By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – Former national team general manager Cheryl Bailey has been appointed executive director of the new United States women’s league that begins next spring – the third attempt at trying to create a successful model.
The eight-team league will have teams in Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, Portland, Seattle, Kansas City, western New York and Washington.
Unlike the men’s game, women’s football has been a trailblazer in the United States – especially when it comes to the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
Yet it still can’t find a way of sustaining a viable league and competing with established sports in a packed calendar.
“Cheryl was a highly regarded employee for US Soccer during her time with the women’s national team and she has the perfect skill set and experience to help get this league up and running,” said US Soccer President Sunil Gulati.
Bailey (pictured top) was the general manager of the US women’s national team from 2007-2011.
“It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the women’s national team for five years and see firsthand the impact that women’s soccer players can have as role models,” she said.
“The new league is another extension of that and a vitally important part of the continued growth of the sport in the United States.”
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