After changing coaches twice during the regular season and only clinching a spot in the playoffs in their last match the NY/NJ Sky Blue FC beat favourites Washington Freedom and Saint Louis Athletica to reach the WPS inaugural season final against the Los Angeles Sol. The Championship Match will happen this Saturday, August 22 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The Los Angeles Sol secured their spot in the final and the advantage of playing at home by finishing at the top of the table in the regular season. In fact, Marta and her teammates, under the lead of coach Abner Rodgers, cruised through the redular season leaving all the other teams in the dust. Solid in all sectors of the pitch, the LA Sol didn't count only on the Brazilian superstar Marta or USA Olympic Gold Medalist Shanon Boxx to beat the oponents; international names such as Karina Le Blanc, Camille Abily and Aya Miyama - Canadian, French and Japanese, respectively - made a huge impact on the team's defense, midfield and attack. The only international player who ended up not being up to the expectations was Chinese striker Han Duan who played in 16 matches but scored only 3 goals. 

On the Sky Blue FC side the path to this WPS Chasmpionship Match was quite tougher. The team started the season with Ian Sawyers as head coach but on May 23 he left due to "differences with the team's ownership". When Saywers left the Sky Blue had already played 7 matches but was only able to win 1 of them. Kelly Lindsey then took over the responsibilty of bringing back to life a beat up team that was sitting in the last place of the table and she did. Using a strong defense and fast counter attacks the Sky Blue manage to climb up the standings and achive the playoffs. 

On July 29, without further explanation, Lindsey resigned. Then it was when a strong leader came from the field to play a double role. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist  and World Cup Champion Christie Rampone stepped up to be more than the team captain ands defender but assumed the coaching responsibility. It's been beying off for Sky Blue FC. Against all odds the team beat Abby Wambach and the Washington Freedom and Hope Solo and her Saint Louis Atlhetica, both matches on the road, to reach the final.

For this Saturday's WPS Championship Match anything can happen. Marta and the Los Angeles Sol are still the favourites by far however Sky Blue FC has been re-stating one of the most notorious sayings on soccer: everything is possible, even the improbable.

I had to alert people beforehand that this post might generate some controversy and some might even dislike what I'm going to say but it's all based on personal opinion and YOU ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO POST YOURS.

So let's get to the point.

 A-Rod is not happy in Boston. 

Amy Rodriguez was with all merit the number 1 draft of the WPS and everybody expected her to be shining just like she did while playing for USC and for the US WNT. She was decisive in the Olympics. And actually participated in the play that generated Carli Lloyd's goal. So what happened? Why isn't she playing like we were used to see her playing? Why has she been sitting on the bench more often than not?

Well, those are questions that only coach DiCicco and Amy herself could answer but I can write some possible theories.  

After the LA Sol match against the Boston Breakers at the Home Depot Center I said Hi to A-Rod and asked her how she was. She said everything was okay but she missed her friends and family in California. That's all. She was extremely professional and didn't complain about being on the bench or anything related to the team. But I felt a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. I could be wrong but i've been playing, coaching and working with soccer long enough to notice that she didn't look very happy. 

• So the first factor might be really homesickness. Amy is far from her friends and family. She's far from the warm Californian weather (believe me, this does affect one's mood). 

• The second one is that NO PLAYER that has played at the level A-Rod has played with the US WNT likes to be benched. It's very understandable that with the number of players the Breakers to play up front next to Kelly Smith the competition is tough. 

• The third, and in my opinion the main reason, is that DiCicco is not using Amy Rodriguez as he should.  A-Rod is a forward NOT a striker. Those are similar positions but with different roles.

A striker is the one responsible to FINISH the plays, period. Abby Wambach, Natasha Kai, Christine Sinclair (CAN), Eriko Arakawa (JPN), Birgit Prinz (GER), Cristiane (BRA). They play most of the time as a target woman inside the other team's box. They score goals. That's their main job. 

