May 27 (2010)

The St. Louis Athletica folds six games into its Women’s Professional Soccer schedule. The reported pullout of European investors in owner Jeff Cooper’s soccer operations leads to the Athletica’s untimely end. The Athletica are in their second season. They won 10 games, tied 4 and lost 7 in 2009, finished second and lost their first-round playoff game. They have 2-1-3 record when they fold in 2010. In their brief existence, the Athletica fielded a who’s who of women’s international soccer with stars such as St. Louisan and U.S. Women’s National Team player Lori Chalupny, USWNT teammates Hope Solo and Shannon Boxx and English international Eniola Aluko and Japanese international Aya Miyama. Cooper’s other professional team, the men’s AC St. Louis, will cease operations after the 2010 season.