ATLANTA — The Women's United Soccer Association (search) -- made up of eight professional teams across the country -- shut down Monday, saying it did not have enough money to stay in business for a fourth season.
The decision was made by the Atlanta-based league's board of governors at a meeting in New York.
The league featured the best female soccer players in the world, including Mia Hamm (search) and Brandi Chastain (search). It had teams in Boston, Atlanta, San Diego, Washington, New York, San Jose, North Carolina and Philadelphia. Its season ended last month; play would have resumed in April.
"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.
The WUSA's owners invested more than $100 million to fund the league, and some of the top players took pay cuts this season to help keep it afloat.
The decision to fold the league came five days before this year's Women's World Cup.
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 the U.S. World Cup team and a member of the WUSA Board of Governors.
Foudy said she hoped publicity surrounding the Women's World Cup would help generate support that could revive the WUSA. Fifty-six WUSA players are to compete in the World Cup.
The tournament, which is sponsored by FIFA, soccer's international governing body, returns to the United States beginning Saturday in Philadelphia. It had been scheduled for China but was moved because of the SARS outbreak.
The decision was made by the Atlanta-based league's board of governors at a meeting in New York.
The league featured the best female soccer players in the world, including Mia Hamm (search) and Brandi Chastain (search). It had teams in Boston, Atlanta, San Diego, Washington, New York, San Jose, North Carolina and Philadelphia. Its season ended last month; play would have resumed in April.
"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.
The WUSA's owners invested more than $100 million to fund the league, and some of the top players took pay cuts this season to help keep it afloat.
The decision to fold the league came five days before this year's Women's World Cup.
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 the U.S. World Cup team and a member of the WUSA Board of Governors.
Foudy said she hoped publicity surrounding the Women's World Cup would help generate support that could revive the WUSA. Fifty-six WUSA players are to compete in the World Cup.
The tournament, which is sponsored by FIFA, soccer's international governing body, returns to the United States beginning Saturday in Philadelphia. It had been scheduled for China but was moved because of the SARS outbreak.
