WUSA Draft Slated for Feb. 2

FearM9 · Jan 8, 2003

http://www.wusa.com/press_room/334904.html

ATLANTA (Jan. 8, 2003) - The stars of tomorrow will be on display as the 2003 WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association) Player Draft will take place on Sunday, February 2 in Atlanta, GA. The draft will take place at the WUSA headquarters and is slated to begin at 11:30 am (ET).
.
Click to expand...

So I wonder if the CBA has been taken care of? Also wonder if the Courage will have a coach and GM in place by then.

------------------------------

The following is the current draft order for the 2003 WUSA Draft (subject to change):

First Round
1) San Diego+
2) New York+
3) Boston
4) Philadelphia*
5) Atlanta
6) Philadelphia
7) Philadelphia**
8) Carolina
+ - New York sends M Jen Lalor and F Wynne McIntosh along with the Power's first-round pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft (first overall) to the Spirit for M Shannon Boxx and Sherrill Kester, D Margaret Tietjen and San Diego's first-round pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft (second overall).
* - Philadelphia trades F Mandy Clemens for San Jose's first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2003 WUSA Draft.
** - Washington trades its first pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft to Philadelphia for future considerations.

Second Round
9) New York
10) Atlanta*
11) Boston
12) San Jose
13) Atlanta
14) Philadelphia
15) Washington
16) Carolina
*-Atlanta trades D Anna Kraus to San Diego for its second-round pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft (10th overall).

Third Round
17) San Diego*
18) San Diego
19) Boston
20) Washington**
21) Atlanta
22) Philadelphia
23) Washington
24) Carolina
* - New York sends M Sherrill Kester and its third-round pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft (17th overall) to San Diego for GK Carly Smolak.
**- (2001) San Jose trades F Jacqui Little and third pick in the 2003 WUSA Draft (20th overall) to Washington for F Pretinha.

Fourth Round
25) New York
26) San Diego
27) Boston
28) San Jose
29) Atlanta
30) Philadelphia
31) Washington
32) Carolina
Click to expand...

FFNews · Jan 8, 2003

The postponement of the WUSA Waivers Date and Draft were due to the ongoing Collective Bargaining Negotiations between the WUSA and the Players Association.

So has there been found an agreement between the players and WUSA, or what are we to make of this?

FearM9 · Jan 8, 2003

Soccer America is reporting that there is no pre-draft combine this time around. Thank Umbro for this (they pulled their sponsorship).

FearM9 · Jan 8, 2003

Originally posted by FFNews
So has there been found an agreement between the players and WUSA, or what are we to make of this?
Click to expand...

No. According to Soccer America the salary cap is still an issue. However all parties involved are looking at wrapping this up mid-January.

grendel · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by FearM9
Soccer America is reporting that there is no pre-draft combine this time around. Thank Umbro for this (they pulled their sponsorship).
Click to expand...

I'm surprised this hasn't provoked more comment, as it's actually a pretty big deal. Sure, the draft is only four rounds deep, but the combine would have given important exposure to less known players. It also hurts teams without 1st round picks, like NY and SJ; SJ actually gets dinged the worst since they only have 2nd and 4th round picks.

The full Soccer America quote was:

"There will not be a pre-draft combine this year, as there was in 2001 and 2002, after Umbro pulled its sponsorship of Umbro Select Game in Fort Lauderdale. The big losers are the players who didn't impress during the fall college season or in the W-League or WPSL last summer. The big winners will be WUSA coaches who scouted most effectively. "

grendel · Jan 10, 2003

Originally posted by grendel
like NY and SJ;
Click to expand...

Urk. I meant Washington and SJ. The point stands, though.