San Jose CyberRays

{{short description|Women's United Soccer Association franchise}}

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = San Jose CyberRays |

| image = SanJoseCyberRays 100.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| fullname = San Jose CyberRays

| nickname = Bay Area CyberRays; CyberRays

| founded = 2001

| dissolved = 2003

| stadium = Spartan Stadium

| capacity = 30,456

| chrtitle = Owner

| chairman = WUSA

| ceo =

| mgrtitle = Coach

| manager =

| league = Women's United Soccer Association

| season = 2003

| position = 6th

| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_thinredsides|pattern_ra1=

| pattern_la2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_ra2=_whiteshoulders

| topscorer =

| American = true

}}

San Jose CyberRays was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San José State University in San Jose, California. Stars included U.S. National Team star Brandi Chastain, WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year LaKeysia Beene, and leading scorer Julie Murray. Other memorable CyberRays were Brazilians Sissi and Katia, Tisha Venturini (from the U.S. National Team), and "ironwoman" Thori Bryan, who played every minute of the first season. They were coached by Ian Sawyers, who received WUSA Coach of the Year honors in 2001.

History

=Establishment=

The CyberRays were founded in 2000 as a member of the Women's United Soccer Association, the first professional women's soccer league in the United States. The league featured many of the stars from the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{cite web|title=After long wait, WUSA finally here; Kickoff: Women's soccer league set for debut in United States|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17231260.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328183238/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17231260.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2015|publisher=Telegraph – Herald (Dubuque) |agency=Associated Press|accessdate=October 30, 2014|date=April 14, 2001}}{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Rachel|title=A Step Toward an Even Playing Field; Long-Sought Dream Finally Becomes a Reality When the WUSA Kicks Off Today|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-434683.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328183231/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-434683.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=October 30, 2014|date=April 14, 2001}} The team featured United States women's national team players and league founding players Brandi Chastain, Tisha Venturini and LaKeysia Beene.{{cite web|last1=Nordin|first1=Kendra|title=Women stars have league of their own.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73147016.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328183236/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73147016.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2015|publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |accessdate=October 30, 2014|date=April 13, 2001}}

Year-by-year

class="wikitable"

!Year

!League

!Regular season

!Playoffs

!Avg. attendance

!Total attendance

2001

|WUSA

|2nd place

|1st place

|7,692

|76,922

2002

|WUSA

|5th place

|did not qualify

|7,167

|78,836

2003

|WUSA

|6th place

|did not qualify

|6,791

|67,912

{{cite web|title=Attendance Project: WUSA|url=http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?page_id=4543|publisher=Attendance Project|accessdate=October 29, 2014}}

=Inaugural season=

The team won the WUSA title (known as the Founders Cup) for the league's inaugural season in 2001. The CyberRays triumphed over the Atlanta Beat, in a 4–2 shootout after double overtime of a 3–3 game. It was the only year in the country's history that both a women's and men's professional soccer team won championship titles in the same city.{{cite web|last1=Kassouf|first1=Jeff|title=Classics: Bay Area CyberRays top Atlanta Beat in first-ever Founders Cup|url=http://womens.soccerly.com/2011/10/19/classics-bay-area-cyberrays-top-atlanta-beat-in-first-ever-founders-cup/|publisher=Equalizer Soccer|accessdate=October 29, 2014|date=October 19, 2011}}

=2002=

In 2002 the team changed its name from the Bay Area CyberRays to the San Jose CyberRays, and also gave their roster a facelift, allowing Murray to retire and trading for Pretinha from the Washington Freedom, who along with Katia and Sissi, gave the new attack a decidedly Brazilian flavor. The bold changes didn't have the desired effect, however, and the team finished out of the playoffs. One bright spot was the emergence of Katia, who scored 15 goals and broke Tiffeny Milbrett's record for most points in a season.

=2003=

The CyberRays had high hopes for 2003, but an anemic offense (worst in the league in goals scored) hurt the team all year. The team remained in contention until the end of the season, but finished out of the playoffs for a second straight year.

But even bigger problems were brewing in the background, as the WUSA continued to struggle financially. The CyberRays folded on September 15, 2003, when the league announced it was suspending operations.

{{cite web |url=http://www.fanbase.com/San-Jose-CyberRays/roster |title=San Jose CyberRays roster | Fanbase |accessdate=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130122184617/http://www.fanbase.com/San-Jose-CyberRays/roster |archivedate=2013-01-22 }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.womensprosoccer.com/newsitem_ektid4540.aspx |title=Women's Professional Soccer - home of pro soccer players :: News Detail :: Bay Area joins Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) for inaugural season |accessdate=2008-09-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906033058/http://www.womensprosoccer.com/newsitem_ektid4540.aspx |archivedate=2008-09-06 }}

Stadium

The CyberRays played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose, California.{{cite web|title=CyberRays To Play Next Year at Spartan Stadium; Name Change?|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2001/09/Issue-233/Franchises/Cyberrays-To-Play-Next-Year-At-Spartan-Stadium-Name-Change.aspx|publisher=Sports Business Daily|accessdate=October 29, 2014|date=September 6, 2001}} The stadium was used for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and was also the home of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer from 1996 to 2005. At the time, the stadium featured a grass pitch and up to 30,456 capacity.{{cite web|title=Spartan Stadium|url=http://www.sjsuspartans.com/facilities/sjsu-spartan-stadium-booking.html|publisher=San Jose State University|accessdate=October 29, 2014}}

Broadcasting

In 2002, games were broadcast on television via PAX TV.{{cite news|last1=McTaggart|first1=Brian|title=Notebook: CyberRays to defend inaugural WUSA title|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Notebook-CyberRays-to-defend-inaugural-WUSA-title-2068537.php|accessdate=October 29, 2014|work=Houston Chronicle|date=April 10, 2002}} California Bears assistant coach Jennifer Thomas provided color commentary while KCBS Radio sports announcer Hal Ramey was the play-by-play announcer.{{cite web|title=Thomas Named As Color Commentator for CyberRays|url=http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30100&ATCLID=207740379|publisher=University of California Berkeley|accessdate=October 29, 2014|date=March 29, 2002}} A number of league games were broadcast on Turner Sports and CNN/Sports Illustrated.{{cite web|last1=Tedesco|first1=Richard|title=WUSA scores Turner pact|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/wusa-scores-turner-pact/86113|publisher=Broadcasting Cable|accessdate=October 29, 2014|date=April 16, 2000}}