The Women's United Soccer Association, which completed its third season in August, is ceasing operations. The WUSA's board of governors made the decision on Monday citing insufficient revenue to support a fourth year of play.
A league statement, which revealed that WUSA's owners have invested more than $100 million to date to fund the league, noted that the ''breadth of corporate sponsorship'' has been ''the greatest disappointment, reaching less than half of the levels anticipated in the league's original business plan.''
The announcement comes five days before the kickoff of the Women's World Cup hosted by the United States.
''The WUSA Board met and acted today in order to protect funding for the league's shutdown obligations including severance arrangements,'' said the league's statement. ''The Board was also anxious to avoid the potential disruption caused by continued uncertainty during upcoming World Cup play.
''The Board was unanimous in the belief that, given the financial realities facing the league, it was in everyone's best interest to make an immediate decision and announcement.''