Women's Professional Soccer
Encyclopedia
Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States
. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion. The WPS is the highest level in the United States soccer pyramid for the women's game.
, which played its third and final full season in 2003, WUSA Reorganization Committee was formed in September of that year. The committee led to the founding in November 2004 of the non-profit organization, Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII), whose stated goal was "promoting and supporting all aspects of women's soccer in the United States", including the founding of a new professional league. Attempts to relaunch WUSA in full fell through in 2004 (when the league's member teams played the WUSA Festival instead) and 2005.
In June 2006, WSII announced the relaunch of the league for the 2008 season.
In December 2006, the organization announced that it reached an agreement with six owner-operators for teams based in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Washington, DC, and a then-unnamed city. Later, Boston and New York/New Jersey were announced as other markets to have teams. In September 2007, the launch was pushed back from Spring of 2008 to 2009 to avoid clashing with 2007 Women's World Cup and the 2008 Olympic Games and to ensure that all of the teams were fully prepared for long-term operations.
On May 27, 2008, the league announced that it would expand to Philadelphia for the 2010 season, with the franchise likely sharing facilities with MLS's Philadelphia Union. Despite being the eighth named team, the league still considered adding an eighth team to play in the league's inaugural season. An eighth team for the inaugural season was tentatively announced as being located in San Diego
, and was finalized later. Still, despite the extra time given to the original five cities for preparations, the Dallas franchise did not materialize, citing stadium issues. Thus the league began with seven teams.
The new name of the league, Women's Professional Soccer, was announced on January 17, 2008, along with the logo, which featured the silhouette of retired player Mia Hamm
.
in August, when WPS announced the allocation of 21 US national team players, three players to each of the seven teams that began play in the 2009 season. Most players were matched with teams they had some previous connection to, such as hometown, college, WUSA, or W-League
affiliation. All of the allocated Americans played in the 2009 season except for Kate Markgraf
, who was pregnant
at the start of the season, and Ali Krieger
, who was still under contract with her German team. A week later, the league held the 2008 WPS International Draft
, in which the seven teams selected four international players each. Four of the first five selections, first pick Formiga
(Bay Area), Marta (#3, Los Angeles), Daniela
(#4, St. Louis), and Cristiane
(#5, Chicago) were Brazilian
, and a total of 10 Brazilian players were selected. England
's Kelly Smith
(#2, Boston) and Japan
's Homare Sawa
(#6, Washington), and Australia's Sarah Walsh
rounded out the first round. The draft order was based on a weighted ranking determined by a vote of league coaches following the U.S. women's national team allocation. A general draft was held in October, followed by a combine for college seniors and undrafted players in December, a post-combine draft in January, and local tryouts by individual teams in February.
WPS's inaugural game was played to a crowd of over 14,000 fans at the Home Depot Center as the hosts Los Angeles Sol beat the Washington Freedom
2-0. The first season saw several issues occur, including an uneven schedule due to the odd number of teams (that the Sol took advantage of as they won the inaugural season), several season-ending injuries, two major trades, decisions from the WPS disciplinary committee and commissioner, and a Cinderella-run to the championship title (won by Sky Blue FC
). Most teams considered the first season a moderate success, despite many losing more money than planned.
was held to distribute the players to the remaining eight teams. This was not the case when the Saint Louis Athletica suddenly and unexpectedly ran into financial problems and folded mid-May. The league schedule had to be re-done, and all of Athletica's players became free agents. Most were signed by the Atlanta Beat, who had only earned one point until then and ultimately finished the season at the bottom of the table.
The other expansion franchise, the Philadelphia Independence fared much better, finishing third on the season and ultimately losing the WPS Final to the incredibly dominant FC Gold Pride
. Around the same time, WPS announced the addition of a western New York franchise for the 2011 season, spawning from the existing Buffalo Flash
organization. Despite these strong showings, overall attendance for 2010 was noticeably down from 2009, and one team (the Washington Freedom
) made public mid-season that it was looking for new investors. Also, at the championship game, commissioner Tonya Antonucci announced she would step down, with Anne-Marie Eileraas taking leadership as the new WPS CEO.
