WPS Initial International Draft
It should come as no surprise to anyone who watches women’s soccer at all that four of the seven international players selected in the first round of the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) initial international draft come from Brazil. For all four rounds (28 selections in total), there were 10 Brazilians, 4 Japanese, with 3 each from Australia and Canada.
The order of selection was based on an evaluation of the general stregnths of the teams following the initial US WNT player assignments: the perceived weakest team had the first pick in a round, the strongest the last. The four rounds of selections, in order, were:
1st Round
Bay Area | Formiga (BRA) |
Boston Breakers | Kelly Smith (GBR) |
Los Angeles | Marta (BRA) |
Washington Freedom | Daniela (BRA) – traded to St. Louis |
Chicago Red Stars | Cristiane (BRA) |
St. Louis | Homare Sawa (JPN) – traded to Washington |
NY/NJ Sky Blue FC | Sarah Walsh (AUS) |
2nd Round
Bay Area | Christine Sinclair (CAN) |
Boston Breakers | Fabiana (BRA) |
Los Angeles | Aya Miyama (JPN) |
Washington Freedom | Sonia Bompastor (FRA) |
Chicago Red Stars | Heather Garriock (AUS) |
St. Louis | Renata Costa (BRA) |
NY/NJ Sky Blue FC | Rosana (BRA) |
3rd Round
Bay Area | Eriko Arakawa (JPN) |
Boston Breakers | Maycon (BRA) |
Los Angeles | Lotta Schelin (SWE) – traded for St. Louis’ 4th round pick |
Washington Freedom | Lisa De Vanna (AUS) |
Chicago Red Stars | Karen Carney (GBR) |
St. Louis | Melissa Tancredi (CAN) |
NY/NJ Sky Blue FC | Ester (BRA) |
4th Round
Bay Area | Erika (BRA) |
Boston Breakers | Shinobu Ohno (JPN) |
Los Angeles | Han Duan (CHN) |
Washington Freedom | Louisa Necib (FRA) |
Chicago Red Stars | Caroline Jonsson (SWE) |
St. Louis | Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (ISL) – traded for Los Angeles’ 3rd round pick |
NY/NJ Sky Blue FC | Kelly Parker (CAN) |
At this point, nothing is guaranteed. This was essentially a draft for the rights to talk to a player and/or their club teams. Agreements must be met, contracts have to be drawn up. Even so, although there are likely to be some changes between now and the beginning of the WPS innaugural season, the list should be a good indication of how the initial rosters will appear.
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