The 1999 women's World Cup was a landmark in American soccer history. It vitalized the women's game like nothing else had to that point and was one of the key influences in the formation of the Women's United Soccer Association. Spon-sors saw that there was a market for professional wo-men's soccer and invested millions of dollars into it.

Now, just days before the 2003 World Cup begins in America, all of that momentum could be lost with the WUSA ceasing operations on Monday. The once bright future of women's soccer is now in jeopardy -- along with the hopes of collegiate and professional players across the country.

Christie Welsh was destined to play in the WUSA. The inaugural season of the league was 2001, the same year that Welsh, then a junior at Penn State, won the Hermann Trophy as the best collegiate soccer player in the country.

After playing one more season with the Nittany Lions, Welsh was drafted second overall by the New York Power earlier this year and recorded six goals as a rookie. For the time being, however, there won't be a second season.

Welsh was frustrated over the announcement, but has some options while more news about the fate of professional women's soccer unfolds.

"I'm going to finish up school," Welsh said. "Maybe I'll play overseas or in the W-League. We have a conference call tonight, so hopefully I'll know more about things then."

Pat Farmer, who coached Welsh for two years at Penn State and was the first coach in New York Power history, shares his former player's frustration.

"It's really disappointing," Farmer said. "We should have been able to make a better go of it with the momentum from the last World Cup and the number of sponsors."

Farmer said that players like Welsh will now have to make some difficult decisions about their future.

"Christie and others have to decide some things," Farmer said. "They can go try out for the U.S. National team or maybe catch on in the collegiate level and do some assistant coaching. They may have to consider doing what they thought they'd be doing at 35 at age 25 instead."

In the end, it all came down to revenue and sponsorships. The fledgling league was in serious financial trouble, enough to announce that it was folding less than a week before the biggest women's soccer event in the world.

"A shortfall in sponsorship revenue from other core areas of the business proved to be the hurdles which the WUSA could not overcome in time for planning the 2004 season," Chairman of the WUSA Board of Governors John Hendricks said in the league's official statement.

Speculation exists that the league could conceivably re-launch, perhaps as early as 2005 if new sponsors can be found. Although U.S. women's soccer icons like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy have expressed optimism for such a scenario, it will be difficult to disperse the cloud that hangs over the sport.

"I am very disappointed and saddened to see this opportunity disappear," Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins said. "It was a great chance for some of our players to compete and continue to better themselves."

One train of thought explaining the questionable timing of the announcement is that the league's financial situation was such that it could not be held off another few weeks. The thinking would be that it's better to fold before the World Cup rather than during it. This way, the league would be able to compensate its now jobless employees.

"I think the people in charge did what they had to do," Wilkins said. "It's an unfortunate time to happen, but they had to do what was best financially."

Apart from the current WUSA players, things have suddenly changed for collegiate stars as well. Players like Penn State midfielder Joanna Lohman, who would have most likely been taken early in the 2004 draft, also have decisions to make.

Lohman's U.S. Under-21 national coach Chris Petrucelli said that the future of professional soccer is uncertain.

"It's a sad day," Petrucelli said. "We had made such strides in pro soccer for women, but everything is dependent on sponsors. It's not looking real bright for us."

Petrucelli also voiced his fears about the fates of collegiate athletes.

"I'm concerned about players in the future," Petrucelli said. "For someone like [Lohman], it's a huge blow. She would have had such a great future ahead of her in the league. She should still have a chance to play for the national team."

While the league's demise came as a surprise to most, the warning signs were starting to appear. According to the league office, the WUSA was losing money each of the three years of operation, with losses in the third year still around the $17 million mark. Investors had to put in substantial amounts to keep the league afloat.

Perhaps most telling were the rosters themselves. Roster size was trimmed across the board by two while league stars like Hamm took pay cuts to decrease operating costs. In the end, however, these measures simply weren't enough to support a successful league.

Though the future of women's soccer in America has grown extremely hazy this week, there are still those who fight for its success.

A large talent base of determined players seek to start new leagues and promote the game in any way possible. Plus, the sport still has its greatest showcase starting up again on a global stage -- the World Cup.

With the World Cup of four years ago still fresh in people's minds, this year's tournament may have a similar effect on fans across the country. And if that happens, all will not be lost for players like Welsh and Lohman.