The Minnesota Thunder is a professional men's soccer team based out of St Paul, Minnesota. In 2006 the Thunder competed in the USL First Division and the U.S. Open Cup. The club was founded in 1990 as an amateur American men's soccer team. It became a professional team in 1994 joining the United Soccer Leagues. In 2005, the club created an amateur women's team named the Minnesota Lightning to compete in the W-League starting in the 2006 season.