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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Los Angeles Sol folds after first WPS season

Associated Press

NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Sol of Women’s Professional Soccer folded Thursday after one season, despite the star power of world player of the year Marta and a successful campaign that ended in the championship game.

The franchise had been under league custody since November, when Anschutz Entertainment Group gave back its ownership stake. The league had been negotiating with prospective owners, but a deal fell through and commissioner Tonya Antonucci decided to shutter the club.

“We’ve been in several weeks of negotiations with an ownership group and unfortunately it fell through at the last minute,” Antonucci told the Associated Press. “In terms of the viability of Los Angeles as a WPS market, we don’t think that’s in question. Suspending operations doesn’t mean we won’t be trying to find new ownership for 2011.”

The Sol drew a crowd of 14,832 to their opener last season, and ended up averaging more than 6,200 fans for home games at Home Depot Center. They finished the regular season 12-3-5, the best record in the league, before losing 1-0 to Sky Blue FC in the championship game.

Players will be dispersed during a draft Thursday, with expansion franchises Atlanta and Philadelphia holding the first two selections. Both teams will begin play in April, giving the league eight teams and a balanced schedule.