Women's United Soccer Association

As a result of the US women's national team's (USWNT) first-place showing in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, a seemingly viable market for the sport germinated.{{cite web|url=https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1944&context=etd|title=The case of Women's United Soccer Association: explaining the rise and fall of a social movement organization|first=Meghan|last=O'Conner McDonough|website=Louisville University Library}}

Feeding on the momentum of their victory, the twenty USWNT players, in partnership with John Hendricks of the Discovery Channel, sought out the investors, markets, and players necessary to form an eight-team league.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/news/2000/0215/358455.html|title=ESPN.com - SOCCER - Plan calls for 8- to 10-team league in U.S.|website=www.espn.com}} The twenty founding players were Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, Tracy Ducar, Lorrie Fair, Joy Fawcett, Danielle Fotopoulos, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Shannon MacMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett, Carla Overbeck, Cindy Parlow, Christie Pearce, Tiffany Roberts, Briana Scurry, Kate (Markgraf) Sobrero, Tisha Venturini, Saskia Webber, and Sara Whalen.{{cite web|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/04/10/wusa-womens-united-soccer-association-history-retrospective/|title=In failure, WUSA left behind blueprint for distant future – Equalizer Soccer|first=Dan|last=Lauletta|date=April 10, 2019 }}

Initial investment in the league was provided by the following:{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Gretchen |last2=Scheyer |first2=Jonathan |last3=Sherrard |first3=Emily |title=Women's United Soccer Association |url=https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/womens-soccer-in-the-u-s/womens-soccer-after-1999/womens-united-soccer-assocation/ |website=Soccer Politics |date=December 6, 2009 |access-date=April 14, 2019}}

• Time Warner Cable, $5 million{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-11-sp-18487-story.html|title=Women's Soccer League Is Unveiled|first=Grahame L.|last=Jones|date=April 11, 2000|website=Los Angeles Times}}
• Cox Enterprises, $5 million
• Cox Communications, $5 million
• Amos Hostetter Jr., $5 million
• Comcast Corporation, $5 million
• John Hendricks and Comcast Corporation, $2.5 million each
• Amos Hostetter Jr. and John Hendricks, $2.5 million each

The U.S. Soccer Federation approved membership of the league as a sanctioned Division 1 women's professional soccer league on August 18, 2000.{{cite web |title=WUSA Granted U.S. Soccer Membership as Division I Women's Professional Soccer League |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/07/wusa-granted-u-s-soccer-membership-as-division-i-womens-professional-soccer-league |website=USSF |access-date=April 14, 2019}} Tony DiCicco was made commissioner.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/27/sports/plus-soccer-women-s-united-soccer-association-dicicco-is-named-as-commissioner.html|title=PLUS: SOCCER -- WOMEN'S UNITED SOCCER ASSOCIATION; DiCicco Is Named As Commissioner|work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=April 27, 2000|via=NYTimes.com}}

At various times, games were televised on TNT, CNNSI, ESPN2, PAX TV, and various local and regional sports channels via Comcast,{{cite news |title=Ohio State's Lori Walker to Announce USA vs. Finland Match ...|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ohio-states-lori-walker-to-announce-usa-vs-finland-match-on-espn2/|work=Ohio State University}}{{cite news |last=Smallwood|first=John|date=November 25, 2012 |title=John Smallwood: No reason to thing this women's soccer league will succeed|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/john_smallwood/20121125_John_Smallwood__No_reason_to_thing_this_women_s_soccer_league_will_succeed.html|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} Cox,{{cite news |date=April 10, 2000|title=Women's soccer in deals |url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/04/10/deals/soccer/|work=CNN Money}} Fox, AT&T, and MSG.{{cite news |date=August 5, 2003|title=Walker Set to Call WUSA National Telecast|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/walker-set-to-call-wusa-national-telecast/|work=Ohio State University}}{{cite news |last=Nordin|first=Kendra|date=April 13, 2001|title=Women stars have league of their own|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0413/p12s1.html|work=The Christian Science Monitor}}{{cite web |title=Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) Announces Television Coverage for Every Game During Inaugural Season |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/57/womens-united-soccer-association-wusa-announces-television-coverage-for-every-game-during-inaugural |website=USSF |access-date=14 April 2019}}

