The 2001 WUSA Founders Cup, also known as Founders Cup I, was the first championship match in Women's United Soccer Association history, played between Bay Area CyberRays and the Atlanta Beat to decide the champion of the league's inaugural season. The game was played in bright sunshine at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on August 25, 2001. Bay Area CyberRays defeated the Beat 4–2 on a penalty shootout when the match finished 3–3 after sudden death extra time.
Pre-match
Ticket prices for the final started at $15 and were also available at $28 and $45, with a discount for group purchases.
Atlanta's star player Sun Wen had been afflicted by injuries to her left knee and ankle and was only fit enough to be a substitute. She had entered the semi-final victory over Philadelphia Charge to decisive effect, scoring a goal and assisting another for Cindy Parlow as Atlanta recovered from 2–0 down to win 3–2.
Match
BAY AREA CYBERRAYS: GK 1 LaKeysia BeeneDF 6 Brandi Chastain (c)DF 5 Kelly LindseyDF 2 Thori BryanDF 17 Gina Oceguera MF 15 Tisha VenturiniMF 10 Sissi MF 4 Carey DornFW 7 Christina Bell FW 8 Julie MurrayFW 9 KátiaSubstitutes:MF 20 Ann Cook FW 18 Megan Horvath FW 23 Jacqui Little Coach: Ian SawyersATLANTA BEAT: GK 1 Briana ScurryDF 21 Lisa KrzykowskiDF 6 Sharolta NonenDF 17 Dayna Smith DF 25 Nancy AugustyniakMF 8 Homare Sawa MF 5 Nikki SerlengaMF 4 Kylie Bivens MF 15 Julie Augustyniak FW 12 Cindy Parlow (c)FW 10 Charmaine HooperSubstitutes:MF 23 Amy Walsh FW 9 Sun Wen FW 22 Bryn Blalack Coach: Tom Stone Player of the match Julie Murray (Bay Area CyberRays)
Match officials Assistant referees: Jon Wilson Sharon Wheeler Fourth official: Peter KokolskiMatch rules 90 minutes. 15 minutes of golden goal extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Three named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.
Statistics Bay Area CyberRays Atlanta BeatTotal shots 13 8Shots on target 9 7Corner kicks 8 10Fouls committed 17 14Offsides 2 1Yellow cards 1 1Red cards 0 0 Source
References