Originally scheduled to launch in 2008, the seven-team pro Women's Soccer LLC now aims for a 2009 launch. League commissioner Tonya Antonucci said, "Careful consideration was taken in timing the launch of the league, as team owners are being judicious to ensure that this league is sustainable and successful in the long run. It's a simple matter of preparation and operational readiness."
Teams are to be based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis and Washington.
The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), launched in the wake of the hugely successfully U.S.-hosted 1999 Women's World Cup, lasted three seasons (2001-03). The investors in the reincarnation decided to wait until after the 2008 Beijing Olympics instead of following through with the original plan to launch after September's Women's World Cup in China.
"We did not want to impact the various national teams between these two events and we did not want our league to take the focus away from these two great events for our players or our fans," said Michael Stoller, managing partner for Boston Women's Soccer, the ownership group of the Boston Breakers, told the Associated Press .
The ownership groups are: AEG L.A. Women's Soccer; Boston Women's Soccer; Chicago Professional Women's Soccer; Hendricks Investment Holdings (Washington); St. Louis United Soccer; Sky Blue Women's Soccer (New Jersey/New York); and Sting Soccer Group (Dallas).