Team History/Overview

Philadelphia and its neighboring communities have a rich history in sports and a proud soccer tradition. The fans, players, and teams that represent this great city share a common bond of toughness and passion for sports excellence and competition. The Philadelphia area has one of the fastest growing soccer followings in the nation, and boasts nearly half a million registered youth and adult soccer participants in the Delaware Valley Region. This area’s youth soccer players, teams, clubs, and leagues are among the country’s most elite and prestigious, having delivered thousands of scholar athletes to premier college programs, many of them All-Americans, and hundreds to the Women’s National Teams and international soccer organizations. Understanding this distinction, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced in March 2009 that Philadelphia was to be awarded a Women's Professional Soccer league franchise. Congratulations Philadelphia! The Independence is proud to have begun its inaugural play in 2010, and is excited to be part of Philly’s great history of sports dominance.

In the team's inaugural season, we fulfilled most franchise goals for year one, making it to the WPS Championship, but falling one win short of the WPS title. Together the team carried into year two many, many distinctive awards earned in 2010. Coach Paul Riley was selected WPS All-Star Coach and a few months later, WPS Coach of the Year. Amy Rodriguez, Allison Falk and Lori Lindsey all dominated play at their positions and were recognized with All-Star selections and WPS Players of the Week. Rodriguez and Falk were nominated WPS Player of the Year and WPS Defensive Player of the Year respectively. With team leadership and chemistry strongly in place, the Independence embarked on its quest for the WPS Cup in 2011.

The 2011 season was tremendous. Off the field, attendance and sponsorship both increased, while franchise working capital needs dropped more than 49%.  On the field, the team achieved a record of 11-4-3, finishing in second place in the WPS regular season standings. Paul Riley was again selected as WPS Coach of the Year, Vero Boquete was WPS Player of the Year, and Nikki Krzysik was crowned Citi Sportswoman of the Year. Tasha Kai, the team's superstar striker and a fan favorite, was also honored with a nomination as WPS Player of the Year. In 2011, the Independence scored more goals than the previous season, allowed fewer goals, had more shutouts, had nine separate players score, and earned the right to host the WPS SemiFinal, which it won 2-0 over magicJack at PPL Park. Again the Independence earned a WPS Championship appearance for the second consecutive year. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of overtime, the team lost a heartbreaking penalty kick shootout, 5-4, ending the championship match and a storybook season. It is with greater resolve that the team will return in 2012 in pursuit of the WPS Championship.

Philadelphia Independence Team Ownership and Commitment

Owner David Halstead is committed to building the Philadelphia Independence franchise into a model sports organization - one that is the envy of the League, and is a permanent and positive fixture in Philadelphia. These ideas, together with a distinctive coaching and front office staff, roster of outstanding soccer athletes, and commitment to the youth in its club affiliates and neighborhoods, will result in an Independence team loaded with talent that the city is proud to support.

The entire Independence organization is committed to bring Philadelphia a team that:

• Is recognized and respected for its outstanding play and tenacity
• The fans love to watch and are proud to support
• Continues to build on Philly's rich and winning pro sports traditions
• Our soccer youth looks to for its modern day heroes and role models
• Gives back to its community through its philanthropic efforts
• Our corporate and business partners are honored to be affiliated with

With these goals as our foundation, the Independence organization looks forward to the partnerships and involvement of the Philadelphia fans and communities.

Team Name – Independence

The Declaration of Independence marked the birth of a nation. Under the Declaration drafted here in Philadelphia in 1776, a group of brave pioneers banded together to face challenges and a common enemy. With foresight, determination, and persistence, these talented individuals, representing all walks of life, discovered common ground and pledged to each other and to those that were to come after them, their “Lives, Fortunes, and Honor” to the sacred cause of Independence. Consistent with this great American and Philadelphia story, a skilled group of professional soccer athletes and coaches proudly wear this name on their uniforms and have banded together to defeat common opponents, pledge their hearts and loyalties to this city and its fans, and be committed to ensuring the historic spirit of Independence prevails.

Team Colors – Yellow, Steel Grey, Light Blue

Yellow commemorates the Swedish settlers who first came to Philadelphia in 1638. These early settlers had the willingness and intellect to adapt and thrive in a new environment. They were brave, confident, and steadfast in their determination to work together, refine their skills and talents, and overcome obstacles – with sights set on a permanent presence in this area, and a proud legacy of extraordinary success ... just like the Independence organization. Steel Grey represents the city’s history in manufacturing and heavy industry. The characteristics associated with this challenging industrial period and with steel grey describe well some of the key components within this team’s identity – tough, honest, disciplined, hard working, innovative, and tenacious. For this reason, steel grey has been selected as the primary color for the team’s home uniform. Light Blue is borrowed from Philadelphia’s own city flag and symbolizes the proud work ethic of this city’s blue collar heritage. Philadelphia and its fans comprise dedicated, blue collar people. Philadelphia citizens are honest and straight forward, with strong family values. They appreciate the “blue collar athlete” who isn’t flashy. And, in Philadelphia, honor, reputation, and integrity are still worth fighting for….everyday, on and off the field. It is this spirit, and the city’s enduring blue collar values that led the Independence to honor the city’s fans and their strong character with a trace of blue on the collar of the team’s away jerseys.

Team Logo

On the logo, the city the team represents, Philadelphia, and the year the team debuted, 2010, are etched onto a shield in the shape of a stylized keystone. Some of the most famous soccer clubs in the world use the shield as their badge, and the keystone is the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch that keeps all the other stones in place. Pennsylvania earned its designation as the Keystone State during the colonial period, and Independence officials said they had combined the soccer battle shield and the image of the keystone in team colors -- yellow, gray, and blue -- to represent “strength, power, and patriotism -- exactly like the fans of Philadelphia.”

Curling around the shield is a battle-torn banner that -- like the flag, below -- is emblazoned with the Independence name and team motto, “We the People.” The war-torn banner, team officials said, is “reminiscent of 18th-century battle emblems and serves as an icon of the Independence spirit: aggressive, united, and perseverant.” “We the People,” team officials said, was chosen as the motto because, “as the first words to our Constitution, this phrase unites the country and guarantees its citizens empowerment and protection. We believe with the help and support of the fans, the banner ornamented with the “We the People” maxim will become a common sight in the stands at Independence matches.”

Team Motto – We The People

Crafted by our founding fathers these first words to our Constitution forever guarantee this country and its citizens, if they work collectively, the common goal of being empowered and protected. This motto or chant, “We the People” describes exactly what this organization believes will ensure its success, on and off the field – hard work, problem solving, overcoming challenges, leadership, and a commitment to performance excellence.