The consensus among the league's founding players is that the league will succeed because it is unquestionably the elite league of the world, unlike the MLS which pales in talent-level relative to the top European and Latin leagues. Americans like to watch the best.

Collegiate Changes

It remains uncertain exactly how the existence of a successful professional league would change the attitude of the NCAA student-athletes in women's soccer.

"I don't know if that will have a noticeable effect, that now suddenly players might have the goal of becoming a professional athlete," Wheaton said. "That's a long way down the road, until the league grows very strong. Women's soccer is from the socioeconomic background where it's hard to convince people to come out of school."

It would be impossible for the WUSA not to have any effect on the collegiate game. In late November, Hartford coach Mark Krikorian--that's the same Hartford that the Crimson upset 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament this year--became the first coach to leave the NCAA ranks for the professional game.

"The beginning is most dramatic," Wheaton said. "Three or four NCAA coaches are going to leave to be head coaches, and a few more will probably follow to be assistants. After that it will probably be only or two changes per year."

Krikorian's decision to leave at this juncture means that when he recalls his final career game at Hartford, he'll flash back to senior Ashley Mattison's self-sacrificing goal, senior Meredith Stewart's clutch free kick, or perhaps sophomore Joey Yenne's breakaway goal.

It wouldn't be unrealistic that Krikorian, out of respect for the thrashing he was dealt that day, might pick up a Harvard player or two within a few years.