The Philadelphia Independence Women’s Professional Soccer team is teaming up with United Sports to host the Independence Cup girls soccer tournament on July Fourth weekend. The tournament is open to girls teams ages U-9 to U-14 and provides a great opportunity for aspiring athletes to meet and interact with some of the world’s best female soccer players. The Independence Cup offers youth teams from around the Mid-Atlantic region a chance to play against top competition, get involved with a women’s professional soccer team, and enjoy a fun, soccer-filled Independence Day.

The Independence WPS players will be heavily involved with the entire tournament weekend and will be at the facility on Saturday to meet youth teams, sign autographs, and enjoy the festivities. On Saturday night, United Sports will host its annual Independence Day Fireworks Show, which is renowned in the area and was attended by over 10,000 people last year. To top off the weekend, every team that participates in the tournament will receive a ticket for each player and coach to attend the Philadelphia Independence match against the Boston Breakers on Sunday, July 4th at 4pm. All Independence games are played at West Chester University, just six miles away from the United Sports facility. As an added bonus, tournament champions and finalists of each age group will be honored at halftime of the professional game on Sunday in front of thousands of Independence fans.

“We want this to be more than just a soccer tournament” says Independence Director of Operations/Associate GM Louise Waxler. “We want to make this a great experience for young female athletes and their families. It’s a weekend full of soccer at every level, but beyond that it’s an opportunity for aspiring soccer players to interact with positive female role models and support the growth of women’s soccer. We are really looking forward to hosting our first tournament as a franchise.”

Waxler has extensive experience running youth and professional sports events and has served as founder, director, staff and coordinator of some of the country’s most respected tournaments. Similarly, United Sports, the tournament venue, is well-known for hosting some of the most successful tournaments in the country, including the FC Delco Player’s Cup which is widely considered the most prestigious youth soccer tournament on the East Coast. United Sports has outstanding facilities, boasting two artificial turf fields, nine grass fields and a 127,000 square foot indoor complex, all located on 100+ acres in Downingtown, PA.

“United Sports is very excited to partner with the Philadelphia Independence on the Independence Cup July 4th weekend” says Dominic Popolizio, Director of Soccer and Tournament Director at United Sports. “The impact that the Independence has already had on so many young female athletes is tremendous, and we are proud to support the franchise on running such an exciting tournament. It’s great to give the young athletes who attend the Independence games a chance to play in front of their role models for a change. United Sports is looking forward to a successful July 4th weekend and the excitement it will bring to Philadelphia sports."

The Independence Cup on July 3rd and 4th is open to girls teams ages U-9 to U-14. There is still time to enter your team so don’t miss out on this great opportunity! For more information or to register for the Independence Cup, visit http://unitedsports.net/tournaments/1st-annual-independence-cup/.