It’s a thrilling time to be a fan of women’s soccer. The United States women’s soccer team won the gold medal in the Olympics this year, and new excitement might continue to build as plans for a new women’s professional soccer league start in Spring 2013.
The new, unnamed league will feature at least eight different teams, according to a news release on the Boston Breakers website.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the league could be a good goal for Bobcat players.
“I think as our program continues to build, that’s something they can work toward,” Strauss said.
The Breakers, Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC are all surviving members from the Women’s Professional Soccer League that recently folded. There will be two teams located on the West Coast, with one commitment located in Seattle.
Ohio senior defender Paige Howard said the league could benefit collegiate players.
“I think it’s a good opportunity if people want to extend their career,” Howard said. “We definitely have some great players going through this program who definitely have an opportunity and have the talent to do so.”
Several different women’s professional league teams have failed in the past, but the recent success of U.S. women’s soccer in the World Cup and Olympics could give the league what it needs to succeed.
“I have people come up to me and say, ‘You know, I really don’t watch that much girls’ soccer,’ but with the Olympics and everything else, they’re real excited,” Howard said.
Another problem that has plagued women’s leagues is attracting marquee players to stay and play inside the confines of the United States.
“There’s great players going through the collegiate level,” Howard said. “If they can get enough players to get on to that next level and they can have multiple teams that will be competitive within each other, they’ll have a greater chance of keeping them in the United States.”
mk277809@ohiou.edu
