Leslie Osborne was in a rather strange place in August. While her team was in China, she was in her home watching her team play live at 4 and 6 in the morning (in the west coast), going through some of the same emotions as her teammates, when instead she could have been there. She was likely to be there, at the Olympics, but her dream no longer had a chance of becoming a reality when she tore her ACL this past May during one of the team's sessions at their training camp, in preparations for the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea. 

She has been a key player for the US WNT since stepping up when Shannon Boxx got injured in 2006. Since then, she has been a main-stay on the team. She took Shannon Boxx' spot and played as a defensive midfielder. The next year she was on the roster for the 2007 Womens World Cup in China, where she started 3 games and shut out opponents to help get her team to the final stages of the tournament.

When she tore her ACL, it was a devastating blow to the team. Other players had to fill in for her. About 3 weeks later, defender Cat Whitehill tore her ACL at a training session in South Korea as the team was preparing for their first game of the Peace Queen Cup tournament, and that was just as devastating. Young players like Stephanie Cox and Rachel Buehler had to fill in for her. Just about 2 weeks before the team left to Beijing, the team suffered another great loss- Abby Wambach, their best and leading scorer. She fractured her tibia and fibula in the last Send-off Tour game against Brazil after colliding with a defender going for a 50-50 ball.

With the team already missing 3 key players, everyone counted them out, and were dropped from the list as a favorite to win the Gold, but Abby, Cat and Leslie had full faith in each of their teammates' abilities, and knew that if they really wanted to win, they would have to play as a team and come together in the toughest time of the year.

As she is just relaxing and recuperating from surgeries, I asked to interview her, and she gladly accepted. She took the time to answer questions about her team at the Olympics, the new women's professional soccer league, WPS, and when she was planning to play again.

Alondra: How did you react to your injury, knowing you'd be out for the Olympics?

Leslie: Well I don't know how I would react to my injury to tell you the truth. If someone would have told me I would tear my ACL and miss the Olympics I would be devastated. It was funny, I haven't cried once since I have tore my ACL and had ankle reconstruction. I almost feel like it happened for a reason, I just didn't know why it had to happen to me. After getting cut from the 2004 Olympics, this was my main goal in life.

A: How did you feel watching your team play on TV?

L: It was weird watching my team. I felt like I was part of the team until they got to the quarter finals. After that, I was like "Wow they are amazing," and I didn't feel part of that. I look up to them, and I am so proud to be part of that team.

A: How did you feel when your team was on the top podium receiving their gold medals?

L: I think I was sad to some degree that I could have been up there on the podium, but like I said I was so proud of them. They did something unbelievable and I was so proud of them, some more than others is the best way to put it. Maybe I will have the chance in 2012.

A: What WPS teams would you like to play for the most?

L: I would like to play in the Bay Area or Chicago*. I love it in Northern Cal and see myself being happy there. I also wouldn't mind playing in Chicago, since I grew up there and played lots of soccer there. My family would be very happy. Honestly, I will make the most out of any situation I am put in.

A: What are you most excited for when playing professional soccer?

L: To play in a league and to represent soccer in our country. I can't wait for little girls to be able to look at their role models and see that they have an opportunity to have a career in soccer and athletics. We have something so special that is about to happen and I can't wait to be part of it.

A: What are you looking forward to when being a professional soccer player?

L: I think competing every day and playing more games. I am excited to have a different coach, to train and play against international players, and to have a home base. I am super excited, I have dreamed about this league coming back for so long. There are so many great things that will come out of this. Both for my career and for my life, most importantly for all those little girls out there.

A:You haven't won a World Cup at the senior level yet, but you won the U-19 FIFA Women's World Cup in 2002. Can you talk about that experience?

L: That team and that world championship was amazing. I will never be part of a team like that, well I hope some day I will. Those girls will be my best friends forever.

A: Are you planning to be back on the field with the National Team or your new club team?

L: I am just starting to run. I will be planning to be back 100% for the new league. I can't wait.

*The interview happened a few days before the domestic allocation was announced. Leslie will play for the Bay Area WPS Team.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN'S PRO SOCCER LEAGUE BY VISITING THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.womensprosoccer.com OR HERE AT OLEOLE www.oleole.com/blogs/wps  

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