The WPS

Is it 2009 yet? No, well I can honestly say that I'm excited for 2009, not only because my favorite author is coming out with two books, not only because I may actually keep my New Year Resolution, but because women's soccer is getting another chance to have "A League of their Own!"

Today is October 6th and today is the General Draft. The 7 teams are going to do a 4-round draft system. I know I haven't wrote a blog about the two drafts before but here's the rundown. In the US Player Allocation draft the following teams selected 3 USWNT players.

WPS ALLOCATION
Bay Area:
Nicole Barnhart
Rachel Buehler
Leslie Osborne

Boston Breakers:
Angela Hucles
Kristine Lilly
Heather Mitts

Chicago Red Stars:
Carli Lloyd
Kate Markgraf
Lindsay Tarpley

Sky Blue FC:
Natasha Kai
Heather O'Reilly
Christie Rampone

Los Angeles:
Shannon Boxx
Stephanie Cox
Aly Wagner

St. Louis:
Lori Chalupny
Hope Solo
Tina Ellertson

Washington Freedom:
Ali Krieger
Abby Wambach
Cat Whitehill

Now the week of September 22nd, the International Draft was held. Players were selected but it doesn't mean the players have to play for that team. It just means that the teams can contact and make offers to the players. Here are the players selected in the International Draft:

Bay Area:
Formiga(BRA)
Christine Sinclair(CAN)
Eriko Arakawa(JAP)
Erika(BRA)

Boston Breakers:
Kelly Smith(ENG)
Fabiana(BRA)
Maycon(BRA)
Shinobu Ohno(JAP)

LA:
Marta(BRA)
Aya Miyama(JAP)
Han Duan(China)
Margret Lara Vidasdottir(IRE)

St.Louis:
Daniela(BRA)
Renata Costa(BRA)
Lotta Schelin(SWE)
Melissa Tancredi(CAN)

Chicago Red Stars:
Christiane(BRA)
Heather Garriock(AUS)
Karen Carney(ENG)
Caroline Jonsson(SWE)

Washington Freedom:
Homare Sawa(JAP)
Sonia Bompastor(FRA)
Lisa De Vanna(AUS)
Louisa Necib(FRA)

Sky Blue FC:
Sarah Walsh(AUS)
Rosana(BRA)
Ester(BRA)
Kelly Parker(CAN)

So today is the General Draft, you can follow the draft on the WPS website, here's the link: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/

You can also join the WPS fan site: http://fans.womensprosoccer.com/

The League is slated for April 2009 but there is no reason to not talk about the league now. Communication and media presence is key. So spread the word and believe in this league.

PEACE