The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) will feature in 2011 two teams familiar to American soccer fans: FC Dallas and the Chicago Red Stars. Well, the latter may not be called the Red Stars, but Red Stars Owner Arnim Whisler is involved in the ownership of the WPSL team.
Holding up the official unveiling of the team’s name is some jockeying between WPS and the Chicago team over the use of the name, “Red Stars.” The team still hopes to return to WPS in 2012, so there is some concern over protecting the use of the name. For now, the team is listed as “Chicago F.C.” on the WPSL’s site.
Also included in the WPSL’s 2011 plans is FC Dallas, which will be connected to its brother club in MLS. Unlike the confusion over the W-League’s D.C. United Women, which may only be very loosely connected to D.C. United’s MLS side, the FC Dallas side will be integrated into the top of the club’s youth pyramid.
The news comes at a time when buzz of synergy between MLS and WPS is at an all-time high.
Other Saturday Readings: Check out my story in the Syracuse Post-Standard on the Atlanta Beat’s connection to Syracuse University’s women’s soccer team.