More problems came to light early in the offseason. Four teams - FC Gold Pride
, the Chicago Red Stars
, the Boston Breakers, and Washington - all missed the payment deadline for a large up-front escrow meant to prevent what happened to St. Louis from happening again. Ultimately, the Gold Pride could not find the necessary money and folded. Chicago was given a 30-day extension but announced in December that they would not play in WPS in 2011, opting to regroup in the second-tier Women's Premier Soccer League
. Washington and Boston ultimately were able to make their payments, leaving six teams for the 2011 season.
owner Dan Borislow
, and a Gold-Pride-like dominance of the Western New York Flash. While national team players were away at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, though, the Independence started an incredible streak that saw them temporarily overtake the Flash at the top of the table. The success of the USWNT cause a leaguewide upsurge in attendance of 84%, including the league's all-time highest attendance and the highest attended WPS final, both in Rochester, NY. The final was also the closest-contested in the league's short history, with both teams scoring and ultimately going into penalty kicks, where the Flash bested the Independence 5-4 with an last-round save made by Ashlyn Harris
.
The national exposure to women's soccer, and the upswing in attendance, has sparked many groups interested in bringing teams to WPS. The league hopes to have ten teams for the 2012 season, most of the new groups potentially coming from the western half of the country, though a return of the Chicago Red Stars is also possible. The 2012 season will have the mixed blessing of overlapping with the London Olympics
; like with the World Cup, the Games will cause schedule problems with national team players missing, but will also be another chance to attract fans to women's soccer, especially if the USWNT does well again.
has given 15 days to WPS to find 6 teams for the league after magicJack has folded, otherwise the league would lose its Division 1 status. By the rules, a league would need to have 8 teams to qualify as a D1 league - WPS has requested a waiver for being able to play with only 6 teams; after the 15-day ultimatum, they have requested for an extension to launch the season with only 5.
, the top men's professional league in the United States, to cut costs on staff and facilities, and for marketing.
The team budgets for the inaugural season was $2.5 million.
and Fox Sports en Español
with Samuel Jacobo and Jorge Caamaño will air weekly Sunday night matches & the WPS All-Star Game with Fox Sports Net
to air the semifinal and league championship contests. The national television contract will be in effect through the 2011 season with an option for 2012. Some local networks will air games.
the league's 6 teams were aligned as shown on the map below.
other women's top pro-level North American sports leagues
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion. The WPS is the highest level in the United States soccer pyramid for the women's game.
Planning
After the folding of Women's United Soccer AssociationWomen's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
, which played its third and final full season in 2003, WUSA Reorganization Committee was formed in September of that year. The committee led to the founding in November 2004 of the non-profit organization, Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII), whose stated goal was "promoting and supporting all aspects of women's soccer in the United States", including the founding of a new professional league. Attempts to relaunch WUSA in full fell through in 2004 (when the league's member teams played the WUSA Festival instead) and 2005.
In June 2006, WSII announced the relaunch of the league for the 2008 season.
In December 2006, the organization announced that it reached an agreement with six owner-operators for teams based in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Washington, DC, and a then-unnamed city. Later, Boston and New York/New Jersey were announced as other markets to have teams. In September 2007, the launch was pushed back from Spring of 2008 to 2009 to avoid clashing with 2007 Women's World Cup and the 2008 Olympic Games and to ensure that all of the teams were fully prepared for long-term operations.
On May 27, 2008, the league announced that it would expand to Philadelphia for the 2010 season, with the franchise likely sharing facilities with MLS's Philadelphia Union. Despite being the eighth named team, the league still considered adding an eighth team to play in the league's inaugural season. An eighth team for the inaugural season was tentatively announced as being located in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and was finalized later. Still, despite the extra time given to the original five cities for preparations, the Dallas franchise did not materialize, citing stadium issues. Thus the league began with seven teams.
| Season | Playoff Champions |
Regular Season Champions |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States... |
Sky Blue FC Sky Blue FC Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer.... |
Los Angeles Sol |
| 2010 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season The 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season was the second season for the WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States... |
FC Gold Pride FC Gold Pride FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area... |
FC Gold Pride FC Gold Pride FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area... |
| 2011 2011 Women's Professional Soccer season The 2011 Women's Professional Soccer season is the third season for the WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States... |
Western New York Flash | Western New York Flash |
The new name of the league, Women's Professional Soccer, was announced on January 17, 2008, along with the logo, which featured the silhouette of retired player Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
.
Player allocation
Player allocation began on September 16, 2008, after the Beijing OlympicsFootball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
in August, when WPS announced the allocation of 21 US national team players, three players to each of the seven teams that began play in the 2009 season. Most players were matched with teams they had some previous connection to, such as hometown, college, WUSA, or W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
affiliation. All of the allocated Americans played in the 2009 season except for Kate Markgraf
Kate Markgraf
Kate Markgraf , is an American soccer defender and was a member of the U.S. women's national team.-Early life:...
