Sports Then and Now

In the wake of a rather gray day in the brief history of the WPS, following yesterday’s announcement of the league’s decision to discontinue operation of the Los Angeles Sol, Atlanta Beat General Manager Shawn McGee was quick to remind fans of the WPS a few very important lessons.

Lessons like ‘When you fall down you need to brush yourself off and get back up’ and ‘Every problem has a soft spot’ and everyone’s favorite, ‘What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’ resonated from McGee’s message during a phone interview this afternoon. Read the rest of this entry →

FC Gold Pride and Tiffeny Milbrett are poised for success in 2010

At the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Tiffeny Milbrett held a field demonstration session on Thursday, January 14, 2010.  We got there about 15 minutes after it started, but still got the gist of what was going on and enjoyed watching it.  Afterwards, we went up, introduced ourselves and got to talk to Tiffeny for a little while about her thoughts on the WPS draft, the upcoming season and the acquisition of LA Sol midfielder, Camille Abily.

Lauren Green (LG): What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s WPS draft?

Tiffeny Milbrett (TM): I think it’s going to be the best class ever for any WPS draft, (laughs), it’s the second year.  But no I think, I don’t know absolutely all the players because I don’t get to this part of the states, that part of the states to be able to see all of the players that are coming out.

But of course you know the top four or five players that will probably be taken right off the bat. And it’s just exciting I think, you know when the WUSA went away, it’s just, it was such a sad moment, not for the current players, but for those players coming up, coming through college.  You know, their dreams were wiped out of becoming pro and just tomorrow again, symbolizes the chance for these players to have a place to play as a professional soccer player. And that is just phenomenal to me.

LG: Is there anyone in particular that you would enjoy getting to play with if they were to be drafted by FC Gold Pride? I know they have a high pick in the third overall pick, but is there anyone in particular that you would be extremely excited to be playing with? Read the rest of this entry →

Lindsay Tarpley is a new edition for the Athletica.

The St. Louis Athletica completed a successful inaugural season in 2009 with a 10-6-4 record that included a playoff run. Boasting one of the strongest defensive lines in the league, the Athletica only struggled with goal scoring. In the 2010 WPS draft, the Athletica made the most of their late picks and selected several strong players who will make an impact in the second season.

Here are in-depth descriptions of each of the Athletica’s seven draft picks from January 15. Included are the International players drafted in September, 2009. Also profiled is a well-known player at the center of a surprising trade…

In a trade that came a mere 20 minutes before the draft began, St. Louis traded goalkeeper Jillian Loyden to the Chicago Red Stars for US International midfielder Lindsay Tarpley.

“This was a big opportunity for us to improve our club,” said Head Coach Jorge Barcellos in a WPS interview. “…we have received a midfielder that has world class credentials and ability. Lindsay Tarpley will be an amazing addition to Saint Louis Athletica.”

The Kalamazoo, Michigan native scored 30 international goals for the United States and scored 4 during her time with Chicago last year. Her strong presence in the midfield and her nose for the goal will improve the Athletica’s scoring position and offensive abilities. Read the rest of this entry →

Chicago Red Star and Illini alum Ella Masar earned her first national cap with the U.S. National Team on October 29 in Augsburg, Germany.

The following is a post from Ella Masar’s blog at the Illini Women’s Soccer site.

Chicago Red Star and Illini alum Ella Masar earned her first national cap with the U.S. National Team on October 29 in Augsburg, Germany, subbing into the U.S.-Germany match in the 73rd minute for Amy Rodriguez. The U.S. won 1-0 in a battle of the top two teams in the world. Below, Ella shares her thoughts and experiences on playing for the U.S.

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My First Cap

The silence is something I will never forget.

It is something that will be stored in my mind more than any other. More than walking into the locker room and seeing for the first time Masar on the back of a red, white and blue Jersey. More than coming out of the tunnel to hearing boos to a sold-out arena. Even more than Pia Sundage patting me on the back asking me if I was ready, me simply smiling, and telling her thank you. Read the rest of this entry →

WPS has unveiled their uniforms for 2010.

2010 is THE year for soccer. Last night in Philadelphia, PUMA and Women’s Professional Soccer unveiled the new 2010 WPS Home and Away Uniforms, including the official kit debut of the newest franchises, the Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence.

Fusing fashion with sport, PUMA launched the newly-designed uniforms from the Power collection, keeping both style and performance in mind and giving players the courage to be awesome on and off the field.  The launch event, which took place hours after the 2010 WPS Draft, highlighted veteran players from the league’s nine teams and nine newly-drafted professional players who proudly wore their team colors for the first time. Read the rest of this entry →

Saint Louis selected Ashlyn Harris with the 19th pick in the WPS draft

Not having a pick until the second round of the 2010 WPS Draft didn’t phase the St. Louis Athletica this morning. With the 17 pick overall, Athletica began their day by selecting UCLA midfielder Kristina Larsen, then finished out their second round with the choice of University of North Carolina goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris as their #19 selection.

Following the second round, Assistant General Manager Tim Owens stated, “We feel that we have gotten two first round caliber players at the end of the second round. We are extremely satisfied thus far.”

Kristina Larsen, in training with the U-23 National Team in Carson, California, followed the draft online.  “Each time another pick was made I got more and more nervous,” she told WPS press. “I have heard that Athletica is a great environment to come to, and I hear that the fans are really welcoming. I am also excited to be moving out of California, I am ready to branch out.” Read the rest of this entry →