Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Announces Addition of Elite Soccer League

Sacramento, CA (February 9, 2012) – In a move to support women's soccer in America, and as a prelude to planned growth of a professional league in 2013, the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) has announced the creation of a special WPSL Elite League for the 2012 season. The league will be based in the East Coast and Midwest and will include squads from Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) teams The Boston Breakers and The Western New York Flash. The move will allow professional female soccer players from the WPS teams to remain in top form as the WPS moves toward resuming play in 2013. Current WPSL teams, The Chicago Red Stars of the Midwest-North Division and FC Indiana of the Midwest-South Division, will participate in the WPSL Elite League. More WPSL teams from the East will be added over the next few days.

Jerry Zanelli, WPSL Commissioner, said "The WPSL recognizes the importance of a professional women's soccer league in America and that it is critical to provide a showcase for these top women players, and to inspire young athletes."
 
The West Coast has commitments from San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Bay Area, and Seattle for 2013.
 
"We have put together a plan that will allow WPS teams individually to join the WPSL in the Elite League," said Zanelli. "Officially, they will not be professional teams, but would allow our top professional players to play in a highly competitive league.  The WPSL has many pro-level players and we have been exploring the idea of offering a pro-am division. The timing is right for us to step in and help women's soccer in the USA."
 
"No matter what eventually happens with the WPS, forcing these players to sit out a year would be a mistake," Zanelli said. "When the WPS suspended the 2012 season, it left them without a way to stay competitive.  Everyone wants to help these players. We all recognize this and are willing to work together to solve this immediate problem."
 
"Our main purpose was to find ways to continue to have the highest possible level of soccer for women in the United States," Zanelli continued, "and to help prepare for the return of professional women's soccer in 2013. We also wanted to make it financially viable for present WPSL teams to join the Elite League and raise their level of play."
 
Zanelli clarified that this was not a case of the WPS joining the WPSL; rather it will be these individual teams joining with WPSL teams to form a competitive league for 2012.
 
The new Elite League would have no restrictions on the types of players each team could roster; a team could be all professional players or could have a mix of professional and amateur players.
 
Currently two WPSL teams, the Orange County Waves and Bay Area Breeze, include both professional and amateur players.
 
Steady growth has been the motto of the WPSL. From its origin fifteen years ago, WPSL has grown from a handful of West Coast teams to the world's largest premier women's soccer league, with over 70 teams across the United States. On January 28, at the 2012 WPSL Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., the league planned the formation of a pro-am league for the 2013 season.
 
With the withdrawal of the WPS 2012 season, the WPSL decided to fast-track the development of the Elite League in the East and Mid-West. "This move is a way of continuing the growth of the WPSL pyramid that we have been working on for years," said Zanelli. "This year the WPSL formed a separate under 20 nation-wide league. We already had plans for the semi-pro league in 2013 when this opportunity presented itself. We certainly feel it is a good idea. It fits into our plans and we feel it fits into the WPS's plans as well by allowing their players to stay sharp."
 
This will be the first venture of the WPSL to establish its highest level league in the United States. "We are trying to learn from how the previous professional leagues were set up," said Zanelli. "We want to build this from the ground up. With these high-powered teams coming in to the Elite League, it will force the rest of our teams to improve their level of play. This will be the model for the West Coast."
 
The WPSL is organized with regional divisions, with regional championships leading to a final four playoff for the league championships. In 2011 Orange County Waves and Chicago Red Stars competed in the WPSL Championship, with Waves winning 2-1. The new Elite League will determine its champion and the championship weekend at a later date.
 
"We have said all along that we will do anything to help improve women's soccer in U.S." said Zanelli. "This is a step in keeping that process going."

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 70-plus team national semi-pro league competing in five conferences and is the largest women's soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in our effort to: bring affordable & quality family entertainment to the community; display positive role models for our youth; while, being a stepping stone for aspiring professional & international-level players.

For more information, visit our official website at http://www.wpsl.info, phone us at 1-800-854-0913 or contact us via email at media@wpslsoccer.com. You can also keep up with our league on our social media networking sites on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!!

Eurosport & SOCCER.COM is a Proud Partner of the WPSL, who feature a wide selection of top-of-the-line soccer merchandise. For more information, visit their official website by clicking HERE. Molten is the Official Championship Ball of the 2011 WPSL National Championship. Visit their official website at http://www.moltenusa.com for more information on their full line of products.

Media Note: WPSL Commissioner Jerry Zanelli is available for interviews upon request
Contact: Jerry Zanelli by email zanelli@earthlink.net