What is the Crest Cup? U.S. Soccer announces new women's competition with record prize money

As the growth of women's soccer in the United States continues on an upward trajectory, the game has looked to become even more relevant by creating competitions for clubs and national teams to compete in on an annual basis.

The North American federation began a CONCACAF W Champions Cup in 2024, mirroring the continental competition by which the men compete yearly to determine an overall champion.

Now, U.S. Soccer has followed in those footsteps, creating a national cup competition which will feature multiple clubs from multiple leagues throughout the country and will earn the winner a berth into that continental competition yearly.

The Sporting News explains what the Crest Cup is, how it will be played, when it will begin, and how much money the winner will earn.

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What is the Crest Cup?

U.S. Soccer officially announced at its annual summit in Philadelphia on October 14 that it was creating a new women's soccer competition known as the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup.

It will be a single-elimination knockout tournament, with clubs from both NWSL and the USL Super League allowed to enter.

Essentially, the competition is the U.S. women's soccer equivalent — or at least very similar — of the U.S. Open Cup or the EFL Cup, a league cup knockout competition for clubs from across multiple tiers of football in a single nation to enter.

The winner of the Crest Cup each year will earn a berth in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup the following season, just like domestic league cups on the men's side normally provide.

When will the Crest Cup begin?

While it was not officially announced, ESPN's chief women's soccer journalist Jeff Kassouf reported that it's likely the competition will launch in 2028.

What is the Crest Cup prize money?

The U.S. Soccer announcement stated that the prize money for the winner of the Crest Cup will be $1.1 million, a record for a women's soccer competition in the United States.

"Women’s soccer continues to be one of the most dynamic and inspiring forces in sport," said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone in the statement. "The Crest Cup will create meaningful impact by bringing people together, attracting investment in the future of the game, and ensuring that excellence, inclusivity, and opportunity remain at the heart of women’s soccer in the United States."

Who is Arthur Blank?

Arthur Blank is an American businessman who has invested heavily in sports throughout the United States, especially in U.S. Soccer over the last few years.

Born in Queens and a product of New York City schools, the 84-year-old co-founded the home improvement franchise Home Depot, opening the first two stores in Atlanta in 1979.

Blank has been a heavy investor into American sports, including ownership of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United of MLS. He also helped U.S. Soccer fund the brand new headquarters and training complex outside Atlanta, which opened in 2026. Blank has earned the rights to an NWSL expansion franchise, Atlanta City FC, which will begin play in 2028.