Full name Vancouver Whitecaps FC Stadium
capacity 5,288 League USL W-League Manager Hubert Busby, Jr. | Nickname(s) Whitecaps Chairman Bob Lenarduzzi Arena/Stadium Terry Fox Field Founded 2001 | |
2011 2nd, Western Conference
Playoff W-League 4th Place | ||
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC women are a Canadian women's soccer team founded in 2001 and a part of the greater Vancouver Whitecaps FC club. Originally called the Vancouver Breakers in 2001–02, the team was a member of the USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada, from 2003 to 2012. The team won the 2004 and 2006 championships, and was runner-up in 2001 and 2010.
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The club was formed as a merger of the Vancouver Angels of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and Vancouver Lady 86ers teams. In 2002 with the change to one of the current owners, Greg Kerfoot, the Breakers were brought under the name Whitecaps Football Club. Vancouver played in the Western Conference against the Colorado Force, Colorado Rush, LA Strikers, Pali Blues, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women and Victoria Highlanders Women.
The club announced that it will not field a team for the 2013 USL W-League season. They stated it was because a lot of the best players in Canada are going to be playing in the National Women's Soccer League, involving the US Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association, and Mexican Football Federation. The Whitecaps are still fielding an under 18 team, their girls elite program, in the 2013 Pacific Coast Soccer League.
In 2010 the Whitecaps played their home games at Swangard Stadium in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of Downtown Vancouver. In 2011, the women played each home game in a different city in British Columbia. The team's colours are blue and white.
Coaching staff
Former head coaches
2000
In 2000 the Vancouver Lady 86ers played an exhibition season over the summer along with three other new Pacific Northwest teams: Portland Rain, Spokane Chill and Seattle Sounders Select Women. The Portland Rain also played in the PCSL in 2000. The four teams planned to play in the USL W-League in 2001. The Vancouver Angels of the WPSL was merged with the Vancouver Lady 86ers to form the W-League team, the Vancouver Breakers in 2001. As the Vancouver Angels played a full schedule and an exhibition versus Seattle, a 0–0 draw, the main Breakers progenitor was the Vancouver Angels; the two teams were afterward represented as a continuation. The Vancouver Angels wore either red (with white sides beneath the arms) or baby blue Umbro kits with black sleeves with their primary sponsor The Keg Steakhouse & Grill on the front.
2001
The first year for the Vancouver Breakers, 2001, was a transition year for the W-League with the advent of the Women's United Soccer Association. A large number of players moved to WUSA, and the Breakers were part of the new group of ladies entering the league with the excitement of WUSA’s formation. Of the four teams with 10+ wins, the 13–0–1 regular season champion Maryland Pride, 12–1–1 Western Conference champion Vancouver Breakers and 10–2–2 Hampton Roads Piranhas reached the playoff semi-finals.
The first day of the W-1 championship series saw some spectacular action from the 9–2–3 Boston Renegades and Vancouver in the semi-finals. The Breakers needed a 104th minute overtime golden goal from Andrea Neil to advance on a 1–0 win over the host Piranhas.
After a two-and-a-half hour thunderstorm delay resulting in the cancellation of the 3rd place game, the final was played at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. When the skies cleared, Boston was revelled in the wet conditions with a goal and an assist from Minna Mustonen in the first 19 minutes resulting in a 2–0 halftime lead. Vancouver’s Tammy Crawford scored just after the restart, but Mustonen proved too much on the night, tallying another goal and assist less than a minute apart. By the 55th minute the score was 5–1.
2002
The second year Vancouver Breakers were again among the contenders for the regular season title of the combined W-1 and W-2 leagues. The championship series was hosted by Vancouver. The Breakers only lost only one regular season match to rival Seattle Sounders Select 4–3 in overtime in the season’s penultimate game. The Breakers lost in the semi-finals to the Charlotte Lady Eagles 1–1 via 4–5 penalty kicks. Charlotte’s Esther Thompson saved Vancouver’s fifth shot. After the 2002 season, with the Boston Breakers’ creation in the WUSA, the Whitecaps held a contest to determine a new club name.
2003
Vancouver changed their name to match their brother team, the Whitecaps, as team ownership adopted a European club format by including all teams including existing youth sides under a Whitecaps name. However, after another year of absolute dominance in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps were stunned in their home opener by rival Seattle and were then surprised at home again in the playoffs by the Sounders, falling 3–1 in penalty kicks after a 2–2 draw.
W-League Point Systems
Outdoor scoring system (2000–2002): 4 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss + 1 bonus point when scoring three or more goals in a game.
Outdoor scoring system (2003–present): 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.
Awards and honours
Notable players
Famous Players