Exciting world class soccer and a nationally-televised match highlight opening weekend festivities as Women's Professional Soccer kicks off its third season of competition this weekend. "We're proud to be able to once again deliver the world class competition that is associated with WPS," said WPS Chief Executive Officer, Anne-Marie Eileraas. "Our season, along with the gathering of women's soccer's brightest stars at the Women's World Cup will be an outstanding platform to continue the growth of our league." In 2011, WPS will feature a six-team league playing 18-games each from April through August for the chance to qualify for the WPS Playoffs. The top team in the regular season will earn the right to host the WPS Championship presented by Citi as the top seed on August 27. Teams vying for the 2011 crown include Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, magicJack (Palm Beach, FL), Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) and making their debut in WPS, 2011 expansion team Western New York Flash, who will make their home at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, NY. The Breakers and Beat will take part in game one of the 2011 season this Saturday at 7 PM ET, as they face off at KSU Stadium, home of the Atlanta Beat. Game two will be nationally televised on FOX Soccer as Sky Blue FC hosts the Philadelphia Independence at Yurcak Field in the first WPS Sunday Game of the Week at 6 PM ET. The Flash and magicJack will have to wait one more week to premiere their lineups as their schedule commences in week two. Philadelphia will also debut their new home at Leslie Quick Stadium on the campus of Weidener University on April 16 when they host their home opener against magicJack. The offseason saw top players shuffled to new clubs with Western New York snatching up multiple 2010 WPS Champions including Candace Chapman, Marta, Ali Riley, Christine Sinclair and Kandace Wilson. Hope Solo will now make her WPS home in South Florida with magicJack alongside fellow US Soccer teammates Abby Wambach, Christie Rampone, Shannon Boxx and Lindsay Tarpley. To the delight of the Rip Tide, US Women's National Team Captain Rachel Buehler will bring her game to Boston where she will team up with Amy LePeilbeit to anchor the Breakers' back line. The Beat brought Olympic Gold Medalists Carli Lloyd, Cat Whitehill and Heather Mitts south to Atlanta where they will join fellow Olympian Lori Chalupny who returns to the Beat for her second season. Sky Blue FC also bolstered their roster adding speedy forwards Eniola Aluko and Casey Nogueira to their attack and New Jersey native Tobin Heath, first overall selection at the 2010 WPS Draft, to the roster as well. 2010 WPS Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Barnhart moves to Philadelphia, an hour away from her hometown of Gilbertsville, to join the Independence. Philly also added WPS All-Star midfielder Megan Rapinoe to their lineup. WPS has once again seen an increase in national sponsorships, opening the 2011 season with seven national partners, up from six at this point a year ago. The increase in sponsorship revenue translates to a projected profitable year at the league level, which will directly benefit teams. 2011 is an especially exciting year for women's soccer as Germany prepares to host the 2011 Women's World Cup this June. WPS will be well represented at the mid-summer tournament, increasing visibility of the league and its top players, as nearly 30 of WPS' most dominant players, including five-time FIFA World Player of the Year and reigning two-time WPS MVP Marta (WNY Flash | Brazil), scoring sensation Christine Sinclair (WNY Flash |Canada), front line powerhouse Abby Wambach (magicJack | USA), and speedy striker Kelly Smith (Breakers| England) will represent their countries as they compete for the coveted World Cup trophy. As a prelude to the season's start, WPS Founding Partner Citi will kick off its second season of Get Active with Citi Soccer Kids clinics, hosting its first this afternoon in Harlem, NY for 60 boys and girls from the local America Scores chapter in New York. Featuring appearances by Allie Long and Kendall Fletcher of Sky Blue FC, participants will work on their soccer skills while learning about the importance of sportsmanship, work ethic and the responsibility that goes along with being a good teammate.
