USL News Release
Thursday, January 2, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The Ottawa Fury have been selected as hosts of the 2012 USL W-League Championship presented by UMBRO, it was announced today. Ottawa will welcome the three W-League conference champions July 27-29 to the Algonquin College Soccer Complex for the semifinals and final featuring some of the world’s top amateur, international and professional women’s soccer stars.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the Ottawa Fury hosting the 2012 W-League Championship,” W-League Senior Director Amanda Duffy said. “As they have demonstrated in hosting all rounds of playoff tournaments during the past decade, the Fury will undoubtedly provide all the necessary components of a successful championship. With the support of the Ottawa community and mass of soccer fans in Canada who continue to be great supporters of the women’s game, we look forward to an exciting and extremely competitive final four.”
As hosts of the W-League Championship, the Fury receive a bye into the semifinals. The 18th W-League season will feature 30 teams in three regional conferences that will see 11 teams advance to the postseason with one champion advancing from each conference. The three conference champions will join the Fury in Ottawa in a ‘final four’ format championship. The semifinals will be played on Friday, July 27 with the winners meeting for the 2012 W-League Championship on Sunday, July 29.
"The Ottawa Fury are proud to partner with the W-League in hosting the 2012 W-League Championships presented by UMBRO," Fury owner and CEO John Pugh said. "Canada’s capital has proved itself time and time again a great city in which to stage major soccer events. We were thrilled to host in 2004 and are excited to have the opportunity to once again provide a great experience for the teams and fans alike."
UMBRO is serving as presenting sponsor of the W-League Championship for the third consecutive season. Last season, the Seattle Sounders Women hosted the event, which saw the Atlanta Silverbacks claim their first W-League Championship against the regular season champion Fury.
The 2011 W-League Championship had the second-highest viewership for all USL FOX Soccer broadcasts in 2011 with more than 27,000 fans tuned in. The 2012 W-League Championship Final will also be televised across North America on FOX Soccer.
Ottawa previously hosted the W-League Championship in 2004, with the Vancouver Whitecaps taking the crown. Since joining the W-League in 2000, the Fury have amassed a record of 116-23-16 collecting eight division titles, five conference championships, six final four appearances and three appearances in the championship final. Having not lost at home in more than three years (23-0-2), the Fury are hopeful that home-field advantage will help lead them to their first W-League title.
The Algonquin College Soccer Complex is the year-round home of the Ottawa Fury. The $5.4 million soccer-specific facility has all of the amenities for both players and fans. The facility provides an intimate environment for fans and offers tremendous visibility for sponsors.
The W-League is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans across North America. The caliber of W-League talent was well represented in the recent CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers where all 20 Canadian National team members and 15 of the 20 U.S. National team members boasted W-League experience including 2011 W-League Rookie of the Year Sydney Leroux and Ottawa Fury Youth Program graduate and W-League striker Christina Julien.