WPS to Expand Into Philadelphia

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) will expand to Philadelphia in 2010, the league announced Tuesday. The WPS begins its inaugural season next April and will consist of teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York-New Jersey, St. Louis and Washington. The league also could add an eighth franchise in time for the debut season.

WPS commissioner Tonya Antonucci acknowledged that the league already had signed a letter of intent to establish a franchise in Philadelphia. "Since signing on the dotted line with our initial seven investor groups in September of last year, we've had our sights set on adding an eighth team to the league," Antonucci said. "In Philadelphia, we have the perfect foundation for success, combining a strong operating group with the city's recent acquisition of an MLS team to create a prime market for women's soccer."

San Diego, Atlanta and the California Bay Area also have expressed interest in hosting a WPS franchise. Antonucci admitted that the league is open of adding an eighth team prior to the 2009 season. "Even with Philadelphia beginning play in 2010, we haven't ruled out the possibility of having an eighth WPS team play in the 2009 inaugural season," she said. "The league is exploring a number of solid expansion opportunities in other cities with the intention of adding another team by year's end."