, who was pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
at the start of the season, and Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger
Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.-Youth and High School:...
, who was still under contract with her German team. A week later, the league held the 2008 WPS International Draft
2008 WPS International Draft
The 2008 WPS International Draft took place on September 24, 2008. It was the first international draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of international players to the American-based teams...
, in which the seven teams selected four international players each. Four of the first five selections, first pick Formiga
Miraildes Maciel Mota
Miraildes Maciel Mota , commonly known as Formiga , is a Brazilian footballer who played midfielder who last played for FC Gold Pride of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the Brazil women's national football team.-Career:Formiga was acquired by FC Gold Pride in the 2008 WPS...
(Bay Area), Marta (#3, Los Angeles), Daniela
Daniela Alves Lima
Daniela Alves Lima , commonly known as Daniela, is a Brazilian footballer who played midfielder who last played for Saint Louis Athletica of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the Brazil women's national football team.-Career:Daniela begun her career at the age of 13, at Portuguesa de...
(#4, St. Louis), and Cristiane
Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva
Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva , better known as Cristiane, is a Brazilian association football player...
(#5, Chicago) were Brazilian
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
, and a total of 10 Brazilian players were selected. England
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
's Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Kelly Jayne Smith, MBE is an English football forward currently playing for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the England women's national football team.-Youth and university:...
(#2, Boston) and Japan
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
's Homare Sawa
Homare Sawa
is a female football player from Japan. She currently plays for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Nadeshiko League Division 1.- Career :Long considered Japan's finest female footballer, she made her debut in Japan's highest domestic league at age 12. On December 6, 1993, at age 15, she made her Japanese...
(#6, Washington), and Australia's Sarah Walsh
Sarah Walsh
Sarah Walsh is an Australian football forward currently playing for Sydney FC of Australia's W-League and is a member of the Australia women's national association football team....
rounded out the first round. The draft order was based on a weighted ranking determined by a vote of league coaches following the U.S. women's national team allocation. A general draft was held in October, followed by a combine for college seniors and undrafted players in December, a post-combine draft in January, and local tryouts by individual teams in February.
First season
Before the season began, WPS was only able to secure two sponsors, and most teams did not advertise much or get their rosters finalized until late in the preseason. During the season, though, WPS secured several more sponsors, and WPS announced the expansion to Atlanta as the ninth team for next season.WPS's inaugural game was played to a crowd of over 14,000 fans at the Home Depot Center as the hosts Los Angeles Sol beat the Washington Freedom
Washington Freedom
The Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. Since 2004, the...
2-0. The first season saw several issues occur, including an uneven schedule due to the odd number of teams (that the Sol took advantage of as they won the inaugural season), several season-ending injuries, two major trades, decisions from the WPS disciplinary committee and commissioner, and a Cinderella-run to the championship title (won by Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
). Most teams considered the first season a moderate success, despite many losing more money than planned.
Growing pains
This success/optimism did not extend to the Sol, though, as after AEG failed to sell the team it was announced that the Sol would be disbanding. As AEG had given the Sol back to the league, a dispersal draft2010 WPS Dispersal Draft
When the Los Angeles Sol folded on January 28, 2010 after a potential sale of the team fell through at the last minute, WPS, which had been running the team after AEG backed out, announced that the nineteen players under contract to the Sol would be dispersed to the remaining WPS teams in a...
was held to distribute the players to the remaining eight teams. This was not the case when the Saint Louis Athletica suddenly and unexpectedly ran into financial problems and folded mid-May. The league schedule had to be re-done, and all of Athletica's players became free agents. Most were signed by the Atlanta Beat, who had only earned one point until then and ultimately finished the season at the bottom of the table.
The other expansion franchise, the Philadelphia Independence fared much better, finishing third on the season and ultimately losing the WPS Final to the incredibly dominant FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. Around the same time, WPS announced the addition of a western New York franchise for the 2011 season, spawning from the existing Buffalo Flash
Buffalo Flash
The Western New York Flash is an American professional soccer club based in Buffalo, New York . It was founded in 2008 and played its inaugural season in 2009...
organization. Despite these strong showings, overall attendance for 2010 was noticeably down from 2009, and one team (the Washington Freedom
Washington Freedom
The Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. Since 2004, the...
