The eight-team professional league, which will showcase players from the U.S. women's national team and other leading international players, will play a 21-game schedule from mid-April to mid-August.
The WUSA hopes to average crowds of 7,000 a game.
"We choose to find friendly, intimate, festive stadiums," acting commissioner Tony DiCicco said.
Striker Mia Hamm, who starred on the 1999 World Cup champion U.S. team, has been assigned to the Washington Freedom and said she was looking forward to the competition.
"We can't wait," Hamm said about launching the league. "I want to play through the next World Cup and I think this league will help preserve and lengthen my career."
Said U.S. national team captain Julie Foudy: "We have dreamt about this day since we were born. And talked about it and fantasized about it and said, 'How cool it would be not only to start a league in this country where women can play professional soccer, but have the best league in the world.?
And we are doing just that."
A brief summary of the eight teams' venues, coaches (when applicable) and top players:
* The Atlanta Beat will play at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech (46,000 capacity). Coach Tom Stone. Key players: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry (U.S.), forward Charmaine Hooper (Canada) and midfielder Homare Sawa (Japan).
* The Boston Breakers will perform at either Zinman Field at Tufts University (6,000) or Foxboro Stadium (67,000). Jay Hoffman will coach the team. Key players: Kristine Lilly (U.S.), midfielder-forward Maren Meinert (Germany) and midfielder Bettina Wiegmann (Germany).
* The Bay Area CyberRays will play in Spartan Stadium at San Jose State University (26,000). No coach yet. Key players: Defender Brandi Chastain (U.S.), midfielder Sissi (Brazil) and forward Katia (Brazil).
* The New York Power will play at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. (10,000). No coach yet. Key players: Forward Tiffeny Milbrett (U.S.), defender Gro Espeseth (Norway) and forward Ann Kristin Aarones (Norway).
* The Carolina Tempest will play at Fetzer Field at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. (5,700). No coach yet. Key players: Defender Carla Overbeck (U.S.), goalkeeper Bente Nordby (Norway) and midfielder Hege Riise (Norway).
* The Philadelphia Charge will play at Villanova Stadium (12,000), the only artificial turf field in the league. No coach yet. Key players: Midfielder Lorrie Fair (U.S.), defender Doris Fitschen (Germany) and forward Kelly Smith (England).
* The San Diego Spirit will play at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego (4,000 expanded to 7,500). No coach yet. Key players: Midfielder Julie Foudy (U.S.), defender Joy Fawcett (U.S.), goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson (Sweden) and defender Kristin Bengttson (Sweden).
* The Washington Freedom will play at RFK Stadium (55,000). Jim Gabarra is the coach. Key players: Forward Mia Hamm (U.S.), forward Pretinha (Brazil) and midfielder-forward Roseli (Brazil).
Reuters
The Women's United Soccer Association, which plans to kick off next April, unveiled its nicknames, logos and venues.
