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April 12, 2004
Dear Supporters of Women’s Professional Football:
It is with a sad heart that I commit these words to paper.
I remember when I first called two other team owners in 2000 to meet in Boston, MA to discuss the possibility of building upon a league that was in shambles and virtually destroyed by greed, dictatorship and lack of overall direction. That league was the Women’s Professional Football League (WPFL).
After that meeting, for more than four years, I have given everything I have to furthering women’s professional football not only in New England, but also across the United States. Along the way I have been inspired by some of your equally compassionate dedication. With some of you, we have literally turned women’s dreams of playing football into a reality. I have been overwhelmed with pride for the league in which I helped created and build and I was excited by the future potential of the WPFL just as I was in 2000 as a Founding Member. However, this excitement was thwarted, because of the illegal and unethical actions of individuals, which occurred during the weekend of March 6, 2004 at the WPFL semi-annual owners meeting.
With that in mind, I am sure some of you can understand why I have been so dismayed by their recent decision to expel myself and my team, the New England Storm and I can only hope supporters of women’s football will understand why I must proceed with dramatic action. I have given a great deal of thought to the situation and I have come to only one conclusion: I cannot and will not step aside and quietly allow the WPFL or certain individuals now involved with the WPFL to destroy everything that we have worked together to achieve. Accordingly, on Monday April 8, 2004 a Federal lawsuit was filed against the very football league in which I am a Founding Member and 1/3 owner, the Women’s Professional Football League. In addition a Preliminary Injunction and Attachment of all WPFL, individual team and team owners’ bank accounts, personal property and real estate was filed with the United States District Court of Massachusetts.
Let me say this, I may appear to be a controversial owner, however, it is only because I am passionate about my team and about the WPFL as a whole. I am excited to have the WPFL reach its maximum potential and encourage and expect it daily. Like many of you, I have always wanted the best for women’s football, our teams, and our players. I have always strived to be generous within the WPFL from the very beginning, for I know we only achieve our highest goals when we work together. I have willingly shared many resources with every team, such as prepared advertising, commercials, internal front office forms and documents, team policies and procedures, player packets, etc.
I believe the owners of every team must model the teamwork of their players on the field. I have held a number of roles in the league, not just team owner, but also executive director, public relations, sponsorship, media, marketing and advertising, etc. and have never once asked for anything in return except that upon each teams entry into the WPFL, they conduct themselves to the standards in which I and my fellow Founding Members created and expected. If you did not believe in that philosophy, there were other options for you, yet you choose to come to the WPFL, the premiere league in furthering the causes for women in football.
So now, individuals in the WPFL who came into this great league because of vision and perseverance not created by you, prepare yourself and keep this close in mind, your actions have broken my heart, but you have not broken my will or the will of this team, the New England Storm. Best wishes to you and your teams, we’ll see you on the Gridiron!
Missi Korpacz
Owner, New England Storm
Founder, Women’s Professional Football League
Press Release Regarding NE Storm vs. WPFL
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