New York, January 17, 2008—The new women’s professional soccer league, now christened with a name, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), also has a general counsel, Vicki Veenker, currently of counsel at Shearman & Sterling. Veenker will remain of counsel at Shearman & Sterling, where she is an intellectual property attorney, while splitting her time with WPS.
The announcement of the new league, along with the league’s executive team, came today at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) annual meeting in Baltimore. Tonya Antonucci, WPS commissioner, made the announcement, citing the pro bono work contributed by Veenker and her firm.
“Shearman & Sterling’s legal work has been key to our ability to put this business together,” Antonucci said. “Vicki put in place and then led the Shearman relationship, and now we’re delighted to have her talents and enthusiasm on our executive team. We know she will be a substantial asset to the league.”
Veenker, who as a Shearman & Sterling partner founded the firm’s intellectual property practice in the Bay Area, began her work with the Women’s Soccer Initiative, which developed the business model for the league, two years ago.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to help launch this league,” said Veenker, who worked with a Shearman & Sterling team on a broad range of legal issues during the league’s planning stages. “I look forward both to the challenging and unique legal work presented by starting up this national business and to working with the league’s executive team and the owners operating teams across the country. It’s fulfilling to create a league that will give many of the world’s best female athletes a place to compete professionally, elevate the game, and serve as role models for our youth.”
Since the league was formalized four months ago, Veenker has been involved with the operations under way at the WPS office in San Francisco and the team offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington DC
In addition to the WPS executive leadership, teams have also been active in hiring staff. Former Women’s National Team head coach Tony DiCicco was named as the head coach of the Boston Breakers. The Washington Freedom, meanwhile, appointed Joe Quinn as team president and general manager, Jim Gabarra as head coach, Louise Waxler as director of operations, and Clyde Watson as assistant coach. Likewise, Chicago’s WPS team announced Marcia McDermott, former coach for the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) Carolina Courage, as general manager.
“Momentum is definitely in our favor as we draw closer to the inaugural WPS season in 2009,” Antonucci said. “The next year promises to be an exciting one for women’s soccer, as our nation’s elite athletes compete against the best international stars in the Beijing Olympics with the knowledge that they’ll come home to the opportunity to play professionally. As the players prepare, we’ll be working diligently toward the 2009 kick-off with more league and team news, facility announcements, and community events.”
About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)
The mission of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. Play kicks off in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.
For additional information contact:
Ron Brandsdorfer | New York | T +1.212.848.5081 |