Your Daughter is Calling You!

Attention Soccer moms and dads, your daughter is counting on you.

Once upon a time, there was the WUSA. With stars like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, the women of the WUSA gave the women of tomorrow a positive role model and objective to strive for. They gave these girls a reason to work harder for continuous improvement as well as a drive not to give up.

Sadly, as we all know the WUSA folded amidst financial ruin leaving a void in Women's pro sports and in the hearts of countless young fans.



In the midst of that void, I took my daughter to a collegiate game at UC Berkeley. It was the last game of the season. With great honor and sadness, the team acknowledged the contribution of it's graduating seniors. This is of course a sad enough occasion for these young women, coming to the end of their time in school. For these women however, there was a more significant ending: as soccer players, they were done.

They were done, when in fact they should have been just beginning. I looked over at my daughter and wondered what was in store for her. What affect would this have on her will to press forward, to practice those stepovers for some reason other than beating her dad in a 1v1? What affect would this have on her determination to succeed?

Enter the WPS, Women's Professional Soccer. In 2009, my daughter and I were among the first season ticket holders, attending every game with great anticipation. Our local team, FC Gold Pride and the WPS exceeded my expectations in every way possible. Sure the team had a tough time on the field but it didn't matter. For my daughter, it didn't matter at all.

We were there. We were there when the actual Women's World Cup trophy came to town commemorating the 1999 US Women's win and we've got the picture to prove it. We were there when the legendary Sissi stepped back on to the field and when FC Gold Pride entered all season ticket holders into a drawing for player jerseys, we were on the field, my daughter proudly sporting Tina DiMartino's #5. When the time came to renew season tickets for 2010, I upgraded to on field seats without hesitation. The bond that season 1 represents for me personally as time spent with my daughter will serve as a foundation of memories.

And now we are here. Amidst a tough economy, WPS enters season 2. Ironically, the most successful WPS team on the field, the LA Sol, has folded due to financial reasons.

I have flashbacks about those young women at Cal, with their soccer careers coming to a premature end. I have flashbacks to the days of the WUSA and the void it's demise had left. I see postings on Facebook responding to the news of the LA Sol's asking "when people are going to learn that women's sports will never take off". I feel angry as I am reminded that it is opinions like that which can only serve to crush my daughter's dreams.

The flashbacks can do nothing directly to save the WPS now from the same fate as the Sol but we the supporters, the Soccer Moms and Dads of the WPS can spread the word.

If you've never been to a WPS game, go! Go and take your daughters, nieces and neighbors with you. If you've been before, go again. Get the word out and support. Support FC Gold Pride, support Hope Solo and the St. Louis Athletica, support Heater Mitts and the Philadelphia Independence. For that matter, support your daughter's dreams. Support dreams she doesn't even have yet because she didn't they were possible or she thought only boys could do it.