Daniela is 19. Sinclair is 19. Daniela played on the Brasilian WNT and U19 team. Sinclair played on the Canadian WNT and U19 team. Daniela is being pursued by the San Diego Spirit. Sinclair is toiling away in Portland. One thing I do not know about Daniela is what she is currently doing now in Brasil or wherever she's at. But why can Daniela sign with the league and Sinclair can't? Is it because of the fact that Sinclair is playing collegiate soccer here and there is that "rule" (I put it in parantheses cuz I don't know if it's written in stone for us folks in the public to see) that DiCicco mentioned several years ago that you can't be an undergrad and try to be in the leauge. If Sinclair was to drop out of Portland and return to Canada to play for the Vancouver Breakers...would she then be eligible to be in the WUSA?
DiCicco did change his mind on this stance. It was brought to be voted on, however, a league coach voiced concern over this. Basically it was said that "How can we ask these girls to come out for the league and then the league folds" "These girls would risk loosing their NCAA scholarships! " No Thanks!
I don't think it's ever been absolutely prohibited for undergrads to be eligible for the draft or allocation (WUSA knows they would lose that battle in a courtroom). They have openly said that they won't encourage it though. MLS is doing the exact opposite with Project 40, get kids out of HS, give them a salary and about $80,000 towards college tuition if things don't work out for them as a pro. Speaking strictly from the view of developing a soccer player, college ball is a waste of four years if playing pro ball is an option.
She would almost have to be. I don't think they'd make her wait until her college class graduated before she was eligible. But, if that happened, would she be a draftee, or a discovery player? What does the "Latham clause" say about former college players? Probably nothing. My feeling is this...if an athlete, in any sport, wants to drop out of college to play pro ball, I don't have a problem with it. Apparently, the WUSA does, so they won't sign college players out of school early. But if the player is willing to take the risk and forego her remaining eligibility, I really don't see the problem. Of course, with all the money that (isn't) flowing into professional soccer, the decision really isn't worth it for most college players (unlike, say, basketball players). Sinclair has enough talent, however, that she could be an exception.
i would soooooooo NOT call sincy's time spent at portland as "toiling"...she's getting to play collegiate NCAA soccer, (something she has always wanted to), playing for a great coach (who she admires and adores greatly) and getting a good education (which she takes very serious...majoring in life science). i really don't think you can compare sincy and daniella because they are two very different players in way different circumstances and climate. its not like if sincy left school early to join the WUSA she'll be bringing home the "big bucks", and from the times i've spoken to her, she's looking forward to joining the league...but after her 4 years at portland, because she has goals there as well as the ones she's set with team canada. elaine
Also, Daniela was already a professional. According to the wusa article, she's played with Portuguesa. She wouldn't have NCAA eligibility if she'd ever made $$ (doesn't really matter how much/little) playing soccer and forfits some eligibility if she's played with folks that were paid $$ for soccer. This year the NCAA got a bit...um...uptight about a few NCAA men's basketball international players because of playing with "pros." http://www.wusa.com/press_room/343596.html
Re: The difference is... heehee...true, but sincy and daniela have their own "encounter". 2002 u19 world cup, semi finals...first overtime, canada gets awarded a PK. sincy goes to take it, but it snuffed by the goalkeeper, the brasilians charge her at the top of the 18 and kinda goes "in her face" ... and daniela was the one who clearly shoved sincy to the ground after her kick, and the ref was clearly blind cause she did not call anything, or get hold of the situation... a la the famous daniela and brandi picture, here's one of sincy and daniela: elaine