2010 FC Gold Pride season

The 2010 FC Gold Pride season was the team's second and final season as a professional women's soccer team. FC Gold Pride played in the Women's Professional Soccer league (WPS), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States. After finishing in last place during the 2009 season, the team won the 2010 WPS Championship on September 26, 2010, 4–0 over Philadelphia Independence. On November 16, FC Gold Pride announced that it had ceased operations.

Summary

2009–10 off-season moves
The only player FC Gold Pride lost to the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft was defender Leigh Ann Robinson, chosen by the Atlanta Beat. Over the course of the offseason, the club traded Allison Whitworth to the Beat for the 10th- and 12th-overall picks in the 2010 WPS Draft, lost team co-captain Leslie Osborne and assists leader Tiffany Weimer to the Boston Breakers in free agency, loaned Eriko Arakawa back to her former Nadeshiko League club NTV Beleza for the remainder of her WPS contract, waived contract options for Adriane, Érika, and Formiga, and in February 2010 also waived Brandi Chastain.

The club signed Canadian player Candace Chapman on October 8, 2009, and after scouting the 2009 UEFA Women's Championship, the club signed Norwegian international Solveig Gulbrandsen on December 10.

FC Gold Pride acquired Los Angeles Sol player Camille Abily in exchange for midfielder Tina DiMartino, FC Gold Pride's top 2009 WPS Draft pick, and the 14th-overall pick in the 2010 draft and rights to a 2009 international discovery player. In the 2010 WPS Draft, FC Gold Pride selected 2009 Hermann Trophy winner Kelley O'Hara, New Zealand international Ali Riley, and 2008 U-20 World Cup champions Becky Edwards and Kaley Fountain, among others.

The Los Angeles Sol ceased operations not long afterward, and in the ensuing 2010 WPS Dispersal Draft FC Gold Pride acquired Marta, Kiki Bosio, and Lindsay Browne. The club separately signed Sol goalkeeper Brittany Cameron as a free agent.

Regular season

FC Gold Pride started fast and kept its momentum running throughout the 2010 season. Despite the departure of Solveig Gulbrandsen in July and waiving draft pick Kaley Fountain, the Pride dominated the league's regular season.

Championship
On September 26, FC Gold Pride won their first WPS Championship by defeating the Philadelphia Independence 4–0.

Three members of the team garnered end of season honors: Marta was named Player of the Year and won the Golden Boot, both for the second consecutive season; Nicole Barnhart was named Goalkeeper of the Year; and Ali Riley was named Rookie of the Year. On November 16, 2010, after the close of the 2010 season, the league announced that FC Gold Pride had folded and would not return for the 2011 season.

Team

Squad
 .

Transactions

Transfers in:
 Shannon Boxx, June 4, from Saint Louis Athletica via dispersal

Transfers out:
 Solveig Gulbrandsen, July 17, to Stabæk IF

Waived or released:
 Ashley Bowyer, June 4, released
 Kaley Fountain, June 4, released but retained as a developmental player; later waived, signed with Atlanta Beat on Aug. 9

Competitions

Key

Regular season

Regular season standings

Results summary

Results by matchday

WPS Championship

Statistics

Awards

WPS awards
 Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award: Marta
 Goalkeeper of the Year: Nicole Barnhart
 Rookie of the Year: Ali Riley
 WPS Golden Boot: Marta
 Regular-season champions
 League champions

WPS All-Star Team

Further reading

References

FC Gold Pride
Gold Pride
Gold
FC Gold Pride
Women's football club seasons
Women's Professional Soccer championship-winning seasons