To score, the WUSA, founded in 1999 after the U.S. team's dramatic World Cup victory, must prove it can cut spending and find new owners in New York and Philadelphia, where Time Warner and Comcast, respectively, have backed out. "This isn't that much money for these companies," says Lisa Delpy Neirotti, a George Washington University sports management professor. "They'll be saviors in the eyes of thousands of little kids and their parents. It's a no-brainer."
A hastily arranged "Save the WUSA" committee, headlined by Billy Jean King, will meet in King's Manhattan office for the first time on Tuesday. The committee has given itself a 45-day deadline to secure the necessary funds. "We've been kicked out of office," says Joe Cummings, general manager of the Boston Breakers and a committee member. "Now we've got a month-and-a-half to get re-elected."