This year is a World Cup year in women’s soccer. You know what that means: We get to see Brandi Chastain take her shirt off. I'm sure you remember those photos of her with her ripped abs and her Nike sports bra.

I really would like to go off on a tangent about how freaking stupid all the media coverage was, but I won’t. Let’s talk soccer instead.

The World Cup itself happens in September, but starting in June, the U.S. women play a six-game series leading up to the World Cup. A new video on the U.S. Soccer website offers an introduction to the current women’s team. The video opens with Abby Wambach, wearing a tight hooded sweatshirt and a pair of dog tags. Later we see Briana Scurry talking about her major talent: She's "good with her hands."

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Unfortunately, the video doesn't really include any substantial information about the women, either as soccer players or as people.

The WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association) is coming back in April of 2008. The famous trio that stole the spotlight during the 1999 World Cup — Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain — have all retired, so it will be interesting to see who will emerge to carrry the teams and draw the crowds.

There will be teams in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Dallas, Chicago, the New York/New Jersey area and one yet-to-be-named city. The big question is this: Where will Abby Wambach end up?

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