Freedom era

In 2001, magicJack was founded as Washington Freedom, a team of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). The Freedom were the only team to continue as an organization after WUSA folded, first playing exhibition games, then joining the W-League. The Freedom were a founding member of WUSA's successor, Women's Professional Soccer. In 2011, the team was purchased by Dan Borislow, the owner of the phone tech company magicJack, renamed, and relocated to Boca Raton, Florida.

First season

The team opened its 2011 season with three wins, and was the only team with a perfect record for the first month of the season. Despite this, coach Mike Lyons was then dismissed, beginning a long period of coaching controversy, while both Borislow and Christie Rampone functioned as team coach at various points. During the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, magicJack lost in a WPS-record 6–0 defeat, falling to the Philadelphia Independence.

On July 21, 2011, Abby Wambach was named as magicJack's player-coach for the rest of the season.^[2] The team was the visiting side when the Western New York Flash of Rochester (Wambach's hometown) set the new WPS league record attendance of 15,404.^[3] magicJack ultimately finished third in both the regular season and the playoffs.

Battling with the league

In the waning months of the season, Borislow sent an e-mail to his players telling them that WPS was threatening to terminate the team before the season was over, and he filed a suit in Florida courts. The league denied this accusation, and agreements were made for the suit to be dropped.^[4]

On October 25, 2011, the Women's Professional League Governors voted to terminate the franchise,^[5] accusing owner Dan Borislow of violations ranging from "unprofessional and disparaging treatment of his players" to "failure to pay his bills". WPS also stated, "Mr. Borislow's actions have been calculated to tarnish the reputation of the league and damage the league's business relationships."^[6] All players were able to sign with new teams when free agency started on November 9, 2011.

Forward Ella Masar was the only magicJack player to publicly condemn the team owner, Dan Borislow, accusing him of mistreating players, including her.^[7]

Exhibition team

Borislow again filed suit in Florida courts; on January 10, 2012, the judge ruled that the league could not terminate the team's franchise without following its own procedures, and a hearing was set for the following week.^[8] Before adjudication resumed, WPS and Borislow reached another deal, this time allowing Borislow to keep his team as an exhibition team, guaranteeing magicJack at least seven games for each of the next two years, one at each of the WPS teams' home grounds and two in Florida.^[9] The WPS announced on January 30 that it was suspending the 2012 season, in part because of their legal dispute with Borislow.^[10] The league announced that it would cease all operations on May 18, 2012.^[11] Borislow died in July 2014 of a heart attack after playing in a soccer game.^[12]

Final squad

As of December 2011.^[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  USA Hope Solo 2 DF  USA Marian Dalmy 3 DF  USA Christie Rampone 5 FW  USA Lindsay Tarpley 6 MF  JAM Omolyn Davis 7 MF  USA Shannon Boxx 8 MF  CAN Sophie Schmidt 9 FW  USA Megan Rapinoe 10 DF  USA Tina Ellertson 11 FW  AUS Lisa De Vanna

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF  USA Sarah Huffman 16 MF  USA Lydia Vandenbergh 17 GK  USA Brett Maron 20 FW  USA Abby Wambach 21 GK  USA Jillian Loyden 22 DF  USA Becky Sauerbrunn 23 FW  USA Christen Press 26 MF  USA Nikki Washington 30 GK  CAN Karina LeBlanc 55 FW  USA Ella Masar

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