After only three seasons the end of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) came in 2003. Immediately after the WUSA formed a reorganization committee to find a way to form a new league. The committee founded a non-profit called Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII) to support and promote women’s soccer in the United States. WSII announced in June 2006 that a new league will be ready to play in 2008.
Teams from Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, St. Louis and later named New Jersey and Boston formed the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league. The start of the new league was pushed back as to not interfere with the 2007 Women’s World Cup and the 2008 Olympic Games. Teams from Atlanta and Philadelphia will join for the 2010 season. PUMA is a major sponsor of WPS and games are televised on FOX Soccer Channel.
Players from all over the world make up these professional teams that are individually owned by a group of investors in each city. New Jersey Sky Blue FC won the inaugural season of the WPS Michelle Akers former Olympian winning the Player of the Year Award. Abner Rogers of the Los Angeles Sol won the Coach of the year award. Goalkeeper of the Year went to Hope Solo of Saint Louis Athletica and the Golden Boot award went to Marta of Los Angeles Sol with 10 goals. The mission of the WPS is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world. The 2010 pre-season will kick off in March!
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