{{see also|Soccer on Turner Sports}}

TNT{{cite news |date=April 9, 2001|title=FOUR FORMER TAR HEELS IN INAUGURAL WUSA GAME|url=https://goheels.com/news/2001/4/9/205487656.aspx|work=Go Heels}} broadcast the first{{cite news |last=Lauletta|first=Dan|date=April 10, 2019|title=In failure, WUSA left behind blueprint for distant future|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/04/10/wusa-womens-united-soccer-association-history-retrospective/|work=The Equalizer}} WUSA game on April 21, 2001, which was contest between the Atlanta Beat and New York Power{{cite news |last=Felicien|first=Bria|date=April 20, 2020|title=A look back at WUSA's Atlanta Beat, 19 years after inaugural match|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/soccer/look-back-wusa-atlanta-beat-years-after-inaugural-match/7kcYMLv6VwU87RhfcK0ixH/|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.{{cite news |last=Klein|first=Jeff Z.|date=April 17, 2001|title=Foot Soldiers|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2001/04/17/foot-soldiers/|work=The Village Voice}} Former U.S. national team member Wendy Gebauer Palladino helped called the game alongside broadcaster JP Dellacamera{{cite news |date=March 13, 2001|title=DELLACAMERA AND UNC'S GEBAUER TO ANNOUNCE FOR TNT AND CNN/SI'S WUSA GAMES|url=https://goheels.com/news/2001/3/13/205478390.aspx|work=Go Heels}} and American soccer great Michelle Akers. About 22 games{{cite news |date=February 20, 2001|title=WUSA: TNT and CNNSI to show 22 games|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/13138/wusa-tnt-and-cnnsi-to-show-22-games.html|work=Soccer America}}{{cite news |last=Stossel|first=Scott|title=As American as Women's Soccer?|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2001/06/as-american-as-women-s-soccer/302250/|work=The Atlantic}} were scheduled to be broadcast nationally on TNT or CNN/SI{{cite news |date=February 20, 2001 |title=WUSA: TNT and CNNSI to show 22 games |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/13138/wusa-tnt-and-cnnsi-to-show-22-games.html |work=Soccer America |access-date=June 6, 2016}} in 2001. 15 games were initially expected to be shown on TNT{{YouTube|title=WUSA 2001 Carolina Courage v Washington Freedom regular season|id=VEjmyhbx7FU}} and seven games{{cite news |last=Tedesco|first=Richard|date=April 17, 2000|title=WUSA scores Turner pact|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wusa-scores-turner-pact-86113|work=Broadcasting+Cable}} on CNN/SI over the course of June to August.{{cite news |last=Penner|first=Mike|date=April 16, 2001|title=It's the Birth of a Notion|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-16-sp-51696-story.html|work=Los Angeles}} The deal included broadcast of playoffs and the championship game,{{cite news |last= George|first=John|date=April 9, 2001|title=Women's soccer team ready to Charge|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2001/04/09/story8.html|work=Philadelphia Business Journal}}{{cite news |date=August 8, 2001|title=Ten Former Irish Players Making Their Mark In Women's ...|url=https://und.com/ten-former-irish-players-making-their-mark-in-women-s-united-soccer-association/|work=The University of Notre Dame}} the Founders Cup.{{YouTube|title=WUSA 2001 Bay Area CyberRays v Atlanta Beat Founders Cup I|id=ltDUTGdtbek}} During a four-year span, TNT and CNN/SI were due to televise at least 88 games,{{cite news |last=Trecker|first=Jamie|title=WMLS? No way, say U.S. women|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/0412/477455.html|work=ESPN.com}} under a $3 million TV contract.{{cite magazine |last=Wahl|first=Grant|title=BATTLE OF THE SEXES|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/05/01/battle-of-the-sexes|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

Ratings were not available for CNN/SI{{cite news |date=October 19, 2001|title=WUSA – big success despite small TV audiences|url=https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/wusa-big-success-despite-small-audiences-79755|work=FIFA}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} for the 2001 season as the cable TV provider did not reach enough households to be a statistical factor.

