PUMA’s Project Pink will strive to raise awareness — and funds — in support of the fight against breast cancer. In conjunction with their partnership with Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), PUMA will outfit some of the best female players in the world in special Project Pink kits for five WPS matches. The brand has also created a range of Project Pink merchandise that will be available for purchase beginning this summer and continuing through Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Profits from the sale of PUMA’s Project Pink gear will be donated to a nonprofit committed to breast cancer awareness or research; the beneficiary will be named as the result of a national online voting campaign.

Launching July 31 to coincide with the first WPS breast cancer game hosted by the Boston Breakers,  PUMA is hosting a forum at wps.pumafootball.com/projectpink that invites interaction with the Project Pink initiative. The site allows for the nomination of breast cancer charities with nonprofit status; supporters can then log on to vote for the winner, who will ultimately receive a donation consisting of 100% of the profits from the sale of PUMA Project Pink product. The nomination period will open on August 7; voting will begin on September 13. The crowd favorite will be announced and the donation made in late October. 

Make sure to check back on August 7th to nominate YOUR favorite breast cancer charity!

This past weekend, local California soccer club Benicia Arsenal FC 2000 was on-site at the FCGP game to celebrate PUMA’s Title Night.  They acted as the pre-game escorts and had the opportunity to meet some of the Pride players including PUMA athlete, Marta.

FC Gold Pride defeated the Washington Freedom, 3-2 and members of Benicia Arsenal FC watched as Marta scored 2 goals helping her team claim the win and securing her position as the leagues leading scorrer.

PUMA Athlete and Sky Blue standout Tasha Kai visited Blaine, Minnesota this week to take part in the PUMA Sponsored USA Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament.  USA Cup is the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere and Kai stopped by to check out all the action and have some fun with a few lucky teams!

For more informtaion on USA Cup, visit www.usacup.org

Image courtsey of ISI images

Philadelphia Independence forward and PUMA Athlete Amy Rodriguez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 WPS Draft, has been selected as WPS Player of the Month for June in a vote by soccer media. The 23-year-old from Lake Forest, California, notched five goals and two assists for the Independence during the month, including two goals in a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Washington Freedom on June 26. Her performance throughout June helped lead the expansion Independence into a solid second-place position in the WPS table behind FC Gold Pride. Rodriguez also notched a goal and an assist at the 2010 WPS All-Star Game playing for Marta XI in the side’s 5-2 win over Abby XI. She has seven goals and three assists on the season. Rodriguez is the second Philadelphia player to be selected as the Player of the Month after midfielder Lori Lindsey won the honor in April. She is also the first player to receive unanimous first-place media voting for the award since it began in April 2009. Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was the May Player of the Month for Sky Blue FC.

View the A-Rod highlight video >>