Rowdies Launch WPSL Team in Partnership with Pinellas County United SC
January 16, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rowdies are investing in the future for our region's best female soccer players with the creation of the Rowdies Women, which will play its inaugural season in the WPSL this summer.
The WPSL was founded in 1997 as the premier national women's amateur league in the United States and Canada. The 2020 season will run from May to July and offer high-level competitive matches to the best female soccer players in Tampa Bay.
"Tampa Bay has an incredible pedigree for women's soccer and we're excited to do what we can to help grow that side of the game," Rowdies President Lee Cohen said. "We have a pair of World Cup winners in our backyard with Tiffeny Milbrett serving as Director of Coach and Player Development at the Tampa Bay United Rowdies Academy and Danielle Fotopoulos working as head coach at Eckerd College. We're excited to add the Rowdies Women to our organization and provide more players the chance to achieve their dreams."
Rowdies Women matches will be held at Al Lang Stadium with free admission to all. The Pinellas County United SC technical staff will organize the roster with direction from the Rowdies. Former Rowdies player Don Tobin, who has been active in women's soccer in the Tampa Bay area for decades, will coach the team.
"With this commitment, the Tampa Bay Rowdies will play a leading role in continuing to grow the women's game in the Tampa Bay area," Tobin said. "I'm very honored and proud to be part of the staff and part of an organization that believes in women's soccer."
The Rowdies Women are part of a new three-pronged approach to the Rowdies Youth Network, which aims to develop professional players. The three prongs are the Rowdies Women (run in association with Pinellas County United SC), the Rowdies U23s (run in association with Chargers SC) and the Tampa Bay United Rowdies Development Academy (run in association with Tampa Bay United.)
Those three prongs operate in conjunction with the Rowdies Youth Network, a collection of 22 athletic organizations throughout Tampa Bay. An estimated 80 percent of the Rowdies Women roster will be comprised of players from the Rowdies Youth Network. Tryout dates will be announced soon.
"This will also give female youth players in our local soccer community another pathway and opportunity to realize a dream to someday play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies organization," Pinellas County United SC Director of Soccer Operations Kai Velmer said.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from January 16, 2020
- Experienced Defender Lawrence Olum Joins the Miami FC - Miami FC
- FC Tulsa Signs Brazilian Defender Maicon da Silva Moreira - FC Tulsa
- STLFC Signs Goalkeeper John Berner - Saint Louis FC
- Real Monarchs Signs Midfielder Christopher Bermudez - Real Monarchs
- Return of the Mac: Steeves Returning for 2020 - Hartford Athletic
- Chad Burt and Eric Rudland Join Rowdies Technical Staff - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Alex Martinez Departs Independence - Charlotte Independence
- Independence Announce Initial Roster Moves for 2020 - Charlotte Independence
- 2020 New Mexico United Roster Continues Growing Ahead of Team's Second Season - New Mexico United
- SD Loyal Launches "SD Loyal 3-Pack" for Inaugural 2020 Season - San Diego Loyal
- Hounds Sign Defender Mark Lindstrom, Goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Rowdies Acquire Louis Lomas on Loan from Norwich City FC - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Rowdies Launch WPSL Team in Partnership with Pinellas County United SC - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- With Tryouts this Weekend, Participants Can Write Own Scripts - Orange County SC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
