U.S. Soccer President Alan Rothenberg has appointed a
seven-person committee to study the development of women's
professional soccer in the U.S. The Women's Professional
Soccer Development Committee will analyze and develop
strategies to help grow the sport in the U.S. and will be in
charge of implementing the ground work for an eventual
women's professional soccer league in the U.S. The seven-
member committee will be chaired by Dr. Bob Contingulia, who
serves on the WWC Board of Directors and is a member of the
USSF National Board of Directors. Other members are: David
Askinas, member of the USSF National Board of Directors;
Bill Goaziou, member of WWC Board of Directors; Sunil
Gulati, MLS Deputy Commissioner and member of WWC Board of
Directors; Mary Harvey-Capobianco, member of USSF National
Board of Directors Exec Committee; Pam Kopple, USSF Women's
Development Special Committee Chair and Marla Messing, WWC
'99 Organizing Committee President & COO (U.S. Soccer).
ONE VOTE: USA TODAY's Jerry Langdon writes that "there
should be first-division [women's] soccer now. And work
should begin now on such a league for immediately after the
1999 World Cup." Langdon notes the new U.S. Soccer study
committee and writes, "U.S. Soccer was not behind the
earlier, failed attempt by National Soccer Alliance. Its
active participation is long overdue" (USA TODAY, 3/19).
