Wikipedia

Ottawa Fury (women)

Ottawa Fury Women was a Canadian women's soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2000, the team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. The team competed in the W-League's Central Conference with the rest of the league's Canadian clubs.[1]

Ottawa Fury Women
Full nameOttawa Fury Women
Nickname(s)The Fury
Founded2000
Dissolved2014
StadiumAlgonquin College Soccer Complex
Capacity2,000
OwnerJohn Pugh
CoachDominic Oliveri
LeagueUSL W-League
20141st, Central Conference
National Semifinals

The team was part of the Ottawa Fury FC organization, which included the Ottawa Fury FC men's professional team, the Academy and the former semi-professional team Ottawa Fury SC. The women's team was disbanded following the 2014 season.

History

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The Ottawa Fury was founded as a women's team in 2000 by Andy Nera, who served as owner and coach, to compete in the USL W-League.[2] The team failed to make the playoffs in each of their first two seasons.[2]

In 2002, the team was purchased by John Pugh.[3] In 2004, the Fury captured their first division title in 2004 (the first of nine consecutive) and their first conference title in 2005.[2] In 2005, the Fury added a men's team, Ottawa Fury SC in the semi-professional Premier Development League.[4]

They advanced to the League Championship final in 2005 and 2006, losing both years to the New Jersey Wildcats and Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively.[2][5] In 2007, they posted their first undefeated season, with a record of 11 wins and 1 draw.[2]

After clinching their ninth consecutive Central Division title,[6] the Fury women captured the 2012 League title, defeating the Pali Blues in the championship final on penalty kicks, which was hosted in Ottawa.[7][8]

Following the formation of the professional men's team, Ottawa Fury FC, the women's team adopted the Fury FC branding and logo for the 2014 season.[2] After the 2014 season, in which the team finished the regular season undefeated and coming in third-place in the league championship tournament,[9][10] the team folded in "a business decision to cease operation", with the organization focusing on it the men's professional team.[11] Despite folding the women's team, the club remained committed to its girls development program through the Elite Girls Academy and other grassroots and community initiatives.[12] The disbanding of the team occurred just days ahead of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup official draw in Ottawa.[13] The Fury women had amassed the second-most wins in W-League history.[13]

Head coaches

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Coach Tenure
Andy Nera 2000–2002
Frank Lofranco 2003–2007
Craig Smith 2008–2010
Dominic Oliveri 2011–2014

Year-by-year

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Year League Record Rank League Championship Voyageurs Cup Ref
2000 USL W-League 6–3–5 3rd, Northern Division did not qualify Not held [14]
2001 5–3–6 5th, Northern Division did not qualify
2002 5–2–5 4th, Northern Division did not qualify
2003 11–1–2 2nd, Northern Division Semi-finals
2004 13–0–1 1st, North Central Division Semi-Finals East Champions
2005 13–0–1 1st, Northern Division Finalists East Champions
2006 10–1–1 1st, Northern Division Finalists
East Champions
Super Cup runner-up
 [15]
2007 11–1–0 1st, Northern Division Quarter-finals Not held
2008 13–0–1 1st, Northern Division Quarter-finals
2009 11–2–1 1st, Great Lakes Division Semi-finals
2010 8–3–1 1st, Great Lakes Division Quarter-finals
2011 12–0–0 1st, Great Lakes Division Finalists
2012 10–0–2 1st, Central Division Champions
2013 7–2–3 2nd, Central Conference Quarter-finals
2014 11–1–0 1st, Central Conference Semi-finals

Awards and honours

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Ottawa Fury Women have won the following USL W-League awards:[16]

  • Champions: 1 (2012)
  • Conference Champions: 3 (2005, 2006, 2014)
  • Division Champions: 10 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
  • Voyageurs Cup
East titles: 2004, 2005, 2006

Stadium

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Notable former players

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The following Fury players have played at the senior international level:[2]

References

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  1. ^ Woods, Lisa-Marie (May 28, 2014). "W-league, Ottawa Fury FC and the Fury Family". Womens Soccer United.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "W-League History". Ottawa Fury FC. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "USL Announces Addition of Ottawa Fury FC". United Soccer League. October 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Hellen, Jessica (April 15, 2005). "Ottawa Fury fired up for new men's soccer team". Capital Current.
  5. ^ Timko, Brandon (July 29, 2011). "A recap of past W-League Final Four appearances for Whitecaps FC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  6. ^ "Ottawa Fury set their sights on W-League championship". Nepean Barrhaven News. July 26, 2012.
  7. ^ Helmer, Aedan (July 29, 2012). "Fury wins W-League final". Ottawa Sun.
  8. ^ "Ottawa Fury to host 2012 USL W-League championship weekend". Ottawa East News. February 9, 2012.
  9. ^ Holder, Gord (December 2, 2014). "Fury women's team shut down". Ottawa Citizen.
  10. ^ Shykora, Brendan (April 24, 2021). "What the embers of the Fury's glory days show about women's pro sports prospects in Ottawa". Ottawa Sportspages.
  11. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (December 3, 2014). "Ottawa Fury FC's USL W-League team folds". The Equalizer.
  12. ^ "Ottawa Fury women's soccer team shut down in 'business decision'". CBC. December 2, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Taekema, Dan (December 2, 2014). "Ottawa Fury FC cuts women's team". Capital Current.
  14. ^ Litterer, Dave. "The W-League (USL) (1995-2005)". Soccer History USA.
  15. ^ Litterer, Dave. "The W-League (USL) (2006-present)". Soccer History USA.
  16. ^ Fury W-League History on "Ottawa FURY Women". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  17. ^ Canada Soccer,Ottawa to host 2004 W-League Championship, http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1577&lang=en
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