The team won the WUSA title (known as the Founders Cup) for the league's inaugural season in 2001. The CyberRays triumphed over the Atlanta Beat, in a 4–2 shootout after double overtime of a 3–3 game. It was the only year in the country's history that both a women's and men's professional soccer team won championship titles in the same city.[5]
In 2002 the team changed its name from the Bay Area CyberRays to the San Jose CyberRays, and also gave their roster a facelift, allowing Murray to retire and trading for Pretinha from the Washington Freedom, who along with Katia and Sissi, gave the new attack a decidedly Brazilian flavor. The bold changes didn't have the desired effect, however, and the team finished out of the playoffs. One bright spot was the emergence of Katia, who scored 15 goals and broke Tiffeny Milbrett's record for most points in a season.
2003edit
The CyberRays had high hopes for 2003, but an anemic offense (worst in the league in goals scored) hurt the team all year. The team remained in contention until the end of the season, but finished out of the playoffs for a second straight year.
But even bigger problems were brewing in the background, as the WUSA continued to struggle financially. The CyberRays folded on September 15, 2003, when the league announced it was suspending operations.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of August 15, 2003.[8]
In 2002, games were broadcast on television via PAX TV.[11]California Bears assistant coach Jennifer Thomas provided color commentary while KCBS Radio sports announcer Hal Ramey was the play-by-play announcer.[12] A number of league games were broadcast on Turner Sports and CNN/Sports Illustrated.[13]
^. Telegraph – Herald (Dubuque). Associated Press. April 14, 2001. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^Alexander, Rachel (April 14, 2001). . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^Nordin, Kendra (April 13, 2001). . The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^"Attendance Project: WUSA". Attendance Project. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^Kassouf, Jeff (October 19, 2011). "Classics: Bay Area CyberRays top Atlanta Beat in first-ever Founders Cup". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^"San Jose CyberRays roster | Fanbase". Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
^. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
^. Women's United Soccer Association. Archived from the original on August 15, 2003. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^"CyberRays To Play Next Year at Spartan Stadium; Name Change?". Sports Business Daily. September 6, 2001. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^"Spartan Stadium". San Jose State University. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^McTaggart, Brian (April 10, 2002). "Notebook: CyberRays to defend inaugural WUSA title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^"Thomas Named As Color Commentator for CyberRays". University of California Berkeley. March 29, 2002. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
^Tedesco, Richard (April 16, 2000). "WUSA scores Turner pact". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
External linksedit
November 28, 2023
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San Jose CyberRays was a professional soccer team that played in the Women s United Soccer Association The team played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose California Stars included U S National Team star Brandi Chastain WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year LaKeysia Beene and leading scorer Julie Murray Other memorable CyberRays were Brazilians Sissi and Katia Tisha Venturini from the U S National Team and ironwoman Thori Bryan who played every minute of the first season They were coached by Ian Sawyers who received WUSA Coach of the Year honors in 2001 San Jose CyberRaysFull nameSan Jose CyberRaysNickname s Bay Area CyberRays CyberRaysFounded2001Dissolved2003StadiumSpartan StadiumCapacity30 456OwnerWUSALeagueWomen s United Soccer Association20036thHome colorsAway colors Contents 1 History 1 1 Establishment 2 Year by year 2 1 Inaugural season 2 2 2002 2 3 2003 3 Players 3 1 2003 roster 4 Stadium 5 Broadcasting 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editEstablishment edit See also Women s United Soccer Association Establishment The CyberRays were founded in 2000 as a member of the Women s United Soccer Association the first professional women s soccer league in the United States The league featured many of the stars from the 1999 FIFA Women s World Cup 1 2 The team featured United States women s national team players and league founding players Brandi Chastain Tisha Venturini and LaKeysia Beene 3 Year by year editYear League Regular season Playoffs Avg attendance Total attendance2001 WUSA 2nd place 1st place 7 692 76 9222002 WUSA 5th place did not qualify 7 167 78 8362003 WUSA 6th place did not qualify 6 791 67 912 4 Inaugural season edit Main article 2001 WUSA season The team won the WUSA title known as the Founders