WPS Expansion Moving To An Early Season Philly Beat

Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) released a list of some of its home openers for the upcoming 2010 season, and one match that certainly peeks my curiosity, is that Sunday, April 11 side between the expansion Philadelphia Independence and the upstart Atlanta Beat .

The new kids on the block are, of course, one full season behind their league sisters, so it will be interesting to see which team’s front office made all the right moves and pulled all the right strings in their respective efforts to put the best product on the field. I know the folks in Philadelphia feel extremely confident with the work they have put in while building their franchise.

As a matter of fact Philadelphia began scouting players last spring, long before the Inaugural WPS season ever kicked off, so needless to say they may have a slight jump on Atlanta. 

By the way, that game between the two expansion clubs will take place at West University's, John A Farrell Stadium, making it a home game for the Independence.

League play will actually begin with a full slate of games on the weekend of Apr. 10-11, two weeks later than the start of the inaugural season in 2009. The Idea was to accommodate warmer weather and avoid playing on the Easter holiday weekend. It will be the first time ever that four WPS games take place over one weekend.

2010 WPS Home Openers (home team listed first)

Saturday, April 10
Washington Freedom vs. Boston Breakers                  Maryland SoccerPlex

Sunday, April 11
Philadelphia Independence vs. Atlanta Beat                John A. Farrell Stadium
Saint Louis Athletica vs. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)      Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park
Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) vs. Chicago Red Stars               Yurcak Field *Live on FSC (6pm ET)
    
Saturday, April 17
Chicago Red Stars vs. Saint Louis Athletica                Toyota Park
FC Gold Pride (Bay Area) vs. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)      Castro Valley Athletic Stadium

Sunday, April 18
Boston Breakers vs. Philadelphia Independence           Harvard Stadium *Live on FSC (6pm ET)  

For more information, visit  www.womensprosoccer.com .