Hours before the Los Angeles Sol made the official announcement, news of the team’s disbandment spread like wildfire. It also drew speculation that Womens Professional Soccer was in dire straits. How could one of the most recognized teams in the league that had the best player in the world in Brazilian international Marta all the sudden cease operations?

That question was answered Thursday by WPS: “After several weeks of negotiations with a potential new ownership group fell through at the last minute, Women’s Professional Soccer discontinued operations of the Los Angeles Sol on Thursday.”

The Sol’s initial owner, Anschutz Entertainment Group, gave back its ownership stake in the team to the league in November. Since then, WPS looked for a new owner for the team. But despite several weeks of negotiations with a potential new ownership group, the deal never went through, thus ending operations of the Sol.

In 2009, the Sol averaged a league-high number of fans (more than 6,200 at home) and finished at the top of the table with a 12-3-5 record. With players like Marta, Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama, Canadian keeper Karina LeBlanc (league-best 12 shutouts), and U.S. Women’s national team members Shannon Boxx and Stephanie Cox, the Sol drew record crowds at most away matches.

“I was sad personally because we really liked the Sol. We played two exciting games against them last year,” Boston Breakers General Manager Andy Crossley said shortly after Thursday’s official announcement. “They were great games with great crowds. The Sol had a lot of things going for them. They had a great team on the field. LA proved that it was a good WPS market. But in a franchise model, everyone has its own unique situation.”

If a team ran into financial problems in the previous women’s professional soccer league – WUSA – it came down on the entire league. Now in the WPS, each team is its own entity. Boston’s ownership group is made up of Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman, Lyman Bullard (Managing Owner of the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League), Alex Zecca, Louis Hernandez, a silent partner, and managing partner, Michael Stoller.

“I have the good fortune to work right with the managing partner,” Crossley said. “All along, they’ve got a high commitment to the team and the league. We’ve got confident and committed investors behind us.”

Thursday, Feb. 4, the WPS will hold its first-ever Dispersal Draft where the league’s eight teams will select the Sol’s 19 players. The Atlanta Beat have the first pick in the draft, followed by the Philadelphia Independence.

“The rosters are going to change in a way they weren’t anticipated,” Crossley said. “We had a conference call, (Head Coach) Tony (DiCicco), (Assistant Coach) Lisa (Cole), and myself. We talked about the options out there. In Boston, we have attack issues. I think we’re looking for value. We pretty much know what our international roster is going to be, so we’re probably not in the market there.”

Crossley is confident that WPS will continue to grow. He’s starting to see interest increase from last year.

“We’re up 20 percent in ticket sales,” Crossley said. “I feel, locally, interest is growing here. I would say the league has certainly picked up momentum from last year.”

“I can’t wait. I think we’ve got a really exciting team this year. Tony and Lisa are happy the way the draft turned out. I think now we have an opportunity to add quality players in the dispersal draft. It’s going to be very, very competitive in training camp.

“Having an eight-team league, means every weekend there’s not going to be a team with a bye. And we won’t have to play a lot of midweek Wednesday games.
Dispersal Draft – Feb. 4, 2010

Round 1

1. Atlanta Beat

2. Philadelphia Independence

3. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)

4. Chicago Red Stars

5. Boston Breakers

6. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)

7. Washington Freedom

8. Saint Louis Athletica

Round 2

9. Saint Louis Athletica

10. Washington Freedom

11. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)

12. Boston Breakers

13. Chicago Red Stars

14. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)

15. Philadelphia Independence

16. Atlanta Beat

Round 3

17. Atlanta Beat

18. Philadelphia Independence

19. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)

20. Chicago Red Stars

21. Boston Breakers

22. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)

23. Washington Freedom

24. Saint Louis Athletica

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