Forwards can be played as second strikers if they can also finish well, if they are tall and strong but they might also be the ones that open space to the sides so the striker can penetrate into the box through the middle. 

Most women's teams have more forwards than strikers. Kelly Smith is originally a forward that can be moved to the "second striker" position. Marta is a forward and so is Amy Rodriguez.

She's incredibly fast and can cross the ball really well from either side of the field. She takes on defenders leaving them in the dust and that forces someone else to cover opening space for the striker to be free in the box.

Pia Sundhage knows that. Tony DiCicco apparently doesn't. 

Amy can score too. She can score coming from one side of the box, cutting to the middle and she can shoot with either the right or left foot. I've seen her doing that playing for USC many times but I've also seen her, most of the times,  putting her teammates in front of the goal after leaving defenders behind her.

I know that Boston's offense play around Kelly Smith and I don't expect it to be different. I also know that Kristine Lilly is very good playing on the right wing. So, why not play Amy on the left wing on the attack and have one of the midfielders covering for her defensively? 

Just a suggestion Mr. DiCicco. 

I actually would rather have Amy benched in Boston for the rest of the season and then see her coming back to Cali next year on a transfer either for the Sol or Gold Pride. Can you imagine an attack with A-Rod, Han Duan and Marta? or A-Rod, Christine Sinclair and Tiffeny Milbret? WOW!!!

Anyway... 

What are your thoughts? 

First off, let be begin by saying that this is an independent blog, and it does not reflect the views of any WPS players, coaches, staff, or league officials. This is all my own opinion.

The first big news of the league is the trade between the LA Sol and St. Louis Athletica. The Sol gave forward Christie Welsh and defender Kendall Fletcher to St. Louis, and will receive a conditional 2010 first-round draft pick, and a 2011 first-round draft pick. The Sol will get the first-round draft pick on 2010 only if St. Louis finishes as a top 5 team. If they fail to do so, the first-round pick becomes a second-round pick.

"We had no choice due to Daniela’s injury so we had to make a change in the roster. We lacked a little bit of offense and we lacked physical play in the middle," said head coach Jorge Barcellos. "Fletcher has a lot of potential and is a very physical player in the middle and Welsh is a player who shoots well from outside of the box. I hope they can contribute to what we are doing here in St. Louis."

I think both Welsh and Fletcher will have a good season playing in St. Louis, and they will definitely help the team. Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny basically summarized everything for me.

"I think we acquired two world class players," she said. "I think Kendall Flecther is one of the best defenders in the United States and Christie Welsh is a powerful forward with a knack for burying her chances. I think they will certainly blend in with the team and help us in our goal of winning the WPS Championship."

The next big news in the league that has almost everyone upset is the one-game suspensions for Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach, and St. Louis Athletica midfielder Kia McNeill. Abby Wambach was suspended for the next Washington match that she is able to play in for a "tackle in the 80th minute that was reckless and resulted in a potentially season-ending injury of an opposing player." Kia McNeill was suspended from the next St. Louis match thatshe is able to play in for "persistent egregious conduct toward an opposing player."

I think both of these suspensions were not necessary. The Freedom-Athletica match did get physical, but I think in the end, both teams want to win and it's just part of the game. Abby was late in her tackle on Daniela, and caused her a broken tibia and torn knee ligaments, but I've seen other players hurt opponents and they never were suspended for it. McNeill also had a rough game. I think maybe if this rule had been more out there, the players wouldn't play so rough and let things get out of hand.

McNeill did play in this week's match. There is a seven-day period for the players to appeal. St. Louis has a game scheduled for this weekend, and Freedom is on a bye week, so their next match would be after the March 14 deadline for appeal. League Commissioner Tonya Antonucci "has determined that the one-day window between the Thursday-evening decision and the Saturday game is a unique and extenuating circumstance and will make a one-time exception to allow McNeill to play this weekend during the pendency of any appeal, should there be one."

Now for some fun stats. (Week 7 included)

102,226 tickets have been sold throughout the league.

