Zotter-the Power's fourth-round draft choice last December-fell short of making the team's 20-player roster, but she is one of three players on the team's reserve squad. Reserve players practice with their teams but do not travel or play in any of their teams' regular season games.

"[Zotter] is there with a chance to play her way onto the regular squad," Wheaton said. "She's there with a shot-that's all you can ask for. She's a professional soccer player. When she played in high school she never dreamed there would be a professional league, so she's very excited about it."

Had the WUSA never existed, Zotter would have gone as far as Japan to play professional soccer. But thanks to rapid growth of women's soccer in the United States, the WUSA is here. And if the early returns are any indication, the league is here to stay.

"34,000 people watching a women's professional game-that's awesome," Wheaton said. "I think it will be a great success."