Cup for the league s inaugural season in 2001 The CyberRays triumphed over the Atlanta Beat in a 4 2 shootout after double overtime of a 3 3 game It was the only year in the country s history that both a women s and men s professional soccer team won championship titles in the same city 5 2002 edit Main article 2002 WUSA season In 2002 the team changed its name from the Bay Area CyberRays to the San Jose CyberRays and also gave their roster a facelift allowing Murray to retire and trading for Pretinha from the Washington Freedom who along with Katia and Sissi gave the new attack a decidedly Brazilian flavor The bold changes didn t have the desired effect however and the team finished out of the playoffs One bright spot was the emergence of Katia who scored 15 goals and broke Tiffeny Milbrett s record for most points in a season 2003 edit The CyberRays had high hopes for 2003 but an anemic offense worst in the league in goals scored hurt the team all year The team remained in contention until the end of the season but finished out of the playoffs for a second straight year But even bigger problems were brewing in the background as the WUSA continued to struggle financially The CyberRays folded on September 15 2003 when the league announced it was suspending operations 6 7 Players edit2003 roster edit Note Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules Players may hold more than one non FIFA nationality Squad correct as of August 15 2003 8 No Pos Player Nation14 DF Dianne Alagich nbsp Australia16 MF Katie Antongiovanni nbsp United States11 MF Katie Barnes nbsp United States13 MF Betsy Barr nbsp United States1 GK LaKeysia Beene nbsp United States4 FW Christina Bell nbsp United States2 DF Thori Bryan nbsp United States6 DF Brandi Chastain nbsp United States22 FW Mandy Clemens nbsp United States3 MF Ann Cook nbsp United States17 DF Amanda Cromwell nbsp United States12 DF Michelle French nbsp United States20 GK Dawn Greathouse nbsp United States9 FW Katia nbsp Brazil5 DF Kelly Lindsey nbsp United States18 FW Kim Patrick nbsp United States7 FW Pretinha nbsp Brazil8 DF Keri Sanchez nbsp United States10 MF Sissi nbsp Brazil15 MF Tisha Venturini nbsp United StatesStadium editSee also List of Women s United Soccer Association stadiums The CyberRays played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose California 9 The stadium was used for the 1999 FIFA Women s World Cup and was also the home of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer from 1996 to 2005 At the time the stadium featured a grass pitch and up to 30 456 capacity 10 Broadcasting editIn 2002 games were broadcast on television via PAX TV 11 California Bears assistant coach Jennifer Thomas provided color commentary while KCBS Radio sports announcer Hal Ramey was the play by play announcer 12 A number of league games were broadcast on Turner Sports and CNN Sports Illustrated 13 See also editPortals nbsp Women s association football nbsp Sports nbsp Association football nbsp California Women s Professional Soccer National Women s Soccer LeagueReferences edit After long wait WUSA finally here Kickoff Women s soccer league set for debut in United States Telegraph Herald Dubuque Associated Press April 14 2001 Archived from the original on March 28 2015 Retrieved October 30 2014 Alexander Rachel April 14 2001 A Step Toward an Even Playing Field Long Sought Dream Finally Becomes a Reality When the WUSA Kicks Off Today The Washington Post Archived from the original on March 28 2015 Retrieved October 30 2014 Nordin Kendra April 13 2001 Women stars have league of their own The Christian Science Monitor Archived from the original on March 28 2015 Retrieved October 30 2014 Attendance Project WUSA Attendance Project Retrieved October 29 2014 Kassouf Jeff October 19 2011 Classics Bay Area CyberRays top Atlanta Beat in first ever Founders Cup Equalizer Soccer Retrieved October 29 2014 San Jose CyberRays roster Fanbase Archived from the original on January 22 2013 Retrieved October 22 2012 Women s Professional Soccer home of pro soccer players News Detail Bay Area joins Women s Professional Soccer WPS for inaugural season Archived from the original on September 6 2008 Retrieved September 3 2008 NWSL Seattle Reign FC Women s United Soccer Association Archived from the original on August 15 2003 Retrieved October 29 2014 CyberRays To Play Next Year at Spartan Stadium Name Change Sports Business Daily September 6 2001 Retrieved October 29 2014 Spartan Stadium San Jose State University Retrieved October 29 2014 McTaggart Brian April 10 2002 Notebook CyberRays to defend inaugural WUSA title Houston Chronicle Retrieved October 29 2014 Thomas Named As Color Commentator for CyberRays University of California Berkeley March 29 2002 Retrieved October 29 2014 Tedesco Richard April 16 2000 WUSA scores Turner pact Broadcasting Cable Retrieved October 29 2014 External links editSan Jose CyberRays website archive org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title San Jose CyberRays amp oldid 1181056445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
