Cup Runneth Over?

Soccer isn't taking over. But it has taken hold.

So, now what?

The winners? International soccer, which will continue to draw the best American male soccer players to play overseas.

The winners? The MLS, for soccer novices who'll jump on the bandwagon and not know any differently. Well, if they can find it.

The winners? Abby Wambach, who can now ascend into soccer heaven with the missing jewelry that's eluded her.

The winners? Fox, who earned higher ratings than its Bumgarner-fueled Game Seven of the World Series just over a full-term pregnancy ago.

The winners? Hope Solo, whose defense (read: teammates, the back four) helped earn her second pair of Golden Gloves since her last family reunion.

The losers? The rest of women's soccer.

Let's face it: unless there's a celebratory tourstop coming to a pitch near you, there's really no clamoring for more women's soccer in the US.

Sorry to spoil the parade, but usually moments like this weekend lead to bigger and better things. Instead, maybe we should use this time to think about what might have been because there's nowhere to go but Rio.

Soccer fans know where to find their fixes--the Premier League, and every European and South American organization that rivals it.

The best soccer players in the world aren't playing in the US. And while the best women are playing here, nobody is watching.

World Cup soccer is huge. Huge like the Olympics once were. And once it's over, Americans who love the sport will find it on their own time and place. And while the MLS isn't exactly overtaking SportsCenter, games are sold out in its respective cities.  However, the same cannot be said for the women's game, which struggles for viability on a city-to-city basis.

This isn't a shot at Team USA's accomplishments or the longterm viability of a sport that continues to grow among millenials.

It's just the sad truth: if you really enjoyed what you watched on Sunday, and throughout the Cup, you're gonna have to either wait for the Olympics, or look for other variations of it.

Soccer is here to stay. But it's not taking over. It's fun, but our best athletes aren't playing it. It's patriotic, but it's not local. It's quick, but it's evolution is prehistoric. It's growing quickly, but not that we're seeing networks fighting over the rights for the MLS or English soccer.  Yes, baseball stadiums are selling out for soccer games, but for showcases. Eighty-one home games a year vs. One. Or a dozen. Geez, place your bets. Even the Kentucky Derby sells out, but 81 derbies a year wouldn't.

Want another example? Sahlen's Stadium sold out when Team USA did it's Tomato Can tour after winning gold in London three years ago, and the year before for a WPSL game where Abby Wambach, and other World Cup stars, didn't even play. Wambach then signs with the WNY Flash, and suddenly the novelty wore off and attendance dwindled.

Let's keep all of this in perspective, shall we? This isn't a pro-soccer vs. anti-soccer piece. The numbers were huge. Now, what does women's soccer do with all this momentum?

Get ready for the Olympics? Those are 13 months away.

Give the WPSL a boost? Why? So these stars can leave their teams again a year from now?

Men's soccer? They'll capitalize overseas just like Toyota and Nissan made out on Cash for Clunkers.

Sunday was a great day for Carli Lloyd, for Abby Wambach, for American soccer, for soccer fans and for everyone else looking for more excuses to blow off fireworks the night before everyone headed back to work this morning.

Now what?