ATLANTA (CP) - The Women's United Soccer Association has shut down operations five days before the women's World Cup of soccer, saying it didn't have enough money to stay in business for a fourth season.
The decision was made by the WUSA's board of governors Monday at a meeting in New York. The Atlanta-based league planned an announcement later in the day, spokesman Dan Courtemanche said. "A shortfall in sponsorship revenue and insufficient revenue from other core areas of the business proved to be the hurdles which the WUSA could not overcome in time for planning the 2004 season," said John Hendricks, chairman of the WUSA board of governors.
WUSA has been the training ground for many of the players at the coming World Cup. There are 19 WUSA players on the U.S. roster and 37 on international squads, including five Canadians.
Ottawa striker Charmaine Hooper, a member of the Atlanta Beat who is tied for the WUSA lead in career scoring, is one of two players to have registered double digits in goals in each of the WUSA's three seasons.
Hooper captained the Beat and led them to the championship game this season, only to lose to the Washington Freedom.
Vancouver's Sharolta Nonen, a teammate in Atlanta, was a finalist for defender of the year while Calgary's Christine Latham, a striker with the San Diego Spirit, was chosen WUSA's top rookie this season.
Karina LeBlanc of Maple Ridge, B.C., who plays for the Boston Breakers, was one of the best goalkeepers in the league while Edmonton's Breanna Boyd played defence for the Carolina Courage.
LeBlanc, Boyd, Hooper and Nonen all played for the world team in the 2003 WUSA all-star game.
WUSA's owners have invested more than $100 million US to fund the league, and some of the top players took pay cuts this season to help keep it afloat.
The timing of the move was perhaps surprising, but the WUSA said it was "in everyone's best interest to make an immediate decision and announcement."
The league was formed as a partnership between the owners and players following the huge success of the 1999 women's World Cup in the United States, which the Americans won. Founding players took an active role in league management.
"The impact of the WUSA on women's sports and millions of fans has been extraordinary," said Julie Foudy, captain of the San Diego Spirit and U.S. World Cup team and a member of the WUSA board of governors.
The tournament returns to the United States, beginning Saturday in Philadelphia. It had been scheduled for China but was moved because of the SARS outbreak.
The eight-team league had franchises in: Boston, Atlanta, San Diego, Washington, New York, San Jose, North Carolina and Philadelphia.
Foudy said she hoped publicity surrounding the women's World Cup would help generate support that could revive the WUSA
"The positive impact our sport has had on youth players, both boys and girls, and their perception of women and athletics, has been inspiring to experience firsthand," she said.
http://canada.com/sports/story.html?id=1ABCEB79-A6D3-4CC8-B9CE-3BAF2EBCB6AF
The decision was made by the WUSA's board of governors Monday at a meeting in New York. The Atlanta-based league planned an announcement later in the day, spokesman Dan Courtemanche said. "A shortfall in sponsorship revenue and insufficient revenue from other core areas of the business proved to be the hurdles which the WUSA could not overcome in time for planning the 2004 season," said John Hendricks, chairman of the WUSA board of governors.
WUSA has been the training ground for many of the players at the coming World Cup. There are 19 WUSA players on the U.S. roster and 37 on international squads, including five Canadians.
Ottawa striker Charmaine Hooper, a member of the Atlanta Beat who is tied for the WUSA lead in career scoring, is one of two players to have registered double digits in goals in each of the WUSA's three seasons.
Hooper captained the Beat and led them to the championship game this season, only to lose to the Washington Freedom.
Vancouver's Sharolta Nonen, a teammate in Atlanta, was a finalist for defender of the year while Calgary's Christine Latham, a striker with the San Diego Spirit, was chosen WUSA's top rookie this season.
Karina LeBlanc of Maple Ridge, B.C., who plays for the Boston Breakers, was one of the best goalkeepers in the league while Edmonton's Breanna Boyd played defence for the Carolina Courage.
LeBlanc, Boyd, Hooper and Nonen all played for the world team in the 2003 WUSA all-star game.
WUSA's owners have invested more than $100 million US to fund the league, and some of the top players took pay cuts this season to help keep it afloat.
The timing of the move was perhaps surprising, but the WUSA said it was "in everyone's best interest to make an immediate decision and announcement."
The league was formed as a partnership between the owners and players following the huge success of the 1999 women's World Cup in the United States, which the Americans won. Founding players took an active role in league management.
"The impact of the WUSA on women's sports and millions of fans has been extraordinary," said Julie Foudy, captain of the San Diego Spirit and U.S. World Cup team and a member of the WUSA board of governors.
The tournament returns to the United States, beginning Saturday in Philadelphia. It had been scheduled for China but was moved because of the SARS outbreak.
The eight-team league had franchises in: Boston, Atlanta, San Diego, Washington, New York, San Jose, North Carolina and Philadelphia.
Foudy said she hoped publicity surrounding the women's World Cup would help generate support that could revive the WUSA
"The positive impact our sport has had on youth players, both boys and girls, and their perception of women and athletics, has been inspiring to experience firsthand," she said.
http://canada.com/sports/story.html?id=1ABCEB79-A6D3-4CC8-B9CE-3BAF2EBCB6AF
