Not a great year for U.S. women's soccer

(AP) -- It could have been another glorious year for U.S. women's soccer. Instead, it ended with disappointment and unemployment.

The American women, who captivated the nation with their spectacular surge to the 1999 World Cup title, once again hosted the tournament after FIFA moved it from China because of the SARS virus. Correctly recognizing that no other country could successfully stage the 16-team, three-week event with such a short lead-in, world soccer's governing body brought its big show back to the States.

And using a roster filled with veterans of the '99 championship, including such stars as Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett and Briana Scurry, the Americans were huge favorites.

But less than a week before their World Cup opener, the American women were stunned when the league they helped found, the Women's United Soccer Association, folded. Citing a lack of sponsors and nearly $100 million in debt over its three years of existence, the eight-team WUSA disappeared just when women's soccer should have been taking the spotlight for its on-field brilliance.

In men's soccer, the brilliance of Freddy Adu was recognized by anyone who saw him play and, in a major coup, MLS signed him to a multiyear contract. The 14-year-old prodigy will stay home to play pro ball.

David Beckham left home. In one of the most hyped transfers in international soccer history, the England captain went from Manchester United to Real Madrid. But United found another star in American goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The timing of the WUSA's demise was awful. Many players, from WUSA board member Julie Foudy, a U.S. team co-captain, to German star Maren Meinert, the league's 2003 MVP, had to fight back tears.

"This is a sad day for women's soccer and women's sports," Foudy said. "But we are not just going to give up, even though the odds are stacked against us. We will still hold out the possibility of reviving this."

Deep into December, Foudy and other WUSA officials aggressively pursued financial backing to revive the WUSA in a smaller form for 2004 and, after the Olympic year, as a full-fledged league for 2005.

The Americans' disappointment didn't end with the WUSA's demise. After Hamm's brilliance led them to three first-round victories and a 1-0 second-round win over Olympic champion Norway, the Americans fell to Germany 3-0 in the semifinals.

That left Hamm and her teammates in tears again.

"I wouldn't change this team for any other team in the tournament," Hamm said. "It's an amazing group of athletes that became an even more amazing group of people."

The Americans beat Canada 3-1 for third place, then Germany won a thrilling final over Sweden 2-1 in overtime on Nia Kuenzer's brilliant header. It was Germany's first women's world championship to go with three won by its men.

"I hope that it will have a giant impact on women's soccer," tournament MVP Birgit Prinz said. "In Germany, women's soccer is growing, so hopefully it will help it out."

Americans helped themselves to headlines and some heady contracts in what often is considered a foreign sport on these shores.

Adu, from Potomac, Md., by way of Ghana, signed a $1 million endorsement deal with Nike even before he became the youngest player to sign with Major League Soccer.

Beating out such a renowned international team as Manchester United, the MLS agreed to a six-year contract with Adu. MLS executives hope he is the Tiger Woods of his generation, bringing long-sought mainstream popularity to the sport.

"He is widely considered the best young soccer player in the world," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "And we believe that playing in his home country, in MLS, will further develop him as a player."

Adu, who'll join D.C United, also played for several U.S. national squads, including the Under-20 -- yes, Under-20 -- team that lost in overtime to Argentina in the quarterfinals of the World Youth Championship.

Man United did get one standout American in Howard. After buying out his contract from the MetroStars, the English team found that Howard wasn't just a "Yank keeper," but a decisive, athletic and courageous difference maker. Howard easily grabbed hold of the team's starting spot and has performed superbly.

Man U also drew sellout crowds during an exhibition tour of the United States and plans to return next summer.

Even so, the powerhouse team in world soccer is Real Madrid. Although AC Milan won the Champions League over Juventus in the first all-Italian final, Real became the focal point of club soccer by adding Beckham, whose stardom is based more on celebrity than surpassing skill. Real's imposing lineup already featured Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul Gonzalez and Robert Carlos.

While many Americans made their marks abroad, the biggest star who stayed home, Landon Donovan, led the San Jose Earthquakes to the MLS crown. But Donovan couldn't help the U.S. team avoid a dismal showing at the Confederations Cup in France, where it wound up 0-2-1.

Weeks later, the Americans blew a last-minute lead to Brazil and lost in overtime of the Gold Cup semifinals.

Then came the distressing fall -- and the fall of the WUSA and the U.S. women world champions.