U.S. Soccer president Alan Rothenberg has appointed a seven-person committee to work on the development of women’s professional soccer in the United States. The Women’s Professional Soccer Development Committee is expected to analyze and develop strategies to help the growth of the sport in the U.S. and to implement the groundwork for a women’s professional league. It will also monitor the success of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. “The USSF is determined to create a positive environment for women’s professional soccer in this country,” said Rothenberg. “We will explore and prepare all proper avenues in that endeavor, with the ultimate goal being the creation of a women’s professional league.” The committee will be chaired by Dr. Bob Contigulia, the former USYSA president who is a member of the board of directors of both the USSF and WWC ’99. The other committee members (who are all members of the USSF board or WWC ’99 board) are David Askinas (professional division representative), Bill Goaziou (U.S. Soccer treasurer), Sunil Gulati (MLS deputy commissioner), Mary Harvey-Capobianco (former U.S. national team goalkeeper), Pam Kopple (chair of the USSF women’s development special committee) and Marla Messing (president and COO of the WWC ’99 organizing committee).