Those looking for hopeful news about women's professional soccer in the US may have been heartened by the announcement on Thursday that Western New York Flash and Boston Breakers had officially committed to participate in the Women's Premier Soccer League's new Elite Division. As PSP wrote last Wednesday, WPSL president Jerry Zanelli had extended an offer to WPS teams to join the new league for the 2012 season so that players could maintain fitness and form while WPS worked on the business of re-launching the league in 2013.

Those looking for hopeful news about women's professional soccer in the US may have been heartened by the announcement on Thursday that Western New York Flash and Boston Breakers had officially committed to participate in the Women's Premier Soccer League's new Elite Division. As PSP wrote last Wednesday, WPSL president Jerry Zanelli had extended an offer to WPS teams to join the new league for the 2012 season so that players could maintain fitness and form while WPS worked on the business of re-launching the league in 2013.

The Breakers are back.

Less than two weeks after Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) folded its tent for the 2012 season, the Breakers announced on Thursday that it will compete in the new Elite Division of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) this year.

"The WPSL recognizes the importance of a professional women's soccer league in America," WPSL Commissioner Jerry Zanelli said in a statement.

In the wake of decision to suspend the 2012 WPS season, the Boston Breakers announced that they exploring "other options" for fielding a team this year.

On Monday, the team issued a statement on its home page that while the organization remains committed to restarting WPS, they would not rule out the possibility of entering the team into the Women's Premier Soccer League of the USL-sponsored W-League for 2012.

In the wake of decision to suspend the 2012 WPS season, the Boston Breakers announced that they exploring "other options" for fielding a team this year.

On Monday, the team issued a statement on its home page that while the organization remains committed to restarting WPS, they would not rule out the possibility of entering the team into the Women's Premier Soccer League of the USL-sponsored W-League for 2012.

The owners of the five-team Women's Professional Soccer have voted to suspend the 2012 season, citing the costs associated with the legal wranglings involving magicJack owner Dan Borislow as the primary culprit. A formal announcement is set for Monday at 1pm ET.

In a league issued e-mail that was sent to the players on Monday morning, the owners attempted to find a way to circumvent costs of the lawsuit, but ultimately, could not find a way.

Former Boston Breakers (WPS) General Manager, Andy Crossley, runs a great site called Fun While It Lasted where I love to go to see the great history and information he digs up about minor league franchises that have come and gone in the American sports landscape. I especially enjoy anytime he posts something regarding soccer teams that once played in the D.

Philadelphia Union

Le Toux spotted with Tim Ream at Bolton's win over Liverpool on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kyle Scott and crossingbroad.com

A report from The Bolton News on Friday quotes Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle on Sebastien Le Toux, "I've had some decent reports on him. He's very industrious, hard working and looks a very good team player, which is what I'm all about.

It started as a soccer game. It ended with a football score.

Former Boston Breakers' striker Amy Rodriguez grabbed a record-tying five goals in the United States' record-setting 14-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic in the first game of Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Independence

On Wednesday, the Independence finally made official what has been rumored for weeks, that former Atlanta Beat midfielder/striker Lori Chalupny has signed with the team. Chalupny is a former USWNT player who has been capped over 90 times for the senior squad.

It turns out that you really can go home again. Just ask Bianca D'Agostino.

The 23-year-old Longmeadow, Mass. native was signed by the Boston Breakers, the team announced on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

D'Agostino was taken 18th overall by Philadelphia in last year's WPS Draft before she signed on with Atlanta during the 2011 season.

It turns out that you really can go home again. Just ask Bianca D'Agostino.

The 23-year-old Longmeadow, Mass. native was signed by the Boston Breakers, the team announced on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

D'Agostino was taken 18th overall by Philadelphia in last year's WPS Draft before she signed on with Atlanta during the 2011 season.

While MLS has in the last few years reached a level of stability that will hopefully give us a break from our perennial worrying about "the future of the game", the women's pro game is still struggling for survival in this country. The Women's National Team is currently preparing for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament this month and the roster is officially listed as:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Hope Solo (out of contract)

DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Atlanta Beat), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Atlanta Beat), Heather Mitts (out of contract), Kelley O'Hara (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (out of contract), Becky Sauerbrunn (Sky Blue FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (out of contract), Tobin Heath (out of contract), Lori Lindsey (Western New York Flash), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (out of contract), Amy Rodriguez (out of contract)

FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (out of contract), Sydney Leroux (Atlanta beat), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Abby Wambach (out of contract)

That's 10 players out of 20 who don't currently have a club team, which is remarkable for a country that has dominated the sport internationally for decades.

photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

The CONCACAF Olympic Women's qualifying tournament takes place later this month, and we now know who will be representing the U.S. women's national team in it.

