-
WUSA Announces Franchises
After the phenomenal success of the 1999 Women's World Cup, the time was never better for the introduction of a professional women's soccer league in the United States. The 20 members of the '99 USWNT helped establish a league with teams from Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Washington D.C., Cary, N.C., Atlanta, San Jose, and San Diego. -
WUSA Approved by U.S. Soccer Federation (U.S.S.F)
After a lot of promotion, the women's national team players worked in conjuction with John Hendricks of the Discovery Channel to form the first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Initial investment in the league totaled $30 million. On this date, the U.S. Soccer Federation declared the league as a sanctioned U.S.S.F Division 1 professional soccer league. -
WUSA's Inaugural Game
On April 14, 2001, in front of a crowd of 34,148 fans at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., the Washington Freedom hosted the Bay Area Cyber Rays. The game proved to be a huge success, hosting a vast assortment of women's activists, including Billie Jean King performing the ceremonial coin toss. The Freedom defeated the Cyber Rays 1-0 on a penalty kick in the second half. -
Period: to
Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
-
WUSA Reorganization Committee Formed
The WUSA REorganization Committee was formed in September following the disbanding of the WUSA to begin the process of bringing professional soccer back to the U.S. -
WUSA Suspends Operations
After three seasons, and just a week before the start of the Women's World Cup of 2003 (hosted for the second consecutive time in the United States), the Women's United Soccer Association announced that it would suspend operations immediately due to underachievement in television ratings and attendance. In hopes that the league would eventually be revamped and reinstated however, the league preserved rights on team names, logos, etc. The event went largely unnoticed in the public sphere. -
WSII Formed
On the heels of the WUSA Reorganization Committee, the non-profit organization the Women's Soccer Initiative Incorporated was founded, whose stated goal was "promoting and supporting all aspect of women's soccer in the United States." Their primary goal was the founding of a new professional league. -
WSII Announces Relaunch of the League for 2008 Season
In June 2006, the Women's Soccer Initiative Inc. announced the relaunch of the women's professional league for the 2008 season, eventually announcing teams from Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Washington D.C. A team would eventually not materialize in Dallas, but a team would be added in San Diego. -
Name of the League Announced
The new name of the league, Women's Professional Soccer, WPS, was announced in January 2008, along with the new logo. The logo featured a silhouette of Mia Hamm, who retired after the WUSA disbanded. -
WPS Announces Expansion Team in Philadelphia for 2010
WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci announced on this day that Philadelphia investors signed a letter of intent with the League regarding an expansion team for the 2010 season, bringing the league to eight teams. The Philadelphia franchise would potentially share a field with the recently acquired MLS franchise the Philadelphia Union. -
Period: to
Women's Pro Soccer
-
WPS Inaugural Match
This time around, the opening match was hosted in Los Angeles, California at the Home Depot Center, in front of a crowd of 14,000. The Los Angeles Sol hosted the Washington Freedom, defeating the Freedom 2-0. -
WPS Suspends Season
After struggling again through financial and organizational frustrations, the Women's Professional Soccer announced suspension of the 2012 season. -
WPS Officially Ceases Operations
The WPS ultimately announced that the league had officially ceased operations in May of 2012, and its remaining teams assimilated into the Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League. -
U.S. Soccer President Announces Formation of New League
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati announced in a media conference that U.S. Soccer would be aiding in the organization and running of a revamped women's professional league in the United States. He added that the league would put a special focus this time around on sustainability.
