Consider This Weekend's W-League Final Four A Gauge For WPS Interest

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 29, 2011 2:39 PM PDT in Sounders: Women

Admittedly, we don't cover women's soccer around here as much as we probably should. There is, after all, a professional team playing under the name Sounders that was once officially part of the same organization. They play their games at Starfire and are actually hosting the USL's W-League Final Four starting tonight. (The Sounders Women play at 7 p.m. against Ottawa by the way. If you're interested, you should definitely check out the Seattle Times' preview. Solid stuff.)

Part of the reason we don't cover the Sounders Women more, though, is because we don't get a sense there's much demand for it. As far as I know, we've never been asked about doing more.

I have a feeling that would change pretty quickly if they ever chose to join the WPS, similar to how interest in the Sounders rose considerably after they joined MLS.

Not to read too much into some comments team owner Jon Billings made to the Times, but it sounds like joining WPS is at least a possibility:

(You mentioned the bigger picture goals of the weekend beyond just this championship. Is making the leap to WPS a goal for this organization?) "Definitely a possibility. We're actually considering everything and this weekend can really create some momentum and turn some heads. ... I don't know if our future is WPS, based on how that league is, but certainly taking the team to a higher level -- whether it be within this league or adjusting it to a more professional thing or expanding on the organization so we can reach more people -- that's definitely a goal. If we do this right, it can turn and take this to a higher level."

I'm sure this weekend's tournament, which concludes at 4 p.m. on Sunday and will be played on Fox Soccer, is being used to at least somewhat gauge interest. If you feel like women's soccer in the Pacific Northwest is currently under covered, heading out to Starfire this weekend is probably a good start.

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Tickets..

Here: http://www.tacomafc.com/SoundersWomen/SoundersWomenTickets/index_E.html

Sports. Right?

by mdkathon on Jul 29, 2011 4:00 PM PDT reply actions

I should be clear

the King of Norway would love us to talk more women’s soccer

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 29, 2011 4:32 PM PDT reply actions

True that.

And while I’d like to see Seattle get a WPS team, I don’t think it will happen soon. That league is in survival mode, and it seems like they want to put the kabosh on West Coast teams for now to keep travel costs low. It’s hard to blame them for that.

Loved this year’s Women’s World Cup too.

by The King of Norway on Jul 30, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

West Coast in the works

Anne-Marie Eileraas says discussions are ongoing with West Coast cities.

But Vancouver says it’s sticking with the W-League.

by Beau Dure on Jul 30, 2011 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Just to be clear

The Fox Soccer W-League game is listed on Monday at 4:30pm under USL Soccer.

The weekly WPS game is in its usual 3-5pm time on Sunday.

And for the record, I’d also like more coverage of women’s soccer. If you’re interested check out All White Kit and The Equalizer. They both do a great job.

by James Bray on Jul 29, 2011 4:49 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I have to admit

that with a daughter playing soccer I’ve been wanting to take here to the w-league sounders games. As a STH for the MLS Sounders I’ve taker her to a bunch of games, but I really do think that she would appreciate watching women play on a level that she won’t seeing the men play. We’re soccer spoiled around here having both a womens and mens team that are both doing well. I’m going to be sure to get her to some W-league sounders games next season…

by Zakuani11Fan on Jul 29, 2011 5:47 PM PDT reply actions

Starfire would be a great WPS complex

Average WPS sized crowds would be sellouts, and given that its a dedicated soccer pitch gives it an advantage over the other teams that play on gridirons. I think if the Sounders women were to make that leap they’d succeed.

Follow me on the twitters @AlanHoffmann

by 51dimes on Jul 29, 2011 6:24 PM PDT reply actions

You also don't cover...

The Sounders beach soccer team. The TiVo picks up the games so I watch them. As far as I can tell we’ve been booted early from 2 tournaments with only single wins in the “group” stages.

by Milo1 on Jul 29, 2011 7:51 PM PDT reply actions

A question about the Sounders Women.

Do you know what all Joe Billings has the rights to? Is it just the old logo and Sounders name? Could those even be transferred to a top-level, higher-profile league without interference from MLS?

And I’d love to see more coverage of all things Sounders: womens’ team, beach soccer, academy teams (which I think you all actually do a pretty great job of), and even some posts on old USL, A-League, and NASL teams (maybe off-season pieces?).

by Postureduck on Jul 29, 2011 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

Was at the game yesterday

We were at the game yesterday – great atmosphere anda fun match. Results were disappointing, and the Sounders Women were outplayed in the midfield for the first 70 minutes. Once Ottawa’s defender got sent off with a red and we scored a PK, the game really got exciting as the Sounders were pushing hard to equalize late.

I’d be strongly in favor of more coverage of the women’s team. Our daughters play, I play, we all go to the Sounders men’s team games, and we will plan on attending more of the W league games next year.

by Andrew S Wright on Jul 30, 2011 6:39 AM PDT reply actions