April 28, 2001

Lessons for fans and players offered by WUSA in its first two weeks including the dominance by goalkeepers

There has been a lot to learn for followers of the women's game during the recent WUSA games.

For players there has been a clinic for almost every position from the veteran national team members from all countries. A Sun Wen, Cindy Parlow, Hege Riise, Lorrie Fair, Prethina, Doris Fitschen and Mia Hamm are some already seen giving some of their team mates a learning experience.

Because goalkeepers are required to play a more individual game than the other positions, they have been able to dominate the games so far. There are many world class keepers in WUSA and they are able to compensate for any shortcomings shown by some of the less experienced players in front of them. The foreign players who have done all of the scoring, until today, are either players who have been the dominant player on their national team or are strikers who create their own goals without the supportive buildup seen in the U.S. Style of play. As the league progresses and the weaker links improve we shall see more of the U.S. players scoring.

It is to be hoped that fans (and some players) are now understanding the reason why their favorite player is not on the National Team. The national team players have demonstrated why they were chosen, and their superior performance, skill and soccer savvy confirms the gap that exists between the international game veterans and most of the rest of the players.

We are already seeing the emergence of some exciting young players in WUSA, and the experience gained in this league will surely bring some unknowns to the national team star level by August.

PAST COMMENTARIES

[1999]

[1996-1998]

---

---

BACK TO THE WSW FRONTPAGE	BACK TO TOP