WSOC | Gaels Head Coach Romagnolo Recognized with 2001 Cyber Rays Championship Squad
3/25/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Saint Mary's women's soccer head coach Theresa Romagnolo was honored on Saturday as a member of the 2001 Women's United Soccer Association Championship team with the San Jose Cyber Rays.
Romagnolo had a professional career with the Cyber Rays from 2001-03 where they were members of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) which was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Romagnolo had the pleasure of sharing the field with some of the all-time greats in the sport including U.S. National Team star Brandi Chastain, WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year LaKeysia Beene and the team's leading goal scorer in Julie Murray.
The Cyber Rays went 11-4-6 during the 2001 season and matched up with the Atlanta Beat in the championship match. The game ended tied 3-3 after regulation but the Cyber Rays won 4-2 in penalties to clinch the WUSA Title. Then Theresa Wanger, played in seven matches during the 2001 season and got her first start on May 6th against the Philadelphia Charge where she played all 90 minutes and recorded her first career assist in a narrow 3-2 defeat.
Members of that 2001 team were honored at halftime this past Saturday at the Bay FC women's soccer match.
#GaelsRise
Romagnolo had a professional career with the Cyber Rays from 2001-03 where they were members of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) which was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Romagnolo had the pleasure of sharing the field with some of the all-time greats in the sport including U.S. National Team star Brandi Chastain, WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year LaKeysia Beene and the team's leading goal scorer in Julie Murray.
The Cyber Rays went 11-4-6 during the 2001 season and matched up with the Atlanta Beat in the championship match. The game ended tied 3-3 after regulation but the Cyber Rays won 4-2 in penalties to clinch the WUSA Title. Then Theresa Wanger, played in seven matches during the 2001 season and got her first start on May 6th against the Philadelphia Charge where she played all 90 minutes and recorded her first career assist in a narrow 3-2 defeat.
Members of that 2001 team were honored at halftime this past Saturday at the Bay FC women's soccer match.
"As a kid I had always dreamed of being a professional soccer player", said Romagnolo. "When the first pro league (WUSA) was formed in 2001, I was finishing my senior season at Washington and I was thrilled to be drafted. I couldn't believe my dream was actually becoming a reality" (Romaginolo).
"The experience that followed was even more than I could have imagined. I was playing with international legends, engaging with the Bay Area community, and promoting a new league we all needed to succeed. We won the inaugural championship that year and inspired generations of soccer players to live out their dreams. Without knowing it at the time, we had laid the foundation for the success of future leagues all over the world by being the first. I will always feel honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to be a part of something so meaningful in women's sports" (Romagnolo).
#GaelsRise
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