WPS 2012 Season Cancelled

Around a week ago, the U.S Women’s national soccer team was celebrating their victory against Canada, winning the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. It was a great day for women’s soccer; the game was played in front of a sold-out crowd, Abby Wambach moved to No. 2 on the all-time goal scoring list, and the U.S. Women’s National Team had just secured their place in the 2012 London Olympics.

With the large support the U.S National Team received throughout the Olympic qualifying tournament, the WPS players were excited to see what their season would bring, which was planned to start in a couple of months. However, the women’s professional soccer league has cancelled its 2012 season.

The league’s board of governors voted to suspend operations in 2012 “to permit the league to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the league as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.” This owner has been named as the former magicjack owner Dan Borislow, and he has been engaged in a legal battle with the WPS after the league terminated his Florida-based franchise last year.

Only a month after the WPS terminated his ownership rights on October 25, 2011, Borislow filed a lawsuit looking for reinstatement of the team. It appeared only a couple of weeks ago, that this legal battle had been stopped, with a legal compromise reportedly reached that would have allowed magicjack team to play exhibition games against other WPS teams. However, only recently, a judge ruled in favor of Borislow in stating that WPS did not follow procedure in eliminating the club. The representatives for the WPS considered various options to try and keep things going; settlement options, discussing union legal action to intervene in the lawsuit, but they just couldn’t manage to make things work.

Reaction by Kelly Smith, England’s all-time leading scorer, and Sky Blue FC player:

“It was a total shock to receive the email from the league…it’s a big year for women’s football with the Euros and Olympics”.

Kelly Smith, and all former WPS players are now searching for new clubs following the termination of the league, many of whom need to be playing regularly in preparation of the Olympic games.

The future of the league is uncertain. With the US women competing in the Olympics, this will be another chance to capture the nation’s attention, and possibly instill hope for the WPS in 2013.