Head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 20-player squad for the eight-team tournament in Vancouver, B.

The Breakers searched far and near to find its four newest recruits for the 2012 season during Friday's WPS Draft.

Forwards Stephanie Ochs (San Diego), Courtney Jones (North Carolina) and Jessica Luscinski (Boston University), along with defender Melinda Mercado (Oklahoma State), all had their names called by the club at the Kansas City Convention Center.

The Breakers searched far and near to find its four newest recruits for the 2012 season during Friday's WPS Draft.

Forwards Stephanie Ochs (San Diego), Courtney Jones (North Carolina) and Jessica Luscinski (Boston University), along with defender Melinda Mercado (Oklahoma State), all had their names called by the club at the Kansas City Convention Center.

UCLA's Sydney Leroux was the top pick of the Atlanta Beat during the 2012 WPS Draft on Friday.

Forward Sydney Leroux, who currently is training with the U.S. Women's National Team in Los Angeles trying to make the squad for the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, was selected as the top pick by the Atlanta Beat during Friday's 2012 WPS Draft at the NSCAA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the roster for the January training camp in Los Angeles, after which she will name the 20-player roster for Olympic Qualifying being held in Vancouver, B.C. from Jan, 19-29. Sundhage will bring 20 players to Canada, but will only be able to suit up 18 per game.

Despite the numerous struggles WPS was faced with in 2011, the Boston Breakers remained a solid squad. Thanks to an impressive post-World Cup run, the club earned its second-consecutive playoff appearance. Although they may have fallen short of the Championship game, 2011 was a remarkable year nevertheless for the Breakers.

Despite the numerous struggles WPS was faced with in 2011, the Boston Breakers remained a solid squad. Thanks to an impressive post-World Cup run, the club earned its second-consecutive playoff appearance. Although they may have fallen short of the Championship game, 2011 was a remarkable year nevertheless for the Breakers.

The Boston Breakers have signed veteran U.S. National Team midfielder Heather O'Reilly, the club announced today. Terms of deal were not realesed.

O'Reilly, 26, is a three year WPS verteran having last played with Sky Blue FC. She usually features on the flank and has contributed four goals and 11 assists in her domestic career.

The Boston Breakers have signed veteran U.S. National Team midfielder Heather O'Reilly, the club announced today. Terms of deal were not realesed.

O'Reilly, 26, is a three year WPS verteran having last played with Sky Blue FC. She usually features on the flank and has contributed four goals and 11 assists in her domestic career.

By Charlie Corr
Eclipse Select staff
CHICAGO -- Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club player and coach Leslie Osborne was one of many Women's Professional Soccer players waiting to hear about the league's future this week. And for the past several months, Osborne's WPS franchise, the Boston Breakers, has been trying to secure additional ownership after majority owner Gary Loveman put his share of the organization on the market.

By Charlie Corr
Eclipse Select staff
CHICAGO -- Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club player and coach Leslie Osborne was one of many Women's Professional Soccer players waiting to hear about the league's future this week. And for the past several months, Osborne's WPS franchise, the Boston Breakers, has been trying to secure additional ownership after majority owner Gary Loveman put his share of the organization on the market.

Having faced uncertainty about its future in recent weeks and months, WPS appears to have avoided doomsday. At least for now.

WPS reportedly received conditional Division 1 sanctioning for 2012 from U.S. Soccer's board of directors on Monday evening despite it only having five teams and the minimum for Division I status typically being eight.

Breakers' midfielders Meghan Klingenberg and Keelin Winters were among 31 players called into U.S. Women's National Team camp by head coach Pia Sundhage on Wednesday. The camp will run from Dec. 3-20, and will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Klingenberg started in 10 games for the Breakers in 2011 after the team acquired her from the now-defunct magicJack squad on June 1.

