Women's Soccer News: Women's Professional Soccer League Suspends 2012 Season

The WPS aimed to survive regardless of the turmoil and legal dispute with ousted owner Dan Borislow, whose magicJack team was terminated by Women's Professional Soccer. Borislow filed suit against the league in Palm Beach County Florida Circuit Court seeking reinstatement of the team.

Although Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) just completed the WPS Draft at the NSCAA annual convention a day after the MLS Super Draft, and had plans to make 2012 the most competitive and successful season to date, the league's Board of Governors voted Monday to suspend the season with hopes of resuming in 2013, the WPS announced.

The WPS Board of Governors voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with former magicJack owner Dan Borislow.

With an apparent deal in final discussions and several national sponsors locked in for the season, the WPS felt the only responsible step to take was to suspended the 2012 season, telling fans and players they are committed to coming back for 2013.

Did magicJack’s actions affect WPS sponsors so negatively? Did the league have to terminate, and was this strong ripple effect foreseeable? Can the WPS keep the interest of their fans and come back?

A media conference was held today with WPS CEO Jennifer O'Sullivan and Fitz Johnson from the Atlanta Beat.

Question:  Why did WPS suspend the 2012 season? 

Jennifer O'Sullivan: The League has been faced with a series of challenges and difficulties throughout the past year, and it is the culmination that has brought us to this point.

Question: How much of an impact has Dan Borislow of magicJack had? 

Jennifer O'Sullivan: Dan Borislow has been a lightening rod for a lot of those issues.

Question: After the success of the Women’s World Cup last year, and this year’s Olympics, there is a strong, developing fan base for Women’s soccer. How can the WPS drop this upcoming season?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: It has been a very difficult decision.

Question: Is this the beginning of WUSA-like fold?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: I hope not.

I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t tell you what a judge will decide, I can only tell you what our intent is, and I would be extremely heartbroken if we didn’t get back on the field in 2013.  

Fitz Johnson: I think it is very important that we all do all that we can to bring the WPSL back for the next year.

Question: Are you going to have to lay people off?

Fitz Johnson: Yes, we are going to have to let employees go. 

Question: Did lingering financial issues contribute to the decision to suspend for this season?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: Financial issues did exist. It would have been an irresponsible decision to do both, put on the season and deal with the league issues.

Question: What about the WPS players?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: It is very disheartening that the opportunity has been taken away from the players.  We will do everything we can to right the ship and to get on to play in 2013 for those players. Players are being released from their contracts and will be free to look for new employment. 

Question: Former magicJack player/coach Abby Wambach has come out in support of magicJack. High-level and well-recognized female players such as Hope Solo and Abby Wambach were not going to be able to play in the upcoming season. Was this a factor in the decision to suspend?

Fitz Johnson: No, we would love to have all those players, but in an Olympic year it is difficult time-wise for the players. This was a personal decision for those players and not a factor.

Question: Is there the possibility that magicJack will be part of the 2013 WPS season?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: No, I do not see that it is possibility that Magic Jack will be involved in the next season.

Question: How much time has the magicJack situation taken? 

Jennifer O'Sullivan: In my short 4 months as CEO of WPS, the bulk of my time has been spent on the issues with magicJack and the sanctioning issues with USSF.

It would have been unfair to put together a season with this hanging over our heads.

Time for growing the WPS business and developing the game just hasn’t been there.

Question: Why not just go to arbitration?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: The league is exploring all options. What the ownership and league has been struggling with is to put the focus back on the players and the game. We were willing to explore a solution.

Question: What did MagicJack and Dan do that was so terrible to get terminated?

Fitz Johnson: The WPS has a set of basic rules in our operating rules and magicJack was not complying.

If Dan didn’t want to promote the league in a positive way, he should be terminated.

Jennifer O'Sullivan: WPS ownership did feel that, once and for all, the magicJack issue had to be resolved.

Continuation of injunction hearing this week will review the remainder of issues.

Question: Did you ever think this could have happened when the decision to terminate magicJack was made?

Fitz Johnson: No, not possible. If everyone was thinking about what was best for women's soccer, never would we have envisioned this. 

Question:  What were the issues with magicJack?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: There were a number of issues, all outlined in the public filing for the court case, but primarily revolving around an owner who does not have regard for other owners. His actions were detrimental to the league overall, and it is difficult to overcome that.

Question: What happens with stadium leases?

Fitz Johnson: This is up to the individual teams. This was a very difficult decision for the owners.  I can’t express how difficult it was.

Question: How can WPS keep fan support alive, if this is only a year off?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: We recognize the importance of keeping those relationships with the fans, and we want to continue to have them be supportive of us when we return in 2013.

Question: What is the commitment from the owners that they will be returning for 2013?

Jennifer O'Sullivan: I think everyone has that goal in mind and that is the intent.

As a final thought…here are some comments from Jennifer O'Sullivan

"Growing this game is a long road and women’s sports faces tremendous challenges.  Even WPS 2013 will have those challenges. As long as we have the support of our fans and the owners, are there tweaks that can make it more attractive to sponsors? There is a lot of work that can be done, anything that we can do to remain constant and supportive while we are on this hiatus."

"It is always a tough sell to get people to support women’s soccer."

"It is always easy for people on the outside to think that this was a quick decision. I can tell you from being on the front lines, it was not."

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