The original Boston Breakers played in the WUSA from 2001 to 2003. In the final season in the WUSA, the Breakers had their best record (10–4–7) and placed first in the regular season before losing to the Washington Freedom in the semifinals.[1]
Women's Professional Soccer
Re-establishment (2007–2009)
Boston Breakers, 2009
The formation of Women's Professional Soccer was announced on September 4, 2007, during which time it was also announced that a franchise had been awarded to Boston.
The Boston Breakers franchise was officially unveiled on October 26, 2008. At the time it was the only professional women's sports team in Massachusetts.[2] Joe Cummings was named the President and General Manager and he had previously worked for the Breakers franchise in the WUSA.[3] In September 2007, Tony DiCicco was appointed as the club's first head coach.
During the WPS national team player allocation on September 16, 2008 the Breakers acquired Heather Mitts and former Breakers players, Kristine Lilly and Angela Hucles.[4] The club acquired Amy Rodriguez as the first overall pick in the 2009 WPS Soccer Draft in St. Louis on January 30, 2009.[5]
2009 season
Boston Breaker, Amy LePeilbet, defends against the Saint Louis Athletica
Its first home match was against St. Louis Athletica on April 11, 2009, in which the Breakers lost 2–0.[6][7] The Breakers finished the season in fifth place with a 7–9–4 record.
On January 16, 2012, the Breakers announced that they signed United States U-23 national team defender, Bianca D'Agostino.[8] The Breakers also acquired Australian national team forward Kyah Simon in anticipation of the 2012 season. Simon scored two goals against Norway in the 2011 World Cup, which advanced Australia to the quarter-finals.[9] Her goals made her the first Aboriginal player to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.[10]
The league announced on January 30, 2012, that it had suspended the 2012 season.[11] On February 9, 2012, the club announced it would compete in the newly formed WPSL Elite for the 2012 season, with the expectation that it would rejoin the WPS for the 2013 season.[12] The semi-pro league had no restrictions on whether players were professional or amateur.
After the WPS season was suspended, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher returned to her former club, Turbine Potsdam, after playing for the Breakers during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.[13]
In 2012, the Boston Breakers competed in the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite.[14] The team finished in first place clinching the regular season title with an 11–3–0 record, the best season in the franchise history. They lost 3–1 against the Chicago Red Stars in the WPSL Elite semifinals.[15] The team was coached by Lisa Cole.
The 2013 Boston Breakers season was the club's eighth overall year of existence, fourth consecutive year, and first year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 22 games, finishing with 8 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at fifth place in an eight team league.
The 2014 Boston Breakers season was the club's ninth overall year of existence, fifth consecutive year, and second year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 24 games, finishing with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 16 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at eighth place in a nine team league.
The 2015 Boston Breakers season, was the club's tenth overall year of existence, sixth consecutive year, and third year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 20 games, finishing with 4 wins, 3 draws, and 13 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at ninth place in a nine team league.[18]
The 2016 Boston Breakers season was the club's eleventh overall year of existence, seventh consecutive year, and fourth year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 20 games, finishing with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 15 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season at tenth place in a ten-team league.
The 2017 Boston Breakers season was the club's twelfth overall year of existence, eighth consecutive year, and fifth year as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They played 24 games, finishing with 4 wins, 7 draws, and 13 losses. They did not qualify for the post-season playoffs, and finished the season in ninth place of a ten-team league.
2018 season
After failed last-minute attempts to sell the club to the owners of the New England Revolution[19] and to local commercial real estate developers,[20] the Boston Breakers officially folded on January 25, 2018 and did not participate in the NWSL in 2018.[21] Reports generally blamed lack of marketing and resultant limited fanbase for the club's demise.[22][23]
As of 2017, Boston Breakers games were streamed exclusively by Go90 for American audiences and via the NWSL website for international viewers.[27] As part of a three-year agreement with A&E Networks, Lifetime broadcasts one NWSL Game of the Week on Saturday afternoons.[28][29] The Breakers were featured in the nationally televised Game of the Week on September 2, 2017.[30]
The team had an official supporters group called the Boston Armada [35][36] as well as an independent supporters group called the Riptide, who cheered from a standing section known as "The Dock".[37][38]
Two pillars at the southern part of the colonnade at Harvard Stadium
In summer 2009, the Breakers began a tradition of honoring legends from the past with commemorative banners at Harvard Stadium.[53] The award's Pillars of Excellence name was influenced by the stadium's iconic colonnade. Players from both Boston Breakers (WUSA) and the WPS/WPSL Elite/NWSL entry are considered.
In 2017 the official supporters group of the Boston Breakers, The Boston Armada, began a tradition of awarding one player at each home game with a supporters award. Officially dubbed "The Chunk Award", it recognized a player's individual contribution to the team during the match. The trophy for 2017 represented the unofficial mascot of the Boston Breakers, "Chunk", a bulldog owned by Boston Breakers Academy head coach Lee Billard.
^ ab"Breakers History". Boston Breakers Women's Professional Soccer. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
^Eldred, Sheila (January 25, 2009). "Call It a Comeback With women's pro soccer ready to strike with a new league, Boston Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco, 60, believes that, this time, failure is not an option". The Boston Globe.
^Belson, Ken (July 9, 2009). "Women's soccer sets the bar low; New league tackles daunting times with start-up mentality". The New York Times. Cambridge, Massachusetts. p. 11. You have to have some pioneer spirit, said Joe Cummings, the president and general manager of the Boston Breakers, who worked for the franchise in the old league, too. If you're not willing to make the sacrifices beyond the white line, this is not for you.