After the 2001 season, the WUSA opted out{{cite news |last=Howard|first=Johnette|date=October 11, 2003|title=WUSA THE EPILOGUE: Lack of television insight is No. 1 reason league is on the shelf|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/wusa-the-epilogue-lack-of-television-insight-is-no-1-reason-league-is-on-the-shelf-1.368183|work=Newsday}} of its four-year{{cite web |url=https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/henderson_christopher_201505_phd.pdf|title=MARKETING OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH FEMINIST THEORIES|last=Henderson|first=Christopher}} agreement to go with a two-year pact{{cite news |title=WUSA had big drop in attendance|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/news/2002/0825/1422648.html|work=ESPN.com}} with the Pax network.{{cite news |last=Umstead|first=R. Thomas|date=December 18, 2001|title=Pax TV Nets WUSA Pact|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/pax-tv-nets-wusa-pact-146951|work=Multichannel News}}{{cite news |last=Longman|first=Jere|date=June 3, 2002|title=SOCCER; U.S. Soccer: Sport of 70's, 80's and 90's Still Waits|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/03/sports/soccer-us-soccer-sport-of-70-s-80-s-and-90-s-still-waits.html|work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last=Longman|first=Jere|date=September 16, 2003|title=SOCCER; Women's Soccer League Folds on World Cup's Eve|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/sports/soccer-women-s-soccer-league-folds-on-world-cup-s-eve.html|work=The New York Times}}{{cite book |last=Schultz|first=Jaime|date= 15 March 2014|title=Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S. Women's Sport|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-7kAgAAQBAJ&q=Women%27s+United+Soccer+Association+CNN%2FSI&pg=PA191|page=191|publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252095962}} The WUSA's reasoning that Pax's offer for a 4 p.m. Saturday timeslot was more desirable{{cite book |last=Rosner, Shropshire|first=Scott, Kenneth|title=The Business of Sports|year=2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-owSi55tLZAC&q=wusa+cnn%2Fsi&pg=PA103|page=103|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers |isbn=9780763780784}} than the noon{{cite news |date=May 17, 2001|title=Soccer Superstar Mia Hamm To Answer This Week's 'AOL Question Of The Game' On TNT|url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/2001/05/17/soccer-superstar-mia-hamm-to-answer-this-week-s-aol-question-of|work=WarnerMedia}} timeslot that TNT offered.

The change{{cite news |last=Trecker|first=Jerry|date=April 11, 2002|title=WUSA: THE SECOND SEASON BEGINS|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-04-11-0204111783-story,amp.html|work=Hartford Courant}} from TNT and CNN/SI to Pax however, may have immediately depressed ratings by confusing fans.{{cite news |last=Smolkin|first=Rachel|date=June 26, 2002|title=Women's soccer league faces endurance test|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-06-26-0206260021-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune}} To be more specific, the WUSA's ratings plunged from the 0.4{{cite book |last= Desbordes|first=Michel|date= 23 May 2012|title=Marketing and Football|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KU8sBgAAQBAJ&q=wusa+tnt&pg=PA379|page=379|publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136380655}} to 0.2{{cite news |last=Reynolds|first=Mike|date=August 25, 2002|title=Cable's League of Its Own, Soccer's WUSA, Struggles|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/cables-league-its-own-soccers-wusa-struggles-163096}} average it got on TNT to a 0.1 average on Pax. In other words, where as an average of 425,000 households tuned in to watch the games on TNT, fewer than 100,000 watched them on Pax. Keep in mind that Pax was a station available in 90 million,{{cite news |last=Straus|first=Brian|date=August 23, 2002|title=Half-Full or Half-Empty? WUSA Glass a Bit of Both|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/08/23/half-full-or-half-empty-wusa-glass-a-bit-of-both/52addd59-5fd3-49c7-b0dc-2f68ebe8a449/|newspaper=The Washington Post}} 5 million more than TNT.{{cite news |date=April 13, 2002|title=SOCCER: WUSA second year has higher expectations|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2002/04-13/0035_soccer__wusa_second_year_has_high.html|work=The Associated Press}} The move to Pax also came as AOL Time Warner{{cite news |last=Romano|first=Allison|date=December 19, 2001|title=WUSA subs Pax TV for Turner|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wusa-subs-pax-tv-turner-90696|work=Broadcasting+Cable}} considered morphing CNN/SI into a basketball channel that would be co-owned with the National Basketball Association.

Pax's coverage in itself, concerned the broadcast of the WUSA Game of the Week, on 19 consecutive Saturdays{{cite news |date=August 17, 2002|title=FORMER NOTRE DAME PLAYER MONICA GERARDO SCORES GAMEWINNING GOAL IN WUSA SEMIFINALS|url=https://und.com/former-notre-dame-player-monica-gerardo-scores-gamewinning-goal-in-wusa-semifinals/|work=The University of Notre Dame}} beginning in April at 4:00 p.m.{{cite news |date=December 18, 2001|title=TV: WUSA moves to PAX|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/8671/tv-wusa-moves-to-pax.html|work=Soccer America}} (ET). In 2003, the league wouldn't decide on the opponents for the final Pax Game of the Week on August 9 in order to provide soccer fans with the best possible matchup with playoff implications. The decision on the two opponents for the August 9 game would be made in early August. In total,{{cite news |last=Wilner|first=Barry|date=April 4, 2003|title=WUSA, World Cup feed off each other|url=http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=262890&lang=EN&wjb=&pg=1|work=ESPNFC}} Pax was scheduled to televise 18{{cite news |last=Rusnak|first=Jeff|date=March 30, 2003|title=BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, WUSA SET TO OPEN|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-03-30-0303290474-story.html|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}} regular season games and one WUSA Playoff Semifinal in the second week of August.

