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Women’s Professional Soccer

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is an all-professional women’s soccer league that is scheduled to start play in the spring of 2009. It takes the place of the defunct Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) that had been the only American league to receive level one certification from FIFA. The WPS is starting with teams in 7 locations (Bay Area, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey – New York, St Louis, and Washington, D.C.) Other cities scheduled for franchises in the next two years are Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas.

Current Teams

• Boston Breakers
• Chicago Red Stars
• FC Gold Pride (Bay area)
• Los Angeles Sol
• Saint Louis Athletica
• Sky Blue FC (New York – New Jersey area)
• Washington Freedom

note - both the Sky Blue and Freedom have had teams in the W-League and of this posting those teams have not announced withdrawal from that second-tier league. It is possible that versions of those teams might stay as a reserve or farm team.

Future Teams

• Atlanta
• Philadelphia
• Dallas Sting

Rosters

Each of the seven teams was allowed to select three players who were members of the current US National Women’s Team. They were also allowed to select up to four international players that they could attempt to sign for their roster. The rest of the roster spots for each team were to be composed of players taken in the regular draft. Most of those were post-college ones who played in either the WPSL or W-League.

Allocated Players

Were selected by the teams, with some consideration given to where the players were based at the time of league creation.

• Bay Area: Nichole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler, Leslie Osborne
• Bos: Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Heather Mitts
• Chi: Carli Lloyd, Kate Markgraf, Lindsay Tarpley
• LA: Shannon Boxx, Stephanie Cox, Aly Wagner
• St.L: Lori Chalupny, Tina Ellertson, Hope Solo
• Sky Blue: Natasha Kai, Heather O’Reilly, Christie Rampone
• DC: Ali Krieger, Abby Wambach, Cat Whitehill

International Players Draft

Players are listed with the team that ended up with their negotiation rights after the draft (there were several trades).

• Bay Area: Formiga(Braz), Christine Sinclair(Can), Eriko Arakawa(Jap), Erika(Braz)
• Bos: Kelly Smith(Eng), Fabiana(Braz), Maycon(Braz), Shinobu Ohno(Jap)
• Chi: Cristiane(Braz), Heather Garriock(Aus), Karen Carney(Eng), Caroline Jonsson(Swe)
• LA: Marta(Braz), Aya Miyama(Jap), Han Duan(China), Margret Lara Vidarsdottir(Ice)
• St.L: Daniela(Bra), Renata Costa(Bra), Lotta Schelin(Swe), Melissa Tancredi(Can)
• Sky Blue: Sarah Walsh(Aus), Rosana(Braz), Ester(Braz), Kelly Parker(Can)
• DC: Homare Sawa(Jap), Sonia Bompastor(Fra), Lisa De Vanna(Aus), Louisa Necib(Fra)

General Draft

• Bay Area: Jill Oakes, Kandace Wilson, Liz Bogus, Tracy Hamm
• Bos: Amy LePeilbet, Nancy Augustyniak Goffi, Sue Weber, Kristin Luckenbill
• Chi: Danesha Adams, Ellas Masar, Marian Dalmy, Ifeoma Dieke
• LA: Karina LeBlanc, Kendall Fletcher, Christie Welsh, Manya Makoski
• St.L: India Trotter, Angie Woznuk, Joanna Lohman, Amanda Cinalli
• Sky Blue: Cori Alexander, Keeley Dowling, Kacey White, Jenny Anderson-Hammond
• DC: Sarah Huffman, Becky Sauerbrunn, Lori Lindsey, Emily Janss

Post-Draft Discovery Players

• Bay Area: Anya Mittag(Ger)
• Bos: Emma Bryne(Ire)
• Chi: Alex Scott(Eng), Laura Del Rio(Sp)
• LA: Camille Abily (Fra)
• St.L: Eniola Aluko(Eng), Ingvild Stensland(Nor)
• Sky Blue: Anita Asante(Eng), Collette McCallum(Aus)
• DC: Erin McLeod(Can)

Television

On 6 October 2008, it was announced that the Fox Soccer Channel would be televising a live national Sunday night WPS game of the week, beginning with the inaugural season, 2009. The agreement is for 3 years, with a 4th year option. There will be a minimum of 20 games televised over each regular season, plus an All-Star game and all post-season games. Included will be pre-and post-game shows along with round-up segments on Fox Soccer Report.