Boston Breakers

History

Original franchise

Main article: Boston Breakers (WUSA)

The original Boston Breakers played in the WUSA from 2001 to 2003. In the final season in the WUSA, the Breakers had their best record (10–4–7) and placed first in the regular season before losing to the Washington Freedom in the semifinals.

Women's Professional Soccer

Re-establishment (2007–2009)

The formation of Women's Professional Soccer was announced on September 4, 2007, during which time it was also announced that a franchise had been awarded to Boston.

The Boston Breakers franchise was officially unveiled on October 26, 2008. At the time it was the only professional women's sports team in Massachusetts. Joe Cummings was named the President and General Manager and he had previously worked for the Breakers franchise in the WUSA. In September 2007, Tony DiCicco was appointed as the club's first head coach.

During the WPS national team player allocation on September 16, 2008, the Breakers acquired Heather Mitts and former Breakers players Kristine Lilly and Angela Hucles. The club acquired Amy Rodriguez as the first overall pick in the 2009 WPS Soccer Draft in St. Louis on January 30, 2009.

2009 season

The Breakers played their debut match in the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer against FC Gold Pride in Santa Clara, California, losing 2–1. Its first home match was against St. Louis Athletica on April 11, 2009, in which the Breakers lost 2–0. The Breakers finished the season in fifth place with a 7–9–4 record.

2010 season

Main article: 2010 Boston Breakers season

2011 season

Main article: 2011 Boston Breakers season

2012 league suspension

On January 16, 2012, the Breakers announced that they signed United States U-23 national team defender, Bianca D'Agostino. The Breakers also acquired Australian national team forward Kyah Simon in anticipation of the 2012 season. Simon scored two goals against Norway in the 2011 World Cup, which advanced Australia to the quarter-finals. Her goals made her the first Aboriginal player to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.

The league announced on January 30, 2012, that it had suspended the 2012 season. On February 9, 2012, the club announced it would compete in the newly formed WPSL Elite for the 2012 season, with the expectation that it would rejoin the WPS for the 2013 season. The semi-pro league had no restrictions on whether players were professional or amateur.

After the WPS season was suspended, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher returned to her former club, Turbine Potsdam, after playing for the Breakers during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Women's Premier Soccer League Elite

Main article: 2012 Boston Breakers season

In 2012, the Boston Breakers competed in the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite. The team finished in first place clinching the regular season title with an 11–3–0 record, the best season in the franchise history. They lost 3–1 against the Chicago Red Stars in the WPSL Elite semifinals. The team was coached by Lisa Cole.

National Women's Soccer League

In November 2012, it was announced that the Breakers would be one of eight teams in a new women's professional soccer league sponsored by the United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation. On January 11, 2013, the league held its player allocation for the national team players, with Boston receiving seven players, including two returning former Breakers Heather O'Reilly and Heather Mitts. The other players assigned to the Breakers were Anisa Guajardo, Adriana Leon, Sydney Leroux, Cecilia Santiago, and Rhian Wilkinson.

2013 season

Main article: 2013 Boston Breakers season

The 2013 Boston Breakers season was the club's eighth overall year of existence, fourth consecutive year, and first year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 22 games, finishing with 8 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at fifth place in an eight team league.

2014 season

Main article: 2014 Boston Breakers season

The 2014 Boston Breakers season was the club's ninth overall year of existence, fifth consecutive year, and second year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 24 games, finishing with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 16 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at eighth place in a nine team league.

2015 season

Main article: 2015 Boston Breakers season

The 2015 Boston Breakers season, was the club's tenth overall year of existence, sixth consecutive year, and third year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 20 games, finishing with 4 wins, 3 draws, and 13 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at ninth place in a nine team league.

2016 season

Main article: 2016 Boston Breakers season

The 2016 Boston Breakers season was the club's eleventh overall year of existence, seventh consecutive year, and fourth year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 20 games, finishing with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 15 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at tenth place in a ten-team league.

2017 season

Main article: 2017 Boston Breakers season

The 2017 Boston Breakers season was the club's twelfth overall year of existence, eighth consecutive year, and fifth year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 24 games, finishing with 4 wins, 7 draws, and 13 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season in ninth place of a ten-team league.

2018

After failed last-minute attempts to sell the club to the owners of the New England Revolution and to local commercial real estate developers, the Boston Breakers officially folded on January 25, 2018 and did not participate in the NWSL in 2018. Reports generally blamed lack of marketing and resultant limited fanbase for the club's demise.