) made public mid-season that it was looking for new investors. Also, at the championship game, commissioner Tonya Antonucci announced she would step down, with Anne-Marie Eileraas taking leadership as the new WPS CEO.
More problems came to light early in the offseason. Four teams - FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, the Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
, the Boston Breakers, and Washington - all missed the payment deadline for a large up-front escrow meant to prevent what happened to St. Louis from happening again. Ultimately, the Gold Pride could not find the necessary money and folded. Chicago was given a 30-day extension but announced in December that they would not play in WPS in 2011, opting to regroup in the second-tier Women's Premier Soccer League
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. Washington and Boston ultimately were able to make their payments, leaving six teams for the 2011 season.
National exposure
The beginning of the league's third season was marked by three things: low attendance, problems with (ex-Freedom) magicJackMagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
owner Dan Borislow
Dan Borislow
Daniel M. Borislow is an American entrepreneur, sports team owner, inventor, and thoroughbred horse breeder. Originating in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, Borislow attended Widener University and worked in cable construction and landscaping before going into the telephone business. He...
, and a Gold-Pride-like dominance of the Western New York Flash. While national team players were away at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, though, the Independence started an incredible streak that saw them temporarily overtake the Flash at the top of the table. The success of the USWNT cause a leaguewide upsurge in attendance of 84%, including the league's all-time highest attendance and the highest attended WPS final, both in Rochester, NY. The final was also the closest-contested in the league's short history, with both teams scoring and ultimately going into penalty kicks, where the Flash bested the Independence 5-4 with an last-round save made by Ashlyn Harris
Ashlyn Harris
Ashlyn Michelle Harris is an American soccer goalkeeper for the Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer. During her collegiate career, she served as the starting goalkeeper for the University of North Carolina women's soccer team...
.
The national exposure to women's soccer, and the upswing in attendance, has sparked many groups interested in bringing teams to WPS. The league hopes to have ten teams for the 2012 season, most of the new groups potentially coming from the western half of the country, though a return of the Chicago Red Stars is also possible. The 2012 season will have the mixed blessing of overlapping with the London Olympics
Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics is scheduled to be held in London and several other cities in the United Kingdom, from 25 July to 11 August. The finals will be played at Wembley Stadium. Associations affiliated with FIFA are invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23...
; like with the World Cup, the Games will cause schedule problems with national team players missing, but will also be another chance to attract fans to women's soccer, especially if the USWNT does well again.
Possible loss of D1 status
On November 20, 2011, the United States Soccer FederationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
has given 15 days to WPS to find 6 teams for the league after magicJack has folded, otherwise the league would lose its Division 1 status. By the rules, a league would need to have 8 teams to qualify as a D1 league - WPS has requested a waiver for being able to play with only 6 teams; after the 15-day ultimatum, they have requested for an extension to launch the season with only 5.
Business model
WPS commissioner Tonya Antonucci said that unlike WUSA, which had higher expectations and employed a top-down model, WPS would take "a local, grass roots approach", and "a slow and steady growth type of approach", citing WUSA's losses of close to $100 million. She said the new league would have a closer relationship with Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, the top men's professional league in the United States, to cut costs on staff and facilities, and for marketing.
The team budgets for the inaugural season was $2.5 million.
WPS Players Union
WPS players are represented by the Women’s Professional Soccer Players Union (WPSPU), an independent, democratic labor organization run by and for the players. The WPSPU was certified and recognized by the league on September 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jennifer Hitchon serves as Executive Director and Robert H. Stropp of Mooney, Green, Baker & Saindon, PC, is General Counsel. The players who make up the 2011-2012 WPSPU Executive Committee are: Eniola Aluko, Rachel Buehler, Allison Falk, Leslie Osborne, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn, Cat Whitehill, and Kristine Lilly (member emeritus). These players are responsible for advising the Executive Director, setting union priorities, approving union bargaining positions and proposals, and responding to WPS counter-proposals, among other activities.Media coverage
Fox Soccer ChannelFox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
and Fox Sports en Español
Fox Sports en Español
Fox Deportes is a cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day in Spanish...
with Samuel Jacobo and Jorge Caamaño will air weekly Sunday night matches & the WPS All-Star Game with Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
to air the semifinal and league championship contests. The national television contract will be in effect through the 2011 season with an option for 2012. Some local networks will air games.
