Women’s Professional Soccer held their 1st Championship Final last Saturday, and it had everything American sports fans love. It had the dominant, fan favorite squad (LA Sol) against the ragtag underdogs (Sky Blue FC), who had heroically beat Saint Louis Athletica in a 1-0 game a week ago today for the right to face Marta and LA for the title. And like any good sports story, it had those underdogs besting their personal Goliath and hoisting the Cup.
Sky Blue was in dead last during the second half of the season. Their coach was dismissed under some shady circumstances early on. US National Team vet Christy Rampone took the reins as player/coach, and she led the team to the playoffs and – ultimately – the 1st WPS title. Natasha Kai, the mercurial forward, was a big reason for the team’s success, but it was really their defense that won them the title. No one could score on them at the end of the season.
Not even Marta, who was the star of the first WPS season. Just like the early Gals, the Sol were dominant during the regular season, but they couldn’t come up big when it mattered most. Marta has unfortunately had a bad habit of choking in her biggest games, and the fact she couldn’t get the Sol the title is definitely a disappointment for the Brazilian star. I hope she – and the rest of the best female players in the world – will be back in 2010 to compete.
While the inaugural 2009 season was thrilling, I am betting 2010 and beyond will be even better. Women’s pro soccer can succeed in America. It needs us though, its local soccer fanatics, to survive long term. Let’s all continue to support the league next year, and let’s hope it continues to deliver top shelf soccer. I know I will be back, and that my attention will be rapt. It’s the ladies turn, guys. Let’s all take note. The women can play. And they are here to stay.
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You have the coaching situation incorrect. Ian Sawyers was sacked early on. Then Kelly Lindsey resigned along with her Assistant Coach Joe Dorini. THEN Rampone took the reigns!