Governor Mills Proclaims Thursday as Second “Maine Day of Soccer”

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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Maine Governor’s Office. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

October 14, 2026

Hearts of Pine to unveil branding for new women’s team on Thursday

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, 2026, as the second-ever Maine Day of Soccer in celebration of Maine’s new women’s soccer franchise.

Tomorrow, the Portland Hearts of Pine will unveil the branding for Maine’s USL W team, which will open its inaugural season next May. Governor Mills proclaimed the first Maine Day of Soccer in April 2024 to celebrate the launch of the name, crest, and brand identity of the Portland Hearts of Pine men’s team.

“The Hearts of Pine have brought a tremendous amount of pride and energy to Maine during their first two seasons, and I can't wait to welcome their new women’s team to Portland,” said Governor Mills. “I’ve declared Thursday as the second-ever Maine Day of Soccer to celebrate a sport that has brought happiness and community to Maine kids and adults for decades and will soon give women and girls a new way to lead and compete. Up the Hearts!”

“When we first started dreaming about what the soccer club of Maine could become, a women’s team was always part of that vision. The first Day of Soccer marked the beginning of Hearts of Pine, so there’s something really special about coming full circle and celebrating the second with the launch of USLW team brand. This is a moment we’ve imagined for a long time, and to see it become real with so much support from people across the state is incredibly meaningful,” said Gabe Hoffman, Founder and Chief Community Officer for Hearts of Pine.

“To have a second Day of Soccer in Maine dedicated to the launch of our women’s team sends a powerful message to girls across the state. It tells them that there is space for them in this game, as players, coaches, leaders, and fans, and that their dreams in soccer are worth celebrating. Sport can be a beacon in that way. It can help young people see what’s possible, connect them to something bigger than themselves and give them a place to belong,” said Hannah Sirois, Vice President of Fan Experience for Hearts of Pine.

Governor Mills has been a strong supporter of the Hearts of Pine and a regular presence at home games during the team’s first two seasons. In 2025, the Governor secured the team’s first ever international "friendly” match with the Halifax Wanderers, a direct result of her goodwill mission to promote Maine tourism in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Governor’s efforts were showcased in a short Hearts of Pine documentary and in an Emmy-nominated episode of In Focus: Maine.

The USL W team will join the Hearts of Pine, Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Red Claws, and Maine Mariners in Portland, celebrated in 2024 by Sports Business Journal as America’s best city for minor league sports. A study commissioned by the teams last year found that the teams together supported 917 jobs statewide and generated $110 million in annual economic activity.

A copy of the Governor’s proclamation can be found HERE.

Release text attributed to Maine Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.