Successor team

In September 2023, the NWSL announced that Boston would be awarded an expansion franchise, later named Boston Legacy FC, to start play in 2026.

Stadium

Jordan Field (2014–2017)

The Boston Breakers played their home games for their final four seasons at Jordan Field, a 4,100 seat, multi-purpose facility located on the campus of Harvard University in Allston, Massachusetts. Jordan Field was formerly known as Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium.

Dilboy Stadium (2012–2013)

The Breakers played at Dilboy Stadium in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts for their 2012 and 2013 seasons, the move from Harvard to Dilboy concurrent with their league move to the WPSL Elite.

Harvard Stadium (2009–2011)

Boston used Harvard Stadium, the 30,323 seat home football stadium of the Harvard Crimson, from 2009 through 2011. In 2012, shortly after joining the newly created Women's Premier Soccer League Elite, the Breakers moved their home field to Jordan Field.

Broadcasting

As of 2017, Boston Breakers games were streamed exclusively by Go90 for American audiences and via the NWSL website for international viewers. As part of a three-year agreement with A&E Networks, Lifetime broadcasts one NWSL Game of the Week on Saturday afternoons. The Breakers were featured in the nationally televised Game of the Week on September 2, 2017.

Previous seasons' games were broadcast on YouTube, MediaBoss Television, ESPN, and Fox Sports.

Supporters

The team had an official supporters group called the Boston Armada as well as an independent supporters group called the Riptide, who cheered from a standing section known as "The Dock".

Players and coaches

Final roster

Head coaches

• ENG Matt Beard (2016–2017)
• USA Tom Durkin (2014–2015)
• USA Cat Whitehill (2013) (interim)
• USA Lisa Cole (2012–2013)
• USA Tony DiCicco (2009–2011)

Ownership and team management

Michael Stoller was the managing partner of Boston Women's Soccer, LLC, the ownership group overseeing the Breakers.

Records and statistics

Honors

Individual player awards

• Amy LePeilbet, WPS 2009, 2010 Defender of the Year

Player of the Week

Player of the Month

Pillars of Excellence

In summer 2009, the Breakers began a tradition of honoring legends from the past with commemorative banners at Harvard Stadium. The award's Pillars of Excellence name was influenced by the stadium's iconic colonnade. Players from both Boston Breakers (WUSA) and the WPS/WPSL Elite/NWSL entry are considered.

Maren Meinert became the first inductee during a halftime ceremony on May 17, 2009 when the Breakers hosted the Washington Freedom. During her final season in 2003 Meinert was named the WUSA's Most Valuable Player for the regular season and MVP of the WUSA All-Star Game. Kristine Lilly was inducted during halftime of a match against the Philadelphia Independence May 23, 2011. Leslie Osborne was inducted during halftime of a home game against Sky Blue FC.

Supporters Award

In 2017 the official supporters group of the Boston Breakers, The Boston Armada, began a tradition of awarding one player at each home game with a supporters award. Officially dubbed "The Chunk Award", it recognized a player's individual contribution to the team during the match. The trophy for 2017 represented the unofficial mascot of the Boston Breakers, "Chunk", a bulldog owned by Boston Breakers Academy head coach Lee Billard.

