Soccer has been around for centuries. People call it a beautiful game because it connects cultures and countries worldwide. Although male players get the most attention, female soccer players should not be understated. For instance, the development of US women’s soccer proved that they could bring honor to the country by winning international tournaments.
According to sportsbook pay per head reports, the US Women’s National Team won four World Cups, nine CONCACAF Gold Cups, and four Olympic gold medals. However, it took decades for the women’s side to develop to where it is today.
It is vital to consider that soccer has not been around for very long in the US. Also, women’s soccer in the country did not start gaining traction until 1972. That’s when the government passed Title IX, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in public education systems. The law included access to sports.
Development of US Women’s Soccer
But the public had a different take on that rising popularity. There is disagreement over when women’s soccer first gained popularity, according to pay per head bookie specialists. Nonetheless, most accounts concur that the 1999 World Cup was a watershed moment for women’s soccer. Games attracted large numbers of spectators in the United States, where the competition was held. However, the group became instant celebrities once they won the competition.
After a nerve-wracking tie that went to golden goal overtime, the US women’s team emerged victorious. The United States scored five goals to China’s four in the subsequent penalty shootout. The photograph of Brandi Chastain on her knees with her jersey in her hands after she scored the game-winning goal will live in infamy. Mia Hamm, the goalie from the United States 1999 World Cup-winning team, and Briana Scurry, from Minnesota, are both household names.
After this World Cup victory, women’s soccer in the United States really started gaining traction as a viable industry. Scurry was one of 20 original Women’s United Soccer Association members, which was formed to meet this need. Sportsbook pay per head reports claim that the WUSA’s early members actively pushed for the league to be the world’s first paid women’s league. The National Women’s Soccer League, which now consists of 12 clubs around the United States, has its roots in the WUSA.
