SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11 /EMWNews/ -- With the 2008 Olympic Games

underway and many fans wondering what's next for their favorite female

soccer players, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that it

has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to expand to Atlanta, Ga. in 2010, the

League's second year of play. Atlanta joins Philadelphia as an expected

2010 WPS expansion city, while host cities named to date for the inaugural

2009 season include Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New

York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. Meanwhile, the League continues to

explore additional potential franchises for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.



    Atlanta entrepreneur T. Fitz Johnson, former CEO of Eagle Group

International, LLC, leads the local WPS ownership group and is slated to

serve as the team's managing partner. A member of the National Soccer

Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Johnson holds an Advanced National

Diploma from the organization and has extensive ties to soccer at the

youth, collegiate, amateur and professional levels.



    "Atlanta is well-known throughout the country as being a solid soccer

city filled with talented players and enthusiastic fans, so we've had our

eye on Atlanta as an expansion market for many months," said Tonya

Antonucci, WPS commissioner. "The League is fortunate to have Fitz on

board, as we will certainly tap his enthusiasm and business savvy during

our inaugural season."



    Johnson is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and Army reserve, having

earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, College

of Law. Prior to serving as CEO of Eagle Group International, he served as

the organization's Chief Counsel, V.P. for Human Resources, Executive Vice

President, COO, and President.



    "WPS has proven itself to be a smart business venture, with a

conservative business plan built on realistic numbers and executive leaders

that not only know soccer as a sport, but as a business," said Johnson.

"Atlanta soccer fans can now watch the world's greatest athletes play in

this month's Olympic Games and know that those same premier players will

soon put their talent on display in our city as part of WPS."



    "As a League, we want owners who have solid operational business

experience, a deep-rooted passion for soccer, and a commitment to the

community, as well as extensive local connections. Fitz meets and exceeds

these requirements and we look forward to the prospect of adding him as our

business partner," said Jack Cummins, a Chicago Red Stars owner who has

worked on expansion for the league.



    From 2001-2003, Atlanta was home to the Women's United Soccer

Association (WUSA) Atlanta Beat and was the only team in the League to

reach the playoffs every season.



    Plans for Atlanta's WPS nickname, logo and colors as well as its

coaching and front office staff will be announced at a later date. In the

meantime, Atlanta fans are encouraged to visit

http://fans.womensprosoccer.com and submit their home videos explaining why

their city is the "Top Town" when it comes to soccer. Brandi Chastain,

former U.S. Women's National Team member and star defender for the WUSA San

Jose CyberRays, will choose the winner, who will be awarded an

all-expense-paid trip for two to an upcoming WPS event.

    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. The league will expand to

nine teams by 2010 with the inclusion of Atlanta and Philadelphia. For more

information, visit http://www.womensprosoccer.com.