Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Sounders Women FC sign Hope Solo and Sydney Leroux

This is very cool news.  Hope Solo is arguably the best female keeper in the world and is a star on the U.S. Women's National Team.  She is from Richland, Washington, and played at the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!).  Sydney Leroux is a bright, young star on the USWNT.  She is originally from Surrey, British Columbia, but because she has a parent with American citizenship she is eligible for the U.S. team (which has not made her popular in Canada).  In her second game with the USWNT she scored 5 goals against Guatemala (the U.S. won 13-0).

Seattle Sounders Women FC is brand-new.  Last year the club was affiliated with a team called the Tacoma Tide.  They play in a league called the W-League, which has teams across the U.S. and Canada.  The league is similar to the league the Seattle Sounders played in before they entered MLS.  The official major league of women's soccer is called the WPS.  However, the WPS is on hiatus in 2012 due to poor management.  In 2011 the league only had 6 teams, and all were on the east coast.  The future of the WPS is unknown.

The Sounders Women's season will begin in May.  The team will play about 14 games, plus exhibitions.  I assume they will play st Starfire in Tukwila.  Obviously Solo and Leroux aren't joining the W-League because of the money.  It's an opportunity for them to play and grow the sport of professional women's soccer.  We all know the Northwest has the best soccer fans in the country.  I want to encourage people to go out this summer and see the Sounders Women play.  You'll be seeing world-class athletes.  You'll be proving that Seattle, at least, is ready to support a major league women's soccer team.  And of course you'll be proving that Sounders fans are the best, most loyal fans in the sport of soccer.

Visit the Sounders Women FC website here.  Check back for updates as the team gets ready for its upcoming season.

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