Teams
For the 2011 season2011 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2011 Women's Professional Soccer season is the third season for the WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
the league's 6 teams were aligned as shown on the map below.
| Women's Professional Soccer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Stadium | City | Founded | Joined WPS |
| Atlanta Beat | KSU Soccer Stadium Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium near Kennesaw, Georgia that opened on May 2, 2010, with the first match played on May 9. It is primarily used for soccer, and is the result of a public-private partnership between the university and the Atlanta Beat of Women's... |
Kennesaw, Georgia Kennesaw, Georgia Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history... |
2009 | 2010 |
| Boston Breakers | Harvard Stadium Harvard Stadium Harvard Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Built in 1903, the stadium seats 30,323. The stadium seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands were installed in the north end of the stadium in 1929... |
Boston, Massachusetts Boston Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... |
2001 | 2009 |
| Philadelphia Independence | Leslie Quick Stadium | Chester, Pennsylvania Chester, Pennsylvania Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :... |
2009 | 2010 |
| Sky Blue FC Sky Blue FC Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer.... |
Yurcak Field Yurcak Field Yurcak Field is a multi-purpose soccer and lacrosse stadium on the main campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway Township, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1994 and holds 5,000 people. The stadium is officially named "The Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium at Yurcak Field" in honor of Ronald N... |
Piscataway Piscataway Township, New Jersey The township consists of the following historic villages and areas: New Market, known as Quibbletown in the 18th Century, Randolphville, Fieldville and North Stelton... , New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... |
2008 | 2009 |
| Western New York Flash | Sahlen's Stadium | Rochester, New York Rochester, New York Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City... |
2008 | 2011 |
Defunct teams
Years active in parentheses- Los Angeles Sol (2009)
- Saint Louis Athletica (2009–2010)
- FC Gold PrideFC Gold PrideFC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
(2009–2010) - Chicago Red StarsChicago Red StarsThe Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
(2009–2010) - left to join Women's Premier Soccer LeagueWomen's Premier Soccer LeagueThe Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. - Washington FreedomWashington FreedomThe Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. Since 2004, the...
(2009–2010) - relocated to Boca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
and renamed magicJackMagicJack (WPS)MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
. - MagicJackMagicJack (WPS)MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
(2011)
Attendance
| Year | Season | Playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Total | Average | Games | Total | Average | |
| 2009 | 70 | 327,878 | 4,684 | 3 | 16,499 | 5,500 |
| 2010 | 87 | 313,272 | 3,601 | 3 | 10,282 | 3,427 |
| 2011 | 54 | 190,884 | 3,535 | 3 | 17,946 | 5,982 |
WPS commissioners/CEOs
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Tonya Antonucci (com.) | 2007–2009 |
| Anne-Marie Eileraas (CEO) | 2009–2010 |
| Jennifer O'Sullivan (CEO) | 2010– |
WPS awards
WPS currently hands out seven end-of-year awards. Six of them date to the league's formation, while the Rookie of the Year award was added in 2010.- Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award
- WPS Coach of the Year Award
- WPS Defender of the Year Award
- WPS Goalkeeper of the Year Award
- WPS Rookie of the Year Award
- WPS Golden Boot
- WPS Sportswoman of the Year
See also
- United States women's national soccer teamUnited States women's national soccer teamThe United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
- List of non-American WPS players
- List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
- List of Women's Professional Soccer stadiums
- Women's United Soccer AssociationWomen's United Soccer AssociationThe Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
- National Soccer Hall of FameNational Soccer Hall of FameThe National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
other women's top pro-level North American sports leagues
- National Pro FastpitchNational Pro FastpitchNational Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
(softball) (NPF) - National Women's Hockey LeagueNational Women's Hockey LeagueThe National Women's Hockey League was a women's ice hockey league. This League was in service between 1999 and 2007.-History:The NWHL superseded the old Central Ontario Women's Hockey League in 1998-99. After the old COWHL dropped down to three teams in 1997-98, the new league expanded to...
(NWHL) - Women's National Basketball AssociationWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) - Canadian Women's Hockey LeagueCanadian Women's Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's ice hockey leagues in Canada. The league was founded in 2007. The league currently has six ice hockey teams: three in Ontario, one in Quebec, one in Alberta and one in Boston, Massachusetts....
(CWHL) - Western Women's Hockey LeagueWestern Women's Hockey LeagueThe Western Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's hockey leagues in Canada. The league was established in 2004, and consisted of teams in Canada and one from the United States...
(WWHL)