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Sara Whalen Hess helped the United States win a World Cup. Now, the Greenlawn native is helping build a professional soccer club back home.
The Harborfields High School graduate is co-founder and president of USL Long Island, a new men’s team targeting a March 2028 debut at Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead.
The club, announced in August, plans to compete in USL League One, the third division of professional soccer in the United States, pending final league and federation sanctioning approval.
For Whalen Hess, a clinical psychologist and member of the celebrated 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup championship team, it’s an unexpected opportunity to give back to the place where her soccer career began.
“It’s not something I ever planned for,” Whalen Hess told Greater Long Island.
The idea took shape during the 2025 season, when she worked as head of player development for Westchester Soccer Club in USL League One.
“I was able to see what these leagues can do for the communities around them,” she said. “It’s seamless for me having grown up on Long Island and having gained so much from all of the people there and the support that I had to sort of bring this community hub back home and give back in a way that feels really meaningful.”
Building a club, and a community
Growing up on Long Island, soccer was Whalen Hess’ “safe space,” a place where she felt comfortable and connected.
The former University of Connecticut star wants the new club to create that same sense of belonging for others.
She is partnering with principal owner and co-founder Glenn Schneider, CEO of SUSA FC, to build a team with ambitions on and off the field.
Hiring a head coach and technical staff, recruiting players and assembling a championship-caliber roster are all on the agenda. But with more than a year before the first match, Whalen Hess said establishing relationships across Long Island comes first.
“It is the most important thing by far,” she said.
“You’re going to see us everywhere,” she added.
Her vision includes bringing experienced soccer staff into communities that might otherwise have limited access to that level of instruction and support.
The goal is to build something Long Islanders feel invested in well before opening day.
A team worth cheering for
Whalen Hess expects the roster to include a mix of young prospects looking to advance their careers and veterans bringing years of professional experience.
“USL League One has players that are 16 or 17 years old who are looking to go overseas and play professionally there or jump into MLS,” she said. “We have 35-year-old professionals who have been playing professional soccer either overseas or with MLS for many years.”
The club also envisions a matchday experience with music, food, giveaways, contests and potentially fireworks.
But the World Cup champion is clear: The soccer has to deliver, too.
“The quality on the field does really matter to me,” Whalen Hess said.
“I want it to be really enjoyable. I want the music to be awesome. I want the entertainment to be awesome. I think we can totally do that. I think Long Island is ready for that.”
From the World Cup to Long Island
Whalen Hess knows what it feels like when a community rallies around a team.
In 1999, she was part of the U.S. squad that helped bring women’s soccer to a new level of national attention. The team included Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers, Carla Overbeck and Briana Scurry.
Its defining moment came at the Rose Bowl, where Chastain converted the decisive penalty kick against China to win the World Cup.
For Whalen Hess, another memory from that tournament remains just as vivid: the bus ride to the opening match against Denmark at Giants Stadium.
The players didn’t know how many people would turn out. When their bus hit traffic approaching the Meadowlands, they worried they would be late.
“Until that day, we didn’t know if anyone was showing up,” she said.
Then they began seeing signs announcing the match was sold out. The traffic was for them.
“They were driving to our game and it was tears and cheering,” Whalen Hess recalled.
The United States beat Denmark, 3-0, before a crowd of 78,972.
Now, as she helps build a men’s club on Long Island, Whalen Hess also has a women’s team in mind.
“100 percent,” she said when asked about eventually adding one.
“We’re going to get this right first,” she said of the men’s team. “It’s really important to me that when you bring a women’s team, you do it right and you don’t rush it. When we’re ready, we’ll bring the women in and we’re going to crush that too.”
What comes next
In the coming months, USL Long Island plans to unveil its permanent team name, crest and colors, develop ticketing and sponsorship packages, and hire a head coach.
Then comes assembling the roster.
“Before you know it, we’re going to be talking to agents and bringing players in and we’ll hit the field,” Whalen Hess said.
Starting a professional soccer club wasn’t part of her original plan. Bringing one home, though, gives her a chance to help other Long Islanders find the connection she discovered on local soccer fields.
For more information, visit usllongisland.com or email [email protected].
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Top: USL Long Island announcement held at Hofstra University’s Margiotta Hall on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 in Hempstead, N.Y. (Credit: USL Long Island)
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