Where The Women Play
When the WUSA closed its doors a couple of years ago, its players were looking for places to play. Many players sought opportunities overseas, including a quartet of national teamers – Hope Solo, Christie Welsh, Lorrie Fair, and my girl Aly Wagner – that went to play for Lyon in France. Unbeknownst to a lot of the public, there is a women’s league here in the United States that now serves as the playing ground for many former WUSA’ers. That league is the W-League.
The W-League is not about money. Salary information is not available – evidently because there isn’t a salary to speak of. I looked high and low and it seems the players receive only a stipend for room, food, gas, etc. and make money participating in soccer camps and other activities that most often include youth education. There are teams all over the country as well as a few in Canada, and recently the New Jersey Wildcats faced off against the Ottawa Fury for the W-League Championship. The Wildcats came out victorious 3-0 and lifted the trophy, avenging their only loss over the last 2 seasons. Taking the field that day for the Wildcats were US national teamers Cat Reddick (UNC alumna), Heather O’Reilly (currently at UNC), the aforementioned Welsh (back from Lyon), and Canadian national teamer, goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
The home team for the area are the Northern Virginia Majestics. The Majestics play their games at a high school in Woodbridge in front of small family oriented crowds. I was only able to attend one game this season, a 2-1 loss to the Central Florida Krush, a team consisting of many former University of Florida players, including national teamers Danielle Fotopolous and Heather Mitts. There probably aren’t any players on the Majestics roster that you’d recognize. Many of the players are from the area and played club soccer here.
The WUSA may not currently be operational, but the W-League, having attracted many high-quality players who once played in the WUSA, has risen in stature and is among the best women’s soccer leagues in the world. It may not be for money, but it’s good to know that our soccer-playing women still have a place to ply their trade.
The W-League is not about money. Salary information is not available – evidently because there isn’t a salary to speak of. I looked high and low and it seems the players receive only a stipend for room, food, gas, etc. and make money participating in soccer camps and other activities that most often include youth education. There are teams all over the country as well as a few in Canada, and recently the New Jersey Wildcats faced off against the Ottawa Fury for the W-League Championship. The Wildcats came out victorious 3-0 and lifted the trophy, avenging their only loss over the last 2 seasons. Taking the field that day for the Wildcats were US national teamers Cat Reddick (UNC alumna), Heather O’Reilly (currently at UNC), the aforementioned Welsh (back from Lyon), and Canadian national teamer, goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
The home team for the area are the Northern Virginia Majestics. The Majestics play their games at a high school in Woodbridge in front of small family oriented crowds. I was only able to attend one game this season, a 2-1 loss to the Central Florida Krush, a team consisting of many former University of Florida players, including national teamers Danielle Fotopolous and Heather Mitts. There probably aren’t any players on the Majestics roster that you’d recognize. Many of the players are from the area and played club soccer here.
The WUSA may not currently be operational, but the W-League, having attracted many high-quality players who once played in the WUSA, has risen in stature and is among the best women’s soccer leagues in the world. It may not be for money, but it’s good to know that our soccer-playing women still have a place to ply their trade.
posted by I-66 at 12:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home