FC Buffalo is an American women's soccer club based in Buffalo, New York, United States. Founded in 2021, the team plays in United Women's Soccer (UWS), a pro-am league at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the East Conference. FC Buffalo is the sister team of USL League Two club FC Buffalo.
The team plays its home games at All-High Stadium in Buffalo. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.
History
In 2021, club owner Nicholas Mendola announced the launch of a women's soccer team, which started play in May. On March 5, the club announced Nikki Bartholomew as the first manager of FC Buffalo. In their first UWS season, FC Buffalo finished in first place in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 7–2–1.[2] FC Buffalo hosted the East Conference playoffs, winning their first match against Lancaster Inferno FC 3–2. In the Eastern Conference Final FC Buffalo lost 2–0 against CT Fusion.[3]
On May 9, 2022, the team announced that they would play their home games for the 2022 season at Dobson Field on the campus of D'Youville University while All-High Stadium is renovated.[4] The club again only lost once in the regular season, then winning a pair of playoff games to reach the National Championship weekend. FC Buffalo would fall against Calgary Foothills WFC in the semi-finals, ending their playoff run.[5] After the renovations at All High were completed, Buffalo Public Schools initially declined to have the team play its matches there for the 2023 season, which forced an emergency field location at Williamsville South High School.[6][7] Then in April of 2024, the club were welcomed back to All-High ahead of the upcoming season.[8] The women won the 2024 Iron Division and the right to host the National Championship weekend.[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Nick Mendola
