[WPS] Women's Professional Soccer has granted an expansion franchise to Joe Sahlen, owner of the W-League champion Buffalo Flash, in Western New York for the 2011 season.
The Flash played its W-League games at Canisius College in Buffalo, but the WPS team whose name has yet to be confirmed will play its games at the 4,000-seat Niagara Field on the campus of Niagara University and the 14,000-seat Rochester Rhinos Stadium.
The Sahlen family is a well-known meat producer going back six generations. Joe Sahlen is a driver on the Grand-Am race series, and daughter Alexandra Sahlen was the Flash president and started on defense.
Buffalo's starting lineup in the final included players representing six countries.
Canadian star Kelly Parker moved to WPS's Sky Blue FC after the W-League season, while Spaniard Veronica Boquete was excellent for Chicago after joining the Red Stars late in the WPS season.

Christopher Wimmer


