FC GOLD PRIDE
The World's Best Play Here

US Women's National Team member and Olympic Gold Medalist Rachel Beuhler will once again anchor the Pride's defense.
photo: ISI Photos / FC Gold Pride

As Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) embarks upon its second season, FC Gold Pride return with a new soccer-specific stadium, as well as a revamped roster. The Pride have moved from the South Bay to their new home field at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of California State University, East Bay. The 5,500 seat stadium is located in the "heart of the bay" in the Hayward hills.

The Pride return eight players from the 2009 roster, including U.S. National Team members Nicole Barnhart and Rachel Buehler, Canadian National Team captain Christine Sinclair and U.S. soccer star Tiffeny Milbrett. As a result of multiple offseason trades and two offseason drafts, the Pride have added several talented players to the 2010 roster, including four-time FIFA World Player of the Year and last season's league-leading goal scorer, Marta. The Pride also add 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kelley O'Hara, who led Stanford to the 2009 PAC-10 Conference crown and the NCAA College Cup final; French international star Camille Abily; and a dynamic player in Ali Riley of the New Zealand National Team and the Stanford Cardinal.

WPS grows as the league adds two expansion teams, the Atlanta Beat, led by North Carolina standout Tobin Heath, and the Philadelphia Independence, led by Heather Mitts and Karina "K.K." LeBlanc.

The FC Gold Pride home schedule features 12 action-packed games starting Saturday, April 17, at Castro Valley High School (CVHS) Athletic Stadium, when the defending WPS champion Sky Blue FC, led by U.S. National Team members Natasha Kai and Heather O'Reilly, make their first of two visits to the Bay Area during the 2010 season.

After the first four games at CVHS Athletic Stadium, the Pride will celebrate the grand opening of their newly renovated soccer-specific home at Pioneer Stadium (CSU East Bay) against the Boston Breakers, led by Leslie Osborne and Kelly Smith, on Saturday, June 19.

Also featured in the 24-game regular-season schedule are four meetings with the Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers and New York/New Jersey Sky Blue FC. The Pride will be featured in five nationally televised matches as Fox Soccer Channel will once again host the WPS Sunday Game of the Week throughout the season. In addition to the matches on TV, the team will be webcasting select road games (TBA) so fans can stay connected to the Pride.

At every Pride home game, fans are encouraged to arrive early to tailgate and enjoy the pregame fan festival and to stay and meet their favorite WPS stars at Autograph Alley after the match. Season tickets start as low as $144 for all 12 home games. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.fcgoldpride.com or call (888) 541-3511.