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.