Expect the yet to be named women's professional soccer league to be leaner than the defunct Women's United Soccer Association, says U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati.
He felt the league, which is expected to debut in 2009, won't play in as large stadiums as the WUSA.
"I think there will be greater cost controls at management, more managed expectations, in some cases smaller stadiums," he said during a breakfast session with U.S. media Saturday morning.
"The group of investors have seem very committed," he added. "They understand -- which is a critical component -- this is a long-term plan. They understand that the color of ink on the bottom line is likely to be something different than they usually see in their businesses, but they are committed to that. And that's important."
Gulati felt the owners, some from the WUSA, others new, have learned from the first pro women's league's mistakes.
"I think they have learned some lessons," he said. "Given the model, I don't know if they will be able to go out and get Marta to play. I'm not sure. Some things have changed around the world. She has become more expensive.
"To make the league viable, initially they may not be able to go get all of the top players worldwide. I think they will get a bunch of them, for sure."
The WUSA kicked off in 2001 and lasted for three seasons. It was suspended operations only days before the start of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States.
On Sept. 4, exactly a week before the U.S. national team began its participation in this competition, it was announced the new league would kick off in two years.
The league -- under the temporary working title of Women's Soccer LLC -- has been formally established by seven investor groups.
Teams will be based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.
WSII CEO Tonya Antonucci, who has worked trying to revive the league since 2003, was named the commissioner.
Dual starters: If he had to do it over again, U.S. women's national coach Greg Ryan said Saturday he would have dual starting goalkeepers for the Women's World Cup, not one.
Goalkeeper Hope Solo started the first four matches and was replaced by Briana Scurry in a rare and controversial move by Ryan prior to the U.S.'s 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil Thursday. Solo since criticized Ryan and apologized on the internet before it was announced Saturday that she would not be with the team for Sunday's third-place match vs. Norway.
"If you look in hindsight at me ... and the potential mistakes I've made, my mistake was not leaving them more in a dual starting role in an earlier period of time," Ryan said at a Saturday afternoon press conference at the team hotel.
"Now seeing how good Bri is, I think we needed two kinds of goalkeepers in this World Cup. Hope is just a fantastic goalie on crosses. She's good on everything.
"Bri, to me, is still the best shot-stopper in the world. I wish we played better in front of her."
Ryan said he was impressed with the way Scurry has handled herself before and after the controversy. Scurry did not complain when she was relegated to a secondary role behind Solo.
"It's not easy for a player with her pedigree to take a backseat role," he said. "She's worked to be ready.
"I'm so proud of her, the way she's handled herself, her character. The fact she's behind a young player who never won a medal, step in front of her, Bri has just been fantastic."
No retiring thoughts -- yet: U.S. captain and forward Kristine Lilly doesn't know if Sunday's third-place game against Norway will be her final Women's World Cup game.
The 36-year-old Lilly, who is playing in her record fifth WWC and has performed in more international matches -- 336 -- than any other woman on the planet. She also has scored 127 international matches, second to only Mia Hamm (158 international goals).
"After this this World Cup, I'm going to see how it is," she said. "The Olympics are not too far off. But it's something that I'll have to discuss with my husband and feel where I'm at.
"I still feel I can play the game. Having the loss against Brazil, that doesn't feel good but it's part of what I love so much about the game that you have these highs and lows. We'll see what happens.
"In the end, we're going to have a great team representing us at the Olympics and go through qualification. Right now I just want to take this all in, enjoy it with the team right here and see what stands ahead of me."
Lilly will play in her third third-place game since 1991; the other years were 1995 and 2003. The Wilton, Conn. native also was a vital part of world championship teams in 1991 and 1999.
"The third-place game is extremely important," she said. "As a group, to finish a World Cup experience, you want to win on a high note to show our fans that we can play better soccer. You don't always have another game, but we have another game and it's our opportunity to get out on the field and show what we can do and how we love this game and make our country proud."
Michael Lewis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
