CHICAGO (Jan. 16, 2007) — Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer and the W-League’s FC Indiana have joined forces to grow the sport of women’s soccer in the Midwest the two teams announced today.
The yet to be named Chicago franchise, who will start play at Toyota Park in 2009, will be FC Indiana’s Exclusive Development Partner in the new top level professional women’s soccer league. The teams will benefit by sharing commercial and technical opportunities.
“We are excited to partner with a club that has been a dominant force in the WPSL the last several years and is positioned to be a leader in the W-League this year,” said Chicago President and CEO Peter Wilt.
The partnership was enabled by the shared ownership in the teams. Gary Weaver and FC Indiana Coach Shek Borkowski own FC Indiana and are also shareholders in Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer.
The relationship will begin immediately as FC Indiana will assist Chicago with identification of future players for the professional team. FC Indiana will serve as a team where players can be trained, developed, and identified for the pro league draft. These players will be in a developmental environment established by FC Indiana Coach Shek Borkowski, which will allow them to gain the tools needed to step up to the professional league that will launch next year.
FC Indiana, which won the WPSL title and the US Open Cup in 2005 and repeated as the League National Champions in 2007, will benefit from an annual exhibition game in Indianapolis, coach and staff education programs, and other business and soccer elements.
“We are delighted to be entering the new league this season having formed an exclusive partnership with the Chicago franchise,” said FC Indiana Executive Vice President Anton Maksimov. “I’m especially thrilled for our current players and for all the aspiring girls and women playing soccer in Indiana who will now have a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand the highest level of the game and, hopefully, one day don a jersey of what promises to be the leading women’s soccer organization in the world.”
“This is a great opportunity for both teams, because I will be able to observe players prior to the 2009 draft and Chicago’s first season,” said Chicago General Manager Marcia McDermott.
Once Chicago starts training, FC Indiana and Chicago’s relationship will include an annual exhibition match in Indianapolis as well as some closed-door practice games at the Chicago team’s training base. This will allow the coaching staffs of both teams to create a mutually beneficial developmental relationship for both sets of players.
Other benefits for FC Indiana include a position on Chicago’s Advisory Board, access to Chicago players for appearances and coaching opportunities, and sponsorship sales by Chicago’s staff.
Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer became a charter member of the new women’s professional soccer league on September 4, 2007. Chicago, which has a unique partnership with the Illinois Women’s Soccer League, will be joined in the League by Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis and Washington. The league kicks off in spring, 2009. The Chicago franchise will play its home games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.
About FC Indiana:
Founded in 2000, FC Indiana has become a leader in women’s soccer in North America. The club’s women’s team won the 2005 and 2007 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) National Championship titles as well as the 2005 US Open Cup. Its women’s team is currently ranked number 5 in the world according to an independent site www.womensworldfootball.com. In the 2008 season, FC Indiana will compete in the Midwest Division of the Central Conference in the USL W-League.
About Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer:
Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer became a charter member of the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) on September 4, 2007. Chicago, which has a unique partnership with the Illinois Women’s Soccer League, will be joined in the new League by Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, DC. The league kicks off in spring, 2009. The Chicago franchise will play its home games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.
About USL W-League:
Providing the highest level of women’s soccer in the US and Canada, USL W-League is comprised of 41 teams split into four conferences. The top women players throughout the world along with the best collegiate players compete in the League, which is recognized as the elite competition for women and which presents affordable family entertainment to many fans as well as the educational opportunities for young players in each of the team locations.
About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS):
The mission of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. Play starts in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.
More information on:
Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer: www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com
FC Indiana: www.fcindiana.com
USL W-League: wleague.uslsoccer.com
Toyota Park: www.toyotapark.com
