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Press Services
BALTIMORE, MD -- Formally announced in September, the
new women’s professional soccer league launching in Spring 2009 in which
three W-League teams will have shared ownership with pro teams now has a
name, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). With the unveiling of the league
logo and launch of its website, WPS made its official debut at the NSCAA
annual convention.
The ownership groups of the Washington Freedom, Jersey
Sky Blue and FC Indiana W-League teams are also among the ownership groups
of the new pro league. The Freedom, who officially joined the W-League last
season and captured the league title in their first year, will be the first
women’s pro team with a vertically-integrated club pyramid. The Freedom,
who will continue to field a W-League team, are also members of the USL Super-20
League, where they won the inaugural championship in 2006, and the Super
Y-League. Jersey Sky Blue, an expansion club last season, will own the new
NJ/NY pro team in addition to their W-League side and FC Indiana will be
part of the ownership group of the new pro Chicago franchise.
In addition to the common ownership groups, Mass Premier
Soccer, which operates the W-League Boston Renegades, PDL Cape Cod Crusaders
and USL Super Y-League teams, announced a partnership with the professional
Boston Breakers franchise.
“A long and careful process led to the selection
of Women’s Professional Soccer and the subsequent WPS acronym,”
said Tonya Antonucci, WPS commissioner. “The league and team owners
reviewed countless variations of league names and logos and conducted numerous
focus groups before ultimately deciding on a brand identity that we strongly
believe will resonate with fans for years to come.”
The WPS logo, developed by branding agency Adrenalin,
Inc., features a deep navy, red, and gold color scheme while showcasing a
familiar silhouette – FIFA World Cup champion, Olympic Gold Medal winner
and Hall of Fame player Mia Hamm, renowned as a pioneer for women’s
soccer.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to personify
the WPS brand, knowing full well that this league will be revered by generations
of soccer fans around the world,” said Hamm. “Above all else, this
league represents opportunity – not just for female soccer players,
but for women everywhere.”
“The name and logo provide a solid foundation for
the new league’s brand as the premier women’s soccer league in
the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports
are measured,” said Chicago Team President and CEO and WPS Marketing
Committee Chairman Peter Wilt. “Adrenalin provided tremendous guidance
and creativity while working with the League and a broad base of outside
advisors to create a name and look that represents WPS.”
Also today, the league launched its official website
at www.womensprosoccer.com, an interactive source for all information related
to the league, WPS teams, prospective players and women’s soccer in
general. While online, fans will have access to behind-the-scenes videos
on WPS TV, prospective player blogs, event and community calendars, league
and team news, job and volunteer opportunities, links to individual team
pages, and much more.
In addition to hosting a booth at the NSCAA convention,
WPS will hold a Town Hall meeting – moderated by Christine Brennan,
USA Today columnist and the most widely read female sports journalist in
the United States – on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, one of many
opportunities fans and soccer constituents will have to interact with the
league in the coming months.
“We are actively seeking ambassadors to help raise
awareness and generate widespread excitement about the league. One-on-one
interaction with our fan base, such as the Town Hall meeting concept, will
be the key to our success,” said Antonucci. “As part of that grassroots
effort, we want to engage in a dialogue with our supporters, starting with
NSCAA coaches, to determine how WPS can partner with and aid their own local
efforts.”
Since the league was formalized four months ago, operations
have been underway at the WPS office in San Francisco and the team offices
in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis,
and Washington D.C.
Staffing has been among top priorities for both the
league and its teams. In recent months, WPS has hired Boston Breakers General
Manager Joe Cummings as senior consulting chief operating officer, Vicki
Veenker of Shearman & Sterling LLP as general counsel, and Aaron Burch
as league development/relationships manager. Teams have also been active
in hiring staff. Former Women’s National Team Head Coach Tony DiCicco
was named as the head coach of the Boston Breakers. The Washington Freedom,
meanwhile, appointed Joe Quinn as team president and general manager, Jim
Gabarra as head coach, Louise Waxler as director of operations, and Clyde
Watson as assistant coach. Likewise, Chicago’s WPS team announced Marcia
McDermott, former coach for the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Carolina Courage, as general manager.
“Momentum is definitely in our favor as we draw
closer to the inaugural WPS season in 2009,” said Antonucci. “The
next year promises to be an exciting one for women’s soccer, as our
nation’s elite athletes compete against the best international stars
in the Beijing Olympics with the knowledge that they’ll come home to
the opportunity to play professionally. As the players prepare, we’ll
be working diligently toward the 2009 kick-off with more league and team
news, facility announcements, and community events.” |
