North Georgians are accustomed to having a first place team during the All-Star Break. The last time the Braves didn't lead this late in the season was in 1994 when the Montreal Expos won the National League East in the strike-shortened season. Once again, Atlanta has a first place team in the middle of July. However, it isn't the Braves who are in first place. They currently lie in second one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies. It is the Atlanta Beat who are in first place.
The Atlanta Beat? Who are the Atlanta Beat? The Beat are Atlanta's entry into a new women's professional soccer league called the WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association). The WUSA is about 60% through its inaugural season, with two teams beginning to stand out from the rest. One is the New York Power. They have led the league over the last several weeks of the season. However, this past weekend, the rapidly improving Beat took over first place with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Freedom, coupled with a 1-0 New York loss to the Bay Area Cyber Rays.
The league developed in the aftermath of the immensely successful Women's World Cup in 1999. The United States were the victors in an exciting finale against China. In 1996, here in Athens, Georgia, we were exposed to the growing excitement of the women's game with an even more exciting 2-1 gold medal final match in which the United States once again defeated China. Mia Hamm, the American star over the last few years, has fueled the growth of women's soccer throughout the United States, and her popularity throughout the league is a testament to that. The whirlwind victory tour of the American women following their 1999 victory (their second World Cup championship, also winning in 1991 in China) showed that the United States was ready for a women's soccer league.
North Georgia soccer fans have been jilted by Major League Soccer (MLS - the top Men's soccer league in the United States) for years. We have been waiting for a team that has never come. So, when the WUSA announced that Atlanta would be one of the eight cities to be awarded a franchise in the newly formed league, soccer fandom in North Georgia was excited. We would finally have a team to call our own.
Many people were skeptical that a city in the Deep South could support big time professional soccer. Soccer has been traditionally a stalwart of the Northeast and West Coast in the United States. However, over the past ten years, soccer has been booming in Georgia and other Southern states. Soccer may soon pass football as the number one participatory sport amongst youth in Georgia. Ten years ago, that would be unthinkable. Considering that the Beat are second in the league in average attendance (over 12,000), all doubts that Atlanta could support this team are gone by the wayside.
Atlanta has put together a team from the far corners of the world. Their four offensive stars come from four different nations. Chinese superstar Sun Wen headlines this list. Sun was named FIFA co-player of the century with American great Michelle Akers. She is one of the best corner-kickers in the world, men or women. She is one of the few players who can play the ball equally well with both feet. Unfortunately, she has been injured most of the year, but once she is healthy again, which should be soon, she will make an impact on this team. There is also Japanese national team captain Sawa Homare. Sawa has surprised many people who don't follow Asian soccer. She is quick, tough, and fearless, despite her dimunitive 5'5" frame. She has been a real disruptive force for other teams as they try to set up the ball in the back or mid. She has created havoc for opposing defenses. Canadian international Charmaine Hooper is the "bad-girl" of the group. She is though, physical, and an imposing presence on the field. She accumulates too many cards, but when she is on the field, she intimidates opposing defenses. Finally, there is the American giant Cindy Parlow. At 5'11", she is one of the most imposing presences in the entire league. She is the best in the air in the world. She has developed into a good leader for the team, and has shown a surprising amount of talent at handling the ball. Once these four players can play together and be healthy, what can stop this team?
The defense has powered this team to the first place spot thus far. Canadian international Sharolta Nonen has been a stalwart in the defense. She is fast, strong, and is cool under pressure. She has contained the best offensive players in the world, and at times made it look easy. American Dayna Smith has been a pleasant surprise for this team. She is the perfect compliment to Nonen in the back. She is quiet, but she lets her play speak for her. Of course, it all ends with the keeper, Brianna Scurry. She powered the United States to the 1996 Olympic gold medal as well as the 1999 World Cup championship. She had the highest save percentage in the league as well as the lowest goals against average.
This team also has a large number of very talented role players, all of whom have been instrumental to the success of this team. They include Kylie Bivens, Emily Burt, Kelly Cagle, Kerry Gragg, National Team member Nikki Serlenga, Marci Miller (out for the season), Amy Walsh, Nikki Lamb, Lisa Krzykowski, and Nancy and Julie Augustyniak (both Georgia natives). This is a deep team that has withstood adversity.
Finally, these matches are a wonderful environment to bring your kids to. As it is on a college campus, no alcohol is allowed to be sold. This is unlike the other professional teams in Atlanta. The players stay after the match to sign autographs and talk with the fans. They go out of their way to participate in the community and be accessable to their fans. Finally, they are wonderful ladies and wonderful ambassadors for our great sport of soccer. I have spoken with many of them and they are wonderful people to converse with.
Try to make a match by the end of the season. You might find that you become addicted to the world's most popular sport as I have for more than twenty years. You may also see them bring Atlanta its third professional sports championship (second in soccer). GO BEAT!!