@El Clasico hits the nail on the head. The author of this article is clearly not a "real soccer" fan because she can't tell the difference between the women's and men's game when the players are blurry. A real soccer fan would realize the little blurry figures are:
1) Slower than a boys U15 ODP team.
2) The ball lacks the pace and overall game is slower.
3) The players ARE women because they don't freaking roll around on the ground like they have had their balls removed with dull scissors whenever they receive a semi-hard/soft foul.
I love watching women's basketball because it represents a purer form of the game. Passing, passing, passing, shoot. I hate watching the NBA because its 5 guys playing 1 on 1.
I watch all national teams regardless of gender ... because 'merica.
I watch the better leagues (Premiere, La Liga, etc.). Don't watch MLS, except for that Galaxy game I was forced to attend as a fundraiser for my boy's team.
I will watch the Men's World Cup because its good soccer and represents the pinnacle of athletic ability of the sport.
I will watch the Women's World Cup as long as 'merica is in it. I will watch the final though regardless.
I just watched USC Women win the college championship a few days ago in a rerun because ... I'm a USC fan and its the championship.
Fundamentally, the author of this article just doesn't get it. Soccer, football, baseball, rugby, darts, etc., are nothing more than entertainment. If I want to spend 2 hours of my time watching soccer, it better damn well represent the best of that sport. We watch the NFL, but not the Arena League. We watch the MLB, but no the minor leagues.