Pax would receive certain cross-promotional opportunities with the league, including signs at each team venue, although the WUSA would handle ad sales for the games. The agreement carried a reported value of $2 million.{{cite news |last=Umstead|first=R. Thomas|date=December 23, 2001|title=WUSA, Pax Net TV Soccer Pact|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/wusa-pax-net-tv-soccer-pact-138534|work=Multichannel News}}{{cite news |last=Rovell|first=Darren|date=September 15, 2002|title=SPORTSBUSINESS - Rovell: WUSA quickly failed|url=http://www.espn.com/sportsbusiness/s/2003/0915/1616775.html|work=ESPN.com}}

{{see also|Soccer on ESPN}}

For the WUSA's third and final season,{{cite news |last=Bialik, Fry|first=Carl, Jason|date=September 16, 2003|title=Women's Soccer League Folds Just Days Before World Cup|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106371834085235400|work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news |last=Straus|first=Brian|date=September 16, 2003|title=Women's Pro Soccer League Forced to Fold|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/09/16/womens-pro-soccer-league-forced-to-fold/d3e974bd-62a9-4e41-ad11-ab524c2961e3/|newspaper=The Washington Post}} they announced that ESPN2{{cite news |date=April 3, 2003|title=ESPN2 to Broadcast WUSA Games|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/espn2-to-broadcast-wusa-games/n-1990278|work=OurSportsCentral}} would join Pax in broadcasting 23 league games in 2003. This would begin with a rematch of Founders Cup II{{YouTube|title=WUSA: Founders Cup II 8/24/2002|id=l69C-vnWz_0}} with the Washington Freedom visit the Carolina Courage on April 5. ESPN2 was scheduled to broadcast only four of the 23 nationally televised games. This included the All-Star Game{{cite news |date=March 28, 2003|title=WUSA, ESPN2 Near TV Deal|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/wusa-espn2-near-tv-deal-381943|work=Multichannel}} on June 19 and the Founders Cup{{cite news |date=August 18, 2003|title=Atlanta Beat to Face Mia Hamm & the Washington Freedom in Founders Cup III|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/atlanta-beat-to-face-mia-hamm--the-washington-freedom-in-founders-cup-iii/n-2340174|work=OurSports Central}} on August 24. Beth Mowins{{cite news |date=April 9, 2002|title=Mowins and Dorrance Named to PAX Broadcast Team|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/mowins-and-dorrance-named-to-pax-broadcast-team/n-1965134|work=OurSports Central}} and Anson Dorrance handled WUSA games on not just Pax{{YouTube|title=WUSA on PAX: Washington Freedom vs. Philadelphia Charge|id=UicWZMcdDoY}}{{YouTube|title=WUSA on PAX: 2002 WUSA All-Star Game|id=tlsTUAL7Nhg}} but ESPN2 also.

The WUSA ultimately scored a 0.1 percent rating on Pax and 0.2 percent on ESPN2.{{cite news |last=Cohen|first=Andrew|title=Madness, Indeed|url=https://www.athleticbusiness.com/madness-indeed.html|work=Athletic Business}}

The WUSA franchises were located in Philadelphia; Boston; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Cary, N.C.; Atlanta; San Jose, Ca.; and San Diego:

{{notelist-lr}}

{{location map+|United States|width=500|float=center|caption=Locations of the teams

| places =

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|34|1|24|N|84|36|55|W}}|label=Atlanta Beat|position=left}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|42|21|59|N|71|7|38|W}}|label=Boston Breakers|position=top}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|35|47|10.19|N|78|45|18.38|W}}|label=Carolina Courage|position=bottom}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|40|43|26.40|N|73|35|50|W}}|label=New York Power|position=right}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|39|50|50|N|75|22|22|W}}|label={{nowrap|Philadelphia Charge}}|position=left}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|32|46|23.16|N|117|11|1.32|W}}|label={{nowrap|San Diego Spirit}}|position=right}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|37|19|11|N|121|52|6|W}}|label=San Jose CyberRays|position=right}}

{{location map~|United States|coordinates={{coord|38|53|23.27|N|76|58|18.51|W}}|label=Washington Freedom|position=bottom}}

}}

For the inaugural season, each roster primarily consisted of players from the United States, although up to four international players were allowed on each team's roster.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/06/sports/america-offers-opportunities-for-foreign-females.html|title=America Offers Opportunities for Foreign Females|work=The New York Times |date=September 6, 2000|via=NYTimes.com}} Among the international players were China's Sun Wen, Pu Wei, Fan Yunjie, Zhang Ouying, Gao Hong, Zhao Lihong, and Bai Jie; Germany's Birgit Prinz, Conny Pohlers, Steffi Jones and Maren Meinert; Norway's Hege Riise, Unni Lehn, and Dagny Mellgren; Brazil's Sissi, Kátia and Pretinha; and Canada's Charmaine Hooper, Sharolta Nonen, and Christine Latham.

