US Women Soccer League to Refresh Sporting Scene

With elite players from all over the world in the lines-up, the Women's United Soccer Associations (WUSA) are confident that their new eight-team league will gain a toehold in the sporting scene of the United States.

The league officials are optimistic that women's soccer will offer "something new and fresh" to win market share from such professional sports as basketball, baseball and hockey which have dominated the American's sporting life.

"Obviously the professional sports in our country have wonderful followings, but to a large part of the United States, they are pricing themselves out of the markets, meaning it is becoming too expensive for young families to bring their children to games," said Lauren Gregg, the vice president of WUSA Players Personnel on Friday.

What also makes the women's soccer undertakings special is that the league has not only won the commitment of the entire national squad including stars such as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain, but also bring together almost all the elite players in the world.

Gregg is on a visit to China, hoping to sign up all the six targeted Chinese players including Sun Wen, who have captained China to the runners-up at the 1996 Olympics and 1999 World Cup when they lost the giants battle to the United States.

"She is a unique player in the world. It is just a matter of time for us to sign with her," said Gregg.

The professional league will feature at least one member of the U.S. women's national team, and two international players for each of the eight squads for its competitive schedule which runs from mid-April to mid-August.

Three Chinese Women Soccer Players Join WUSA

Three Chinese women soccer players completed their move from respective Chinese clubs to the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) on November 24.

Wen Lirong and Liu Ailing of Beijing and Henan's Fan Yunjie have signed formal contract with WUSA vice president of player personnel Lauren Gregg.





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