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.
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.
Only weeks ago, it appeared that area fans of women's soccer would be without a team to cheer
for in 2012.
Now, they'll have a choice between two.
On Tuesday, Aztec MA (formerly Boston Aztec) announced that it will join the newly-formed WPSL
Elite League. Although the team is the latest team to join the Elite League, it is, by no means, a
stranger to WPSL.
Philadelphia Independence head coach Paul Riley has decided that he will not field a New York
Fury team in the new WPSL Elite Division.
Riley told Big Apple Soccer via email, "Decided not to put NY Fury into Elite part of WPSL. Not
enough time to get housing, facilities etc all sorted out."
Riley is director of football for the Fury, which already has two WPSL teams, when he is not
coaching the Independence.
Add the New England Mutiny to the growing list of teams joining the newly-formed WPSL Elite
League.
On Thursday, the Springfield (Mass.)-based squad announced on its official website that it has
accepted an invitation to play in the league. The Mutiny is the third team from the Commonwealth to
join the league, after former WPS member Boston Breakers and Aztec MA (formerly Boston Aztec)
joined in the last seven days.
Despite Women's Professional Soccer suspending operations for the 2012 season, Leslie
Osborne (Brookfield/Waukesha Catholic Memorial) will continue her professional soccer
career.
The 28-year-old midfielder re-signed with the Boston Breakers, who will play in the new Women's
Premier Soccer League Elite League.