The league also hosted singular talents from nations which were not then at the forefront of women's soccer, such as Maribel Dominguez of Mexico, Homare Sawa of Japan, Julie Fleeting of Scotland, Cheryl Salisbury of Australia, Marinette Pichon of France, and Kelly Smith of England.

The Founders Cup (named in honor of the 20 founding players) was awarded to the winner of a four-team, single-elimination postseason playoff.{{cite web |last1=Lauletta |first1=Dan |title=In failure, WUSA left behind blueprint for distant future |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/04/10/wusa-womens-united-soccer-association-history-retrospective/ |website=Equalizer Soccer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618154729/https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/04/10/wusa-womens-united-soccer-association-history-retrospective/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |date=April 10, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

"asdet" stands for "after sudden death extra time". WUSA's sudden death overtime was 15 minutes long (two 7½-minute periods) and used only in the playoffs.

The WUSA played for three full seasons, suspending operations on September 15, 2003, shortly after the conclusion of the third season.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/sports/soccer-women-s-soccer-league-folds-on-world-cup-s-eve.html|title=SOCCER; Women's Soccer League Folds on World Cup's Eve|first=Jere|last=Longman|work=The New York Times |date=September 16, 2003|via=NYTimes.com}} Neither television ratings nor attendance met forecasts, while the league spent its initial $40{{nbsp}}million budget, planned to last five years, by the end of the first season. Even though the players took salary cuts of up to 30% for the final season, with the founding players (who also held an equity stake in the league) taking the largest cuts, that was not enough to bring expenses under control.{{cite thesis|location=University of Tennessee|degree=MA

|url=https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/3668/|title=Failure to Launch: A study int o Launch: A study into the Nor o the North American Soccer League th American Soccer League and the Women's United Soccer Association and their factors of failures through Michael Pough Michael Porter's Models of Strategy Formation|access-date=19 March 2023|date=August 2008|author=Fraser John Boyd}} In the hopes of an eventual relaunch of the league, all rights to team names, logos, and similar properties were preserved. Efforts to line up new sources of capital and operating funds continued. In June 2004, the WUSA held two "WUSA Festivals" in Los Angeles and Blaine, Minnesota, featuring matches between reconstituted WUSA teams (often with marquee players borrowed from other teams), in order to maintain the league in the public eye and sustain interest in women's professional soccer.{{cite news |last1=Longman |first1=Jere |title=SOCCER; Women's Soccer League Folds on World Cup's Eve |work=The New York Times |date=September 16, 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/sports/soccer-women-s-soccer-league-folds-on-world-cup-s-eve.html |access-date=April 14, 2019}}

With the WUSA on hiatus, the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and the W-League regained their status as the premier women's soccer leagues in the United States, and many former WUSA players joined those teams.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michelle |title=SOCCER / Collapse of WUSA leaves void / College, pro players ponder their futures |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/SOCCER-Collapse-of-WUSA-leaves-void-College-2588106.php |website=San Francisco Gate |access-date=April 14, 2019}}

A new women's professional soccer league in the United States called Women's Professional Soccer started in 2009. However, that league suspended operations in January 2012.{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Jack |title=Goal Goal The New York Times Soccer Blog W.P.S. Suspends Operations |url=https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/w-p-s-suspends-operations/ |website=The New York Times |date=January 30, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2019}} It was succeeded by the National Women's Soccer League which continues to this day.

• List of WUSA drafts
• Women's Professional Soccer
• National Women's Soccer League
• Women's sports

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Division 1 Soccer | Prev=First | Years=2000–2003 | Next=Women's Professional Soccer}}

{{Women's United Soccer Association}}

{{United States women's national soccer team}}

{{USDefunctSoccer}}

{{Major women's sport leagues in North America}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Sports leagues established in 2000

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2003

Category:Defunct women's soccer leagues in the United States

Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States

Category:2000 establishments in the United States

Category:2003 disestablishments in the United States