BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars and Women's Professional Soccer announced their 2010 schedule Thursday. It includes a 24-game season (12 home, 12 away) among eight organizations.

Brazilian forward Cristiane, midfielder Megan Rapinoe, defender Kate Markgraf and the rest of the Red Stars contingent open their 12-match home schedule at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, against goalkeeper Hope Solo and Saint Louis Athletica. The team's season opener takes place at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at defending WPS champion Sky Blue FC and will be one of four Red Stars games scheduled on Fox Soccer Channel.

Take advantage of a one-day-only (24-hour) sale for individual tickets to 2010 Red Stars games at Toyota Park. Tickets start at only $15 each, and individual tickets will not be available again until March. Now is the time to secure your favorite seat at the state-of-the-art Toyota Park, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave., in Bridgeview, Ill. Access the Red Stars Tickets Page directly at http://www.redstarsgear.com/tickets.

Some exciting matchups are on the home docket for the Red Stars. WPS's 2010 expansion teams make their first trips to Bridgeview when the Red Stars host the Philadelphia Independence (6 p.m. Saturday, May 15) and the Atlanta Beat (5 p.m. Sunday, June 6). Four-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta and FC Gold Pride make two trips to Toyota Park -- 7 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22. And along with the home opener, the Red Stars face Midwest rival Saint Louis at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, to cap off the regular-season portion of their schedule.

For tickets and more information, visit www.ChicagoRedStars.com or call 1-866-WPS-2009 (708-496-9500).

2010 RED STARS SCHEDULE
Game times listed in Central Standard Time zone
Home games listed in bold
• Sunday, April 11, at Sky Blue FC, 5 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
• Saturday, April 17, vs. Saint Louis Athletica, 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 25, vs. Sky Blue FC, 5 p.m.

• Saturday, May 1, at Boston Breakers, 5 p.m.
• Saturday, May 8, at FC Gold Pride, 9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 15, vs. Philadelphia Independence, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, May 29, vs. FC Gold Pride, 7 p.m.

• Sunday, June 6, vs. Atlanta Beat, 5 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
• Saturday, June 12, at Washington Freedom, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, June 19, at Atlanta Beat, 6 p.m.
• Friday, June 25, at Boston Breakers, 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 7, vs. Washington Freedom, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 10, vs. Philadelphia Independence, 6 p.m.
• Sunday, July 18, at Saint Louis Athletica, 7:10 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 21, at Atlanta Beat, 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 25, vs. Boston Breakers, 3 p.m.

• Sunday, Aug. 1, at Sky Blue FC, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 7, at FC Gold Pride, 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 11, vs. Atlanta Beat, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 15, at Philadelphia Independence, 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 22, vs. FC Gold Pride, 5 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
• Saturday, Aug. 28, at Saint Louis Athletica, 7:10 p.m.

• Sunday, Sept. 5, vs. Washington Freedom, TBD (Fox Soccer Channel)
• Saturday, Sept. 11, vs. Saint Louis Athletica, 6 p.m.

About Women's Professional Soccer:
Headquartered in San Francisco, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world's premier soccer league for women with eight teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, eight teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10 to Sept. 12, including six original WPS teams -- Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom -- and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for Sept. 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official Web site www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.

About the Chicago Red Stars:
The Chicago Red Stars are members of Women's Professional Soccer and play their home games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The 2010 Red Stars Home Opener takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, against Saint Louis Athletica. For more information about the Red Stars, log on to www.ChicagoRedStars.com or call 866-WPS-2009.