U.S. women’s national team captain Christie Rampone worries over program’s future

Apr 23, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship - Canada v United States

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United States women’s team captain Christie Rampone has it absolutely right when she expresses concern that national team fortunes are powerfully entwined with WPS (or a national league of similar quality.)

“Players become good after they leave college,” Rampone just told Gol.com.

Rampone (second from right in picture) said in the article that she hasn’t been updated on WPS recovery efforts since January. That’s no great news considering pro soccer’s critical role in the developmental puzzle.

“All of the countries are catching up and I don’t want for us to struggle to realize that we need a league here,” she said.

Which is all true. Unfortunately, this unarguable “need” is hardly the central piece of this difficult equation. It’s all about economics; this is not and never will be a charitable venture. Business leaders interested in soccer must get together, pool the very best ideas and find a way to make the women’s pro game financially feasible.

And, perhaps just as critically, they absolutely must learn from history. The models certainly exist on how not to do it. WUSA showed everyone how over-ambition and hubris could smash a glistening opportunity. The lessons are still being sorted out from WPS, but they surely include the jeopardy of adding ownership when goals are not aligned for the common good.

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3 Comments (Feed for Comments)

tylerbetts - Apr 23, 2012 at 1:47 PM

It’s a shame the major chip US Soccer could use to try to drive business (and by business, I mean television) to partner with a women’s league is goine: World Cup/US Team rights. In all honesty, I real TV partner is what is needed, no matter if that’s ESPN, NBC, FOX, or someone else that can get the league real coverage and real exposure.

I still feel the right solution is a W-MLS, with strong MLS teams (Galaxy, Sounders, KC, Timbers, and Whitecaps to start with) and markets that could support women with minimal travel to those stronger sites (Salt Lake, Denver, I’m looking at you) forming the start of the league. But, MLS rights fees aren’t enough to strong arm a network into taking on W-MLS programming. So, maybe our ladies should go play in Europe for a bit, and we can see a set back to another domestic league.

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donjuego - Apr 23, 2012 at 5:31 PM

I can’t see it working until MLS takes on a women’s division and the MLS franchises add women’s teams.

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beetzabk95 - May 7, 2012 at 1:58 PM

I hope MLS gets involved or NBS or FX someone

I have a 10 yr old that is bound and determined to play professional soccer…at moment her only choice is another country…and that is sad..this is supposed to be the land of opportunity!

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