Women's National Team
Encyclopedia
WNT, the acronym for "Women's National Team," applies to all sports and is used by a number of English speaking countries (e.g.: Canada, England, New Zealand, USA). The term is used within a sport's community when there is only reference to that specific sport (e.g.: "We got tickets for the WNT's next home game!"). When clarifying which sport or which country's team, the reference might be, "the US Basketball WNT" or "the Soccer Germany WNT."
Not all WNTs are paid (professional) or have a women's national league from which to draw new players. When women professional athletes are able to dedicate themselves full-time to developing their skills, they raise the level of play in a sport and provide much higher caliber Women's National Team players. Most top women athletes must work full-time jobs, in addition to their training, practice and competition schedules.
In the United States, women's pro sports
teams and leagues are still relatively new and athletes under-paid as of 2005. In America for instance, 51 years after inception of the men's NBA, the WNBA began its first season in 1997. Salaries are surprisingly low for such highly skilled athletes. The 2005 WNBA team salary cap was
$0.673 million. The men's NBA cap was over 60 times higher, at $43.87 million. The
WUSA
became the first American women's pro soccer league in 2001. Fans enjoyed women's pro soccer for three seasons before executives announced suspension of the league for lack of financial sponsorship and in spite of the fact that the US Soccer WNT
was rated one of the world's top teams. Absence of a women's pro soccer league in the United States makes it difficult for the Soccer WNT
to find new players who are ready for international competition. A 2004 effort to revive the WUSA was launched. In 2008, an organization called Women's Professional Soccer was formed and began playing pro soccer in 2009. The WNBA enjoys financial backing via the NBA and supplies a stream of professional players to the
US Basketball WNT.
Not all WNTs are paid (professional) or have a women's national league from which to draw new players. When women professional athletes are able to dedicate themselves full-time to developing their skills, they raise the level of play in a sport and provide much higher caliber Women's National Team players. Most top women athletes must work full-time jobs, in addition to their training, practice and competition schedules.
In the United States, women's pro sports
Women's professional sports
Professional athletes are distinguished from amateur athletes by virtue of being paid. Throughout the world, most top female athletes are not paid, and work full-time or part-time jobs in addition to their training, practice and competition schedules. Women's professional sports organizations defy...
teams and leagues are still relatively new and athletes under-paid as of 2005. In America for instance, 51 years after inception of the men's NBA, the WNBA began its first season in 1997. Salaries are surprisingly low for such highly skilled athletes. The 2005 WNBA team salary cap was
$0.673 million. The men's NBA cap was over 60 times higher, at $43.87 million. The
WUSA
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
became the first American women's pro soccer league in 2001. Fans enjoyed women's pro soccer for three seasons before executives announced suspension of the league for lack of financial sponsorship and in spite of the fact that the US Soccer WNT
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
was rated one of the world's top teams. Absence of a women's pro soccer league in the United States makes it difficult for the Soccer WNT
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
to find new players who are ready for international competition. A 2004 effort to revive the WUSA was launched. In 2008, an organization called Women's Professional Soccer was formed and began playing pro soccer in 2009. The WNBA enjoys financial backing via the NBA and supplies a stream of professional players to the
US Basketball WNT.
See also
- Women's sportsWomen's sportsWomen's sports include amateur and professional competitions in virtually all sports. Female participation in sports rose dramatically in the twentieth century, especially in the last quarter, reflecting changes in modern societies that emphasized gender parity...
- Women's professional sportsWomen's professional sportsProfessional athletes are distinguished from amateur athletes by virtue of being paid. Throughout the world, most top female athletes are not paid, and work full-time or part-time jobs in addition to their training, practice and competition schedules. Women's professional sports organizations defy...
- Professional sportsProfessional sportsProfessional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
- Women's football around the worldWomen's football around the worldWomen's association football is played in an increasing number of countries around the world.For international competitions see the article International competitions in women's football.-See also:*Women's football...
(lists FIFA Women's National Teams and others) - Women's professional football (soccer)
- Women's Soccer
- United States women's national soccer teamUnited States women's national soccer teamThe United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
- :Category:Women's National Basketball Association (USA)
- WNBA
- :Category:Basketball organizations
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WNTs
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Women's Pro Teams
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