References

References

1. "Breakers History".
2. (2023-09-19). "Professional women’s soccer returns to Boston as National Women’s Soccer League awards expansion franchise to Boston Unity Soccer Partners".
3. Eldred, Sheila. (January 25, 2009). "Call It a Comeback With women's pro soccer ready to strike with a new league, Boston Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco, 60, believes that, this time, failure is not an option.". The Boston Globe.
4. Belson, Ken. (July 9, 2009). "Women's soccer sets the bar low; New league tackles daunting times with start-up mentality". The New York Times.
5. Daniels, Mark. (September 17, 2008). "Boston Breakers net stars". Boston Herald.
6. Garcia, Mark. (January 30, 2009). "A-Rod is No. 1 pick in WPS Draft". The Orange County Register.
7. "Boston Breakers stats". Soccerway Women.
8. McClatchy. (April 11, 2009). "BRIEF: Women's Professional Soccer: Schmedes, Breakers set for second game". Odessa American.
9. (January 16, 2012 }}{{dead link). "Breakers Sign Midfielder Bianca D'Agostino". Boston Breakers.
10. (February 27, 2012). "Success story". Blacktown Sun.
11. (January 13, 2012). "Kyah Simon joins Boston Breakers".
12. (January 30, 2012). "WPS Suspends Play for 2012 Season". Women's Professional Soccer.
13. (February 9, 2012). "Breakers to compete in new WPSL Elite Women's Soccer League in 2012".
14. Tim Grainey. (February 27, 2012). "Flight Abroad For WPS Veterans".
15. "2012 WPSL Elite Season Preview". National Soccer Coaches of America Association.
16. "Breakers fall to Chicago in WPSL Elite semifinals.". Boston Breakers.
17. Dan Lauletta. (November 21, 2012). "Eight teams to start new women's pro soccer league in 2013". The Equalizer.
18. (January 11, 2013). "Women's league allocates top players". ESPN.
19. "2015 Standings – National Women's Soccer League".
20. "What doomed the Boston Breakers?".
21. (January 25, 2018). "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through". SB Nation.
22. (January 25, 2018). "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through".
23. (May 2, 2018). "The Fall of the Boston Breakers".
24. "How an era ended: The mysterious final months of the Boston Breakers".
25. "Boston Breakers to join new professional women's league in 2013". Boston Breakers.
26. "Boston Breakers to play at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville". Boston Breakers.
27. (January 7, 2014). "Boston Breakers to Play at Harvard Stadium in 2014". Boston Breakers.
28. (April 13, 2017). "NWSL, go90 announce exclusive streaming partnership". Vox Media.
29. (February 2, 2017). "Lifetime To Air National Women's Soccer League Games As A+E Networks Kicks In For Equity Stake".
30. (February 2, 2017). "A+E Networks, National Women's Soccer League Ink Major Deal".
31. (30 March 2017). "NWSL announces 2017 broadcast schedule on Lifetime". Excelle Sports.
32. (13 April 2017). "A season on the brink: wide-open NWSL making strides as fifth year kicks off". The Guardian.
33. "Boston Breakers announce live streaming option for the 2013 season". NWSL News.
34. (May 28, 2014). "ESPN Announces Broadcast of NWSL Matches". Boston Breakers.
35. (June 30, 2015). "NWSL, FOX Sports announce national broadcast deal". Boston Breakers.
36. "The Boston Armada". BostonBreakers.com.
37. Yang, Stephanie. (August 2, 2016). "Breakers reveal business details, plans for 2017". The Bent Musket.
38. "Show Your Support: The Boston Breakers' Riptide". allwhitekit.com.
39. "The Riptide". The Riptide Independent Supporters Association.
40. "Roster". BostonBreakers.com.
41. "Coaching Staff".
42. (September 4, 2007). "Women's Professional Soccer League to Launch in 2009". PR Newswire.
43. "LePeilbet named WPS' top defender". Sports Illustrated.
44. "Breakers midfielder Heather O'Reilly named NWSL Player of the Week - Boston Breakers".
45. "2013 NWSL Player of the Week & Month". Pitchside Report.
46. "2015 NWSL Player of the Week & Month". Pitchside Report.
47. "Adriana Leon Named Player of the Week". NWSL.com.
48. "Adriana Leon Named Player of the Week".
49. Civin, Todd. (May 1, 2009). "WPS: Boston's Kelly Smith Named April Player of the Month". [[Bleacher Report]].
50. Green, Lauren. (June 2, 2011). "The Journey Continues for Boston Breakers Midfielder Jordan Angeli". [[Bleacher Report]].
51. "Kelly Smith". [[Women's Professional Soccer]].
52. Yang, Stephanie. (May 3, 2017). "Rose Lavelle named NWSL player of the month". The Bent Musket.
53. (May 5, 2009 }}{{dead link). "Former Breaker Maren Meinert to be Inducted Into Pillars of Excellence at May 17 Home Game". Boston Breakers.
54. (April 29, 2010 }}{{dead link). "Former Breaker Angela Hucles to be Inducted into Pillars of Excellence at May 1 Home Game". Boston Breakers Boston Breakers Boston Breakers.
55. Kassouf, Jeff. (May 23, 2011). "Boston Breakers 1–1 Philadelphia Independence: Breakers draw as Lilly is honored". The Equalizer.
56. Boston Women's Soccer. (April 16, 2015). "Breakers to retire Leslie Osborne's number at May 22 game vs. Sky Blue FC". Boston Women's Soccer, LLC.