It s Mia vs. Brandi, and that s the way the game was billed on the posters. Even so, this was such a tough way to start a rivalry. It s not my judgment to say It s a foul, it s not a foul. After the game, I walked up to her and said sorry it had to be decided like that. The crowd was dominated by soccer moms and dads and screaming kids by the thousands, and the walk-up crowd was so large that the ticket booths were overwhelmed.
Some fans didn t get in until close to halftime.
Otherwise, it was an afternoon full of pageantry and symbolism as women s sports celebrated another landmark. Former tennis great Billie Jean King presided over the official coin toss. A female parachutist landed on the field with the ball. 1999 World Cup star Michelle Akers, who can t play this season because of injuries, made the ceremonial first kick wearing a sling on her shoulder. Among the fans was Boomer Brown, who made the trip from Raleigh, N.C., with his wife and two daughters, proud that his soccer-playing girls have female role models in sports.