14,832 attended the inaugural match. (highest attendance)

8,031 attended Boston's home game vs LA. (second highest attendance)

42 goals have been scored this season.

30 different players have scored goals.

13 international players have scored goals.

7 matches were won by one goal.

6 matches ended in a draw.

2.21 goals-per-game average.

This week:

St. Louis 1 (Chalupny, 16'), FC Gold Pride 0

LA 0, Boston 0

Chicago 0, Sky Blue FC 2 (Walsh 8', Kai 79')

WPS. See extraordinary.

 

USA fans can definitely question the German media for calling the friendly match between Brazil and Germany “Duel of the Best” as the US WNT beat Brazil last summer to win their third Olympic Gold Medal and is the number 1 on the FIFA Ranking. But what happened on Wednesday in Frankfurt, Germany, is something to be celebrated by every single fan of the women's game. 44,825 fans attended this friendly match. Let me say that again: 44,825 people paid to watch a friendly women's soccer match. and

Why? The reasons are simple: there were some recognizable faces on the pitch. Marta, Formiga, Cristiane for Brazil and Birgit Prinz, Anja Mittag for Germany, among others. Another reason is that the women's Bundesliga is very well structure and have a good number of followers. And it's not everyday that you can watch the second and third best teams on the planet play each other. 

No matter which team or country you support, women's soccer goes beyond futile rivalry and smacktalk. When we see this amount of support and the large attendance on a match we have to stand up and thank each and everyone of those that help the WPS, the women's Bundesliga, the Ladies Premier League, the Swedish League and all the other women's leagues in the world.

The 2011 World Cup will be in Germany and how amazing will it be to see tickets sold out, stadiums packed with supporters from every part of the World?!?! Simply beautiful!

And the more balanced and advanced other countries can become in giving young girls teams and leagues to play the more attractive the women's game will become.

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WPS THIS WEEKEND

Of coirse that I would not forget to mention that we have a great weekend of soccer ahead of us with very important matches.

The Los Angeles Sol with Marta, will visit the St. Louis Athletica in a match that will present the two opposite sides of the table. LA on top with 3 wins and St. Louis at the bottom still pursuing their first point this season. It will be interesting to see how St. Louis Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos, who knows Marta very well, will set up his team to stop her.

St. Louis Athletica v. Los Angeles Sol  

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009, 4pm ET

...TICKETS...

 

Chicago Red Stars can only think their amazing fans for standing in the rain and supporting the team from beginning to end when the team tied 0-0 with the Sky Blue FC at the Toyota Park. Now for tomorrow's match against the Boston Breakers, the club is giving back to the fans with a cool "bring a friend for $10" deal. CLICK HERE to learn more about it. The Breakers go after their third win and hope to get closer to the top of the table. The team will once again on Kelly Smith who's been superb and crucial for the team.

Chicago Red Stars v. Boston Breakers 

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009, 8:30pm ET

...TICKETS...

 

The third match of this weekend is on Sunday and it's FC Gold Pride that will host Abby Wambach and the Washington Freedom at the Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. Pride lost on the road to LA Sol in a match that coul've been much different had the NoCal team turned their great chances into goals. Washington's midfield on the other hand, is the one that needs to improve to make the ball get to Wambach in good conditions for her to score. This match can be followed LIVE ON FOX SOCCER CHANNEL at 6pm (ET) [3pm (PT)]

FC Gold Pride v. Washington Freedom

SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009, 6pm ET

... TICKETS ...

 

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EXTRAORDINARY BUEHLER

One of the best defender in the league and in the world, Rachel Buehler finally gets her Extraordinary Video. ENJOY!

 

Hello WPS Fans,

After all the antecipation and the hype of the inaugural match we can say that our league is going very well, thank you very much. Actually thanks to you, the fans!

