2002 PDL season
The 2002 USL Premier Development League season was the 8th PDL season. The season began in April 2002 and ended in August 2002.
Cape Cod Crusaders finished the season as national champions, beating Boulder Rapids Reserve 2-1 in the PDL Championship game. Des Moines Menace finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 15 out of their 18 games, suffering no losses, and finishing with a +49 goal difference.
Changes from 2001
Name changes
- Boulder Nova became Boulder Rapids Reserve
- Lafayette Lightning became Austin Lightning
- San Fernando Valley Heroes became Los Angeles Heroes
New franchises
- Twelve teams joined the league this year, including eight brand new franchises:
| Team Name | Metro Area | Location | Previous Affiliation |
 Calgary Storm Select | Calgary area | Calgary, Alberta | expansion |
 Chico Rooks | northern Sacramento Valley area | Chico, CA | previously in D3 Pro |
 Houston Toros | Houston area | Houston, TX | expansion |
 Memphis Express | Memphis area | Memphis, TN | expansion |
| Nashville Metros | Nashville area | Nashville, TN | previously in A-League |
 Raleigh CASL Elite | Raleigh area | Cary, NC | expansion |
 Rhode Island Stingrays | Providence area | East Providence, RI | previously in D3 Pro |
 Richmond Kickers Future | Richmond area | Richmond, VA | expansion |
| Santa Barbara Sharks | Santa Barbara area | Santa Barbara, CA | expansion |
| Williamsburg Legacy | Williamsburg area | Williamsburg, VA | expansion |
 Wisconsin Rebels | Fox River Valley area | Menasha, WI | returned from hiatus |
 Worcester Kings | Worcester area | Worcester, MA | expansion |
Promoted
- The Calgary Storm were promoted to the A-League.
- The New York Freedom and Westchester Flames were promoted to USL Pro Select.
Folding
- Ten teams left the league prior to the beginning of the season:
- *Colorado Springs Ascent - Colorado Springs, Colorado
- *Miami Strike Force - Miami, Florida
- *North Jersey Imperials - Paramus, New Jersey
- *Okanagan Predators - Kelowna, British Columbia
- *San Gabriel Valley Highlanders - Glendale, California
- *Twin Cities Phoenix - Edina, Minnesota
- *West Dallas Kings - Dallas, Texas
- *Wichita Jets - Wichita, Kansas
Standings