University of Massachusets Athletics
Another League of Their Own
August 11, 2000 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 11, 2000
By SUSAN COSCIONE
The Maroon & White
Sports fans have witnessed the recent emergences of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). And now, UMass fans, make way for the rise of professional women's soccer.
Beginning next year, a new professional women's soccer league, Women's USA League, hopes to storm onto the sports scene. Several current and former Minutewomen, who are currently playing in an amateur women's soccer league, are excited about what's on the horizon for the sport they love.
Five former UMass players and two current Minutewomen are on the rosters of the new amatuer Women's United Soccer League (USL-W). Former UMass stars Erica Iverson (Boston Renegades), Rachel LeDuc (Springfield Sirens), Rebecca Meyers (Chicago Cobras), Danielle Dion (Chicago Cobras) and Nicole Roberts (Raleigh Wings) along with current players Maggie LaBrode (Springfield Sirens) and Julie Prodhrasky (North Texas Heat) are all playing in the W-USL. United States Olympian Briana Scurry is already slated to play for the Atlanta franchise of the inaugural W-USA League in 2001.
The USL-W has UMass head soccer coach Jim Rudy excited about the possibilities of a women's professional league in the near future.
"The USL-W is a new thing," Rudy said. "And people are figuring out that some of these franchises are a good thing to get into. It's still going through its growing pains, but with the establishment of the WUSA next year, it will become even more important because these teams are going to become the farm teams for the pros.
"What we see now is just a start. But things are going to change, and these teams are going to get organized and go quickly."
Rudy is also optimistic about the league's chances of succeeding, despite the failed success of such innovative leagues as the American Basketball League (ABL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL).
"It all remains to be seen whether or not this league will carry on," Rudy said. "The answer lies in how committed these organizations are, and how long they are willing to take a loss. They have all the examples of the failed leagues in front of them that went under, and now also the MLS to look at. So they have the chance to control their losses. I think they are proceeding very cautiously, so it's got potential."
With the rise of these new women's soccer leagues, women now have the option to continue playing soccer once they've completed their collegiate career. And with the introduction of the new WUSA league, they may even be able to make a career out of it.
"What we have here is the makings of a pretty effective triangle with the WUSA at the top and the two USL-W divisions at the bottom," said Rudy. "I think a lot of kids now want to continue on after college."
One of those players who has already gotten off to a solid start in the USL-W is LeDuc, who played for UMass from 1992-95. LeDuc, who is in her first season with the Springfield Sirens, is a candidate for the league's Player of the Year award.
"It has been a great season for me," LeDuc said. "This is the first time I have been able to really play competitively since colllege. And for me to have been playing the way I have been this season, I've been very fortunate."
LeDuc has one UMass tie on her Siren team, though she never got the chance to actually play along side her during her collegaite career. And she is current Minutewoman Maggie LaBrode, who will be entering into her sophomore season at UMass in the fall. LaBrode has enjoyed the experiences she has gained in her first season with the Sirens.
"It has been a great opportunity for me because I missed half my freshman year at UMass due to an ankle injury," said LaBrode. "So I'm playing catch-up now.
"The competition is great. Last week, I guarded a Mexican National Team forward. Now, that's something you don't get to do too often."
LaBrode has also welcomed the chance to play with LeDuc, whom she admired as a a child growing up.
"I actually saw Rachel play when I was younger," LaBrode said. "So it is fun to be able to play with her now and with other players I used to watch and look up to."
So one might ask just how different the level of play is in this league compared to at the collegiate level. Well, the answer is, it varies according to each team.
"The level of play in this league is probably a step above the college level," Meyers said, who played for the Minutewomen from 1993-96. "I know we [Cobra teammates] go out there as if we'd do anything for each other, and that's why we have been so successful."
The fan support for these teams also varies according to each franchise, but overall, the players are happy to see the fans come out and support them.
"We [Sirens] get between 1,000 and 2,000 people in attendance for each game," said LeDuc. "The fans have been wonderful. We sign autographs after each game, and it is great for little kids because now they have something to look forward to in the future."
So overall, it's a good start to something that could turn out to be a remarkable phenomenon for both athletes and fans alike. Professional women's soccer - the dreams keep coming true.