The WPS is the highest level of professional women's soccer in the United States and counts on the best players in the world. Think of the English Premier League with all its stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Robinho, Drogba, Terry, Fabregas, Tim Howard, etc... Now think of a female version of the EPL but with the best female soccer players on the planet; Marta, Kelly Smith, Abby Wambach, Lindsay Tarpley, Cat Whitehill, Kristine Lilly, Brandy Chastain, Hope Solo, Heather O'Reilly, Carli Lloyd, Cristiane, Formiga .. the list goes on...

This is the WPS.

Marta is already showing why she's the best in the world and the Los Angeles Sol has already clinched two wins in the first two matches to sit on top of the table.

7 maches were already played and 14 goals scored. A good average for such a balanced league. The LA Sol is the only team who won both their matches so far and the St. Louis Athletica despite counting on a great squad, are yet to get their first point.

Here are the standings so far:  

TEAM	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	P
LA Sol	2	2	0	0	4	0	6
FC Gold Pride	2	1	0	1	3	2	4
Res Stars	2	1	0	1	2	1	4
Breakers	2	1	1	0	3	2	3
Freedom	2	0	1	1	1	3	1
Sky Blue FC	2	0	1	1	1	3	1
Athletica	2	0	2	0	0	3	0

 

And a total of 44,217 fans went to the stadiums to show their support to their teams and to the league. An average attendance of 6,316 fans per match. These numbers might not impress at all if you compare them if the greatest leagues in the world. (a single game between Aston Villa and Everton can easily bring more than 44,000 fans to the stadium). However we all know that we're talking about women's soccer and in the USA. There's a lot of work to be done to show those who frown over soccer and criticize women's soccer in special that 2 World Cups and 3 Olympic Gold Medals are a vindication that women's soccer in the United States has never let this nation down.

We'll humbly but steadily continue growing and gathering more fans and more importantly forming the next generation of gold medalist and world cup champions in all the girls soccer programs around the country.

Come see for yourself this weekend. Gather your friends and family, get your tickets and go show your support to the nearest team.

Lastly, we'd like to announce that the new WPS website is up and it looks soooooo cooolll... CHECK IT OUT!

But always come back here to OleOle to check all of our teams' Blogs written by Fans Like You and For Fans Like You!

Above The Clouds (LA Sol)

Blue'z The Limit (Sky Blue FC)

St. Louie (St. Louis Atlhetica)

The Voice Of Freedom (Washington Freedom)

Breakers Breaking News (Boston Breakers)

Gold Pride (FC Gold Pride)

Red Stars Report (Chicago Red Stars)

There comes a time in every athlete's life when they have to know the right time to hang up their cleats. Well, I have made that decision, but not for me. For Briana Scurry.

Before some of you go ballistic, let me say first that I have nothing against her. She WAS a great goalkeeper. Remember the 1999 Women's World Cup?  90 minutes have gone by and the score is still 0-0 in the final between the US and China. Overtime. Still 0-0. Next, the penalty kick shoot-out.  The teams take turns shooting, taking the lead and tying. 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, and so on. Then the third penalty kick for China, and Scurry saves it! The 90,000+ crowd at the Rose Bowl on a very hot summer day in July goes crazy! Then Kristine Lilly scores, then Zhang Ouying, then Mia Hamm, and finally Sun Wen to keep China alive. Next up it's Brandi Chastain with the deciding kick. She scores, rips off her jersey, and the rest is history.

One day, Scurry went to bed, without many people knowing who she was. After the World Cup Final, she woke up and the whole world knew who she was- an American hero.

That's just the beginning though. In 1995, she was a member of the US team that won 3rd place in the second FIFA World Cup for women. In 1996, she was the starting goalkeeper for the US team that won the first Olympic Gold Medal for women's soccer in Atlanta.  In 2004 she was the starting keeper for the US team that won its second Olympic Gold Medal in Athens, making several saves against a Brazil team in which Marta and Cristiane were barely getting started. From 1994-1999, Scurry was the number goalie for the USA. With 173 caps for the US National Team, she is the most capped keeper for the women's side.

