But when she turned 22, there was no American professional league to graduate to.

If the players are loaned, it is possible they could return to play in the new American league next spring.

An established American league is years down the road.

The tour did not in turn bring any benefits to American rugby league.

"Do you have any idea," he said, "what the minimum salary is in the American professional league?"

Japanese professional players also have a difficult time coming to the North American leagues.

But even with such a limit, there is a potential for draining stars away from the American major leagues.

He led the American league in wild pitches in 1993 and 1994.

Veteran players, until recently forced overseas by the absence of an American professional league for women, were brought home to form a unit over time.

American and Canadian sports leagues typically have such "playoff" systems.