Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Members Wary About Launch Of New Pro League

Two previous American-based women’s soccer leagues “have failed over the past decade, so there is understandable wariness on the highly popular” U. S. women’s national team about the concept of launching another pro league, according to Mike Berardino of the N.Y. TIMES. USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe said, “There’s a lot we don’t know so far, so it’s hard to say what we expect out of it. I think having a league and having an opportunity to play consistently, if it’s sustainable and it’s something that’s good for not only this team but the next 100 players, would be good. We need to know a lot more.” When asked what “has to happen this time to make the concept work,” F Abby Wambach said, “I don’t know that answer. I guess we’ll have to wait and find out. I have no idea.” Even with U.S. Soccer Federation “taking the administrative lead in the new league and vowing to subsidize the salaries of up to 24 players from the national team, Wambach remains circumspect.” Wambach: “Honestly, it’s happened two times. It’s risen and fallen two times. Those two times I was wrong.” Still, Berardino notes “whatever the fate of the new league, the popularity of the current American team clearly remains strong” (N.Y. TIMES, 12/17). Wambach said that most national-team players are “committed to the league,” but G Hope Solo, known “for independence, isn’t one.” Solo said, “I personally haven’t made up my mind if I’m going to play in the league or not. It’s to be determined how professional the league really is. I hope it stays because the next time we come out with a league, it better not collapse again. It better be here to stay” (PALM BEACH POST, 12/15).

THE NAME GAME: The new women's professional soccer league to be backed by the USSF on Saturday announced it will be called the National Women's Soccer League. The NWSL also unveiled its new logo, which is red, white and blue and "includes the silhouette of a female soccer player about to strike the ball." The new league begins play in '13 (AP, 12/15). The league consists of eight teams: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash and Seattle, which "has yet to announce a name" (GOAL.com, 12/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/12/17/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Womens-Soccer.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/12/17/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Womens-Soccer.aspx

CLOSE