Now, here we are in 2009 and Scurry is not shining as bright as she once did. In fact, she has not been shining as brightly since 2005 when Hope Solo broke into the national team. In 2006, Scurry only played 3 games and ended with a 0.33 GAA. In 2007, she started 8 of only 9 matches she played in, including the 4-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup final. In 2008, she only made the roster for the Four Nations Cup, and a few other friendly matches, where she played a total of 5 and allowed 5 goals. 

So how does a goalkeeper go from being one of the best in the world to one that almost nobody wants to see in goal? Easy, she gets too "old" for the job. At 37 years old, Scurry is a legend in soccer. She will go down as one of the best soccer players in the USA and maybe even the world, but she has got to realize that her time is up. She was not called up to the national team training camp this year.

With the start of WPS, Scurry is the starting goalie for the Washington Freedom, but already she has proved why she shouldn't be playing anymore. In the inaugural match, which was the Los Angeles Sol against the Freedom, she scored an own goal that officials gave to Allison Falk who bumped Scurry and made her knock a cross from Aya Myama into her own goal in the 6th minute. When in doubt, punch it out. Later in the 86th minute, Scurry allowed another goal that she could have easily saved in her prime. 

I even heard a Freedom fan say "That's why I hope Erin McLeod gets her Visa issues sorted." Erin Mcleod is Canada's goalkeeper who has not been able to train with Washington because of Visa issues.

We all know that Scurry is at, if not getting near, the end of her career. Whether she wants to accept that or not, well, that's her decision. All I know is that maybe she should think about the "R" word before she makes a fool of herself if she hasn't already. 

Check here how the Los Angeles Sol with Marta, Han Duan, Shannon Boxx were able to get their first win over the Washington Freedom of Abby Wambach, Homare Sawa and Cat Whitehill in the WPS inaugural match in more than 100 photos (being added all day today... keep checking for more).

Photos by Gil Braga, Alondra Hernandez and Michelle Chang exclusively for OleOle

Chapter 1 - Pre Game Festivities and Warm Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CHAPTER 2 - In Game Action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3 - POST GAME 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  CHAPTER 4 - Fans (almost 15 thousand people... yeah!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all for now folks! See ya next weekend when the other teams will make their debut in the WPS Inaugural Season!

 

 

 

 

 

The WPS wants to hear how you felt when you saw your team stepping on the pitch, when you saw your favorite player touch the ball, score a goal, block a shot, make an amazing save. We want to hear from you because this league is made for you. Tell us about how it was to see Marta, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Heather O'Reilly, Aly Wagner, Eriko Arakawa, Carli Lloyd, Natasha Kai, and all those other stars playing with each other or against each other. 

No matter where you are watching your favorite inaugural match let us know your story. Click on the banner bellow to access the WPS Fan Corner and send your text, your pictures, your videos and you'll see your experience immediately published.

Then here at OleOle we'll comment on the most interesting ones and also share with you what our team of writers felt about their own inaugural matches.

You can also be part of history in the making!

Hi all,

We've waited too long for this moment and it's so close now. The Women's Professional Soccer League is back and in a way that we could only have dreamed of. The top female athletes of the world today, including, Marta, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo; plus legends of the game such as Brandi Chastain, ChKristine Lilly; and also a great new generation of amazing players such as Manya Makoski, Tina DiMartino and Amy Rodriguez were well distributed among the 7 teams that will battle for the title of the WPS inaugural season.

League Commisioner Tonya Antonucci must be extremely happy with the way things are being build. Of course she'll only be able to rest once the last match is played and but then she'll be already preparing for the 2010 season but it is a job that pays off for sure. 

This time there are no pompous dreams, gigantic corporations, astronomic salaries, huge stadiums which would be fantastic but it's also very unrealistic for a new Women's League playing soccer in the United States so the idea of using smaller stadiums and build solid partnerships with local programs and media outlets gives us all great hopes and expectations for the longevity of this league. 

Being small doesn't mean having less quality. The team rosters filled with international players, the top US National Team athletes and the highest rated new talents is the guarantee of high quality on the pitch.

