForeFront Field now proclaims Lorain County as Soccer County, USA. This branding reflects the club's intent to establish itself as a central hub for the sport. Both McDonnell and Prodan Kelly assert that there is a strong appetite for more soccer and women's sports in Northeast Ohio.
The women's Leviathan team will begin competition in 2027. The club has not yet announced a specific schedule or venue for the women's matches, but the launch date is set. The move positions Lorain County as a key location for semi-professional and professional women's soccer in the area.
