After the WUSA closed its doors following the 2003 season, women's soccer in the United States was limited to college and amateur ranks and the international game. Without a top-tier league, the women's game sat all too silent in that span.
Six years later, women's soccer has returned and already exceeded expectations.
On Sunday, the Women's Professional Soccer league kicked off with a match at The Home Depot Center between the Los Angeles Sol and the Washington Freedom. A crowd of 14,832 showed up to watch the Sol beat the Freedom 2-0. In the end, though, the result wasn't what the players were discussing.
"We have our own professional league again, and that is the most important thing," Freedom forward Abby Wambach said. "I am now a better player than I would have been if I hadn't played in this game."
Wambach is one of several standout players the new league will spotlight. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist played her first competitive game in eight months on Sunday as Wambach broke her leg in June, just before the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Also on the field Sunday were players such as three-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta, U.S. internationals Shannon Boxx, Brian Scurry and Cat Whitehill, French standout Camille Abily and Japanase international Aya Miyama.
League officials hope the starpower found in WPS will help generate similar early success for other teams.
"We have kicked off a new league that can stake its claim as the world's premier soccer league for women based on the talent our teams have assembled," WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci said. "We have a foundation that can and will support a successful, entertaining and sustainable league."
For the host Sol, the team features possibly the brightest star in the league in Marta. The Brazilian star's skills were on display throughout the game as she dribbled through Freedom defenders with ease. Although she was not involved in the first goal, a headre by Allison Falk, Marta set up Abily for the game's second goal.
The action on the field made for an enjoyable environment.,p>
"People are excited. They had a fun time. It was an exciting match both ways. People have to realize it's just going to get better. This is just our first game. We're going to get better as a team. D.C. is going to get better as a team," said Boxx, the Sol's captain and hometown hero. "Our part as players is to show it on the field and to make the fans enjoy the game and I think (Sunday) both teams did a great job of that. For a first game, there is a lot both teams can improve on of course but I thought it was a very good game."
Boxx, who graduated from nearby South Torrance H.S., said there were plenty of reasons for fans to come out to a WPS match.
"It's a fun, great environment. It's not very expensive and you see great women playing a great sport," Boxx said. "14,000 people, and I think they all had a great time. I'm excited."
And while the comparisons to the WUSA are inevitable, Wambach said this league stands on its own already.
"Apples to oranges," Wambach said about the two leagues. "Different time, different players, different feel. The WUSA was great for what that was worth; it was a stepping stone to where we are now."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