Women's soccer in America has encountered another setback. The top-tier female league in the United States, Women's Professional Soccer, is facing a loss of sanctioning by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a Division I league. Entering its fourth season, WPS "terminated" its Florida franchise, magicJack, bringing the number of teams down from six to five in early November.

Last year D.C. United and Washington Freedom players helped raise awareness of the Let's Move campaign in Washington, D.C.
South Lawn Series Continues at White House | Oct. 13, 2010
The White House will be teaming up with professional soccer players again as Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) has announced six players will join First Lady Michelle Obama in hosting a Let's Move!

Today US Soccer announced the roster for the women's team when they visit KC to take on Canada on September 17th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The roster contains all 21 players from the USA's run to the World Cup final this year in Germany. It'll be a nice doubleheader for those wanting to go out on that Saturday as following the US game they'll be showing the Sporting KC vs Real Salt Lake game.

Amy LePeilbet --
Getty ImagesEclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Crystal Lake, Ill., native Amy LePeilbet was called up to the U.S. Women's National Team roster on Monday as part of a WNT "Celebration Series."
The Americans prepare for matches against Canada on Sept. 17 at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Game Time: 4 pm, Saturday

TV: Sort of? Tape delay of the game will be shown on CSN at 11 pm but you can watch the webcast live on Fox Soccer.

Before we get too far into this, let me confirm. The Independence are in fact playing a team called magicJack for the right to play Western New York in the WPS Final.

BOCA RATON, FL Keelin Winters' 31st minute goal wasn't enough to lead the Breakers back to the WPS semifinals this season, as the Breakers fell to magicJack 3-1 Wednesday night at FAU Soccer Stadium.

The rookie midfielder's tally leveled it after Abby Wambach's first goal gave the home club the early lead in the 6th minute.

South Florida's WPS team MagicJack advanced to the next phase of the playoffs with a 3 to 1 win over the Boston Breakers. MagicJack will now face the Philadelphia Independence this coming Saturday August 20 at 4 pm. You can watch that game live on Fox Soccer channel or online.
MagicJack goals were scored by Abby Wambach at the 6' and later in the 57' off of a penalty with Megan Rapinoe scoring off of a Christen Press pass in the 61'.

Live from Gillette Stadium, join the New England Soccer Today staff covering the New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo MLS regular season match and the Boston Breakers at magicJack WPS Playoff match. Coverage starts at 7:30P.M.

MLS and WPS: New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, Boston Breakers vs.

Live from Gillette Stadium, join the New England Soccer Today staff covering the New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo MLS regular season match and the Boston Breakers at magicJack WPS Playoff match. Coverage starts at 7:30P.M.

MLS and WPS: New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, Boston Breakers vs.

We haven't even hit September yet, but we're already getting mid-week soccer schedules loaded with incredible match-ups. Today is one of those special days.

FC Barcelona takes on Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup second leg today, with Barcelona having earned a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Madrid.

CAMRBIDGE, Mass. With their playoff hopes on the line, the Breakers got two goals from Lauren Cheney as their 2-0 victory over Sky Blue FC earned them a trip to the WPS postseason on the final day of the regular season.

Cheney, who only recently came back from an ankle injury she suffered earlier this summer, scored in the 1st and 18th minutes while Alyssa Naeher made seven saves on the night to help steer Boston to its second consecutive WPS playoff appearance.

The Strikers proved their victory last week versus Edmonton was no fluke by taking out league leader Carolina Railhawks 2-1 with 10 men and a lot of heart! Over 3,000 fans showed up to a game threatened by rain and were delighted to see a hard fought Strikers dominated game. As an omen of good fortune the sky turned red and yellow, perhaps a sign of things to come (See picture).

Game time: Sunday, 6 pm

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

The Independence take on Sky Blue for the second time in two weeks on Sunday at Widener University. The game will be the last regular season home game of the season, and final game at Widener University with the Independence hosting their playoff game at PPL Park.

Check out the schedule for this weekend's Women's Professional Soccer matches. Be sure to catch your favorite WNT players in action!
Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011
Atlanta Beat vs. Western New York Flash
KSU Soccer Stadium – Kennesaw, Ga. (Ticket Info)
7 p.m. ET
Western New York Flash has clinched a playoff berth and currently sits in second place in WPS standings.