National Pro Fastpitch has announced that the Connecticut Brakettes and Philadelphia Force will join the Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, Chicago Bandits, New England Riptide and the Texas Thunder when the 2006 season kicks off a 48-game slate Wednesday, May 31. 

NPF plans to release the 2006 schedule in mid-January. Each NPF team will host five fellow NPF teams and two international teams. China, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Team Denso (Japan) and the Japanese National Team have all confirmed their intent to participate in the 2006 NPF Season.