One huge weapon that the WPS has been wisely using is the internet. Profiles and groups on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and of course here at OleOle  and at the WPS Fan Corner Page bring the league and the players closer to those who really make it all happen: YOU, the fans!

Everything has been carefully thought, planned and executed by people who truly love the sport, who truly believe that every little girl that joins a youth program is a professional player in potential and deserve to have a long lasting league  and great positive role models to relate to and look up for.

The Extraordinary is here

The WPS is ours!

Hello WPS fans,

I decided to come here to give my personal opinion on the uniforms that the teams are going to wear in this 2009 WPS Inaugural Season. Why? Why is a guy talking about fashion? Hey, it's not just fashion, it's SOCCER FASHION. And believe it or not I followed all seasons of Project Runway, I saw that kid Christian Siriano (who designed all the uniforms) win the whole thing on season 4, and PUMA® is a brand known for it's combination of fashion and high technology in sports gear. So with no further adue let's start my fashion analysis. (I'll rate the from 1 to 10 according to my opinion ok?)

Oh and before I start, what's up with the "skorts" in some of the kits? "Skorts" are those shorts that have a flap coming from one side that make them look like skirts in the front. Tennis players and I think Lacrosse players use them frequently. I don't know if they go well with a soccer jersey.I'll have to get used to that before I give an opinion. 

So now the jerseys:

BOSTON BREAKERS: 

 

The player/models chose to present the Breakers new kit were Angela Hucles and my friend Amy Rodriguez. The shirt is plain and classic. Not a lot fierceness on this one (take that Siriano... hahaha... just kidding) Butstill a sober a beautiful shirt. For this one I preffer the White Away Jersey. I'll give it a 7.5.

CHICAGO RED STARS:

 

The Uniforms were presented by Carli Lloyd and Nikki Krzysik and is probably my favorite kit. The light blue of the home jersey with the red stars crossing the center horizontally makes it unique, stylish and offers a perfect color combination and harmony. That's a 10.

FC GOLD PRIDE:

My very good friend Leslie Osborne and one of my favorite players from last college season at UCLA, Tina DiMartino modeled the Gold Pride's new uniforms. I'm divided on this one. I like the Home Jersey very much. I love the black and I just think that the trimming could be a little more "goldish. It might be the picture but I think it's more like a light caramel than gold. And that's why I'm not a big fan of the away kit. It could've been a more intense golden color. Kind of like the USA Women's jersey. But I still like it. It's an 8.5 for me.

LOS ANGELES SOL:

I knew it!!! I knew they were going to have the same color patern as the LA Galaxy. Which is very beautiful, don't get me wrong. Marta (whom I expect to schedule an interview with pretty soon, stay tuned) and Johanna Friskpresented the kits. I like this one. It's classic; Dark Blue and Yellow nothing too crazy but still a very good color combination. I hope to get my number 10 Marta jersey as soon as possible. I'll proudly wear it! That's a 9.

SAINT LOUIS ATHLETICA:

Another gorgeous one. This shade of green gives the home jersey the so-called "fierceness". It's bold. It's beautiful. Hope Solo looked very pretty in it (even though I like her better with a ligther hair color... ssshhh... don't tell her I said that) and Lori Chalupny presented the away jersey which is also very beautiful has a kind of grayish-sand color that is pretty different from the what I've seen around. Very niiiice. It's the second 10 of the list. 

SKY BLUE FC:

Heather O'Reilly and Christie Rampone were the models for the Sky Blue kits. That's is a great uniform! Both home and away. The light blueof the home kit is simple andbeautiful and the orange away shirt is fierce. Orange is color that goes well for soccer jerseys. I'll give it a 9.5.

WASHINGTON FREEDOM:

 

Allie Long and Sarah Huffman were the players chosen to present the Freedom's new uniforms. That's definetly another case of classic that works. Dark blue for the home jersey. Similar to the US WNT jersey and a bright beautiful red for the away kit. I like it. It's a 9.