Thoughts on the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft

Well, I can't believe I'm writing again. It seems I can never get enough of the fun that is Women's Professional Soccer. With the off-season in full swing, the new crews from A-Town and Philly are building their teams, starting with the 2009 Expansion Draft.

The House Rules...

•Existing teams may protect up to 10 players (but must leave a minimum of 6 unprotected)
•Expansion teams must each select one player from each existing team prior to selecting a second player from an existing team. This will also hold true after a 2nd player is selected from an existing team.
•Existing teams may protect two after losing their first player
•Existing teams may protect one after losing their second player
•An existing team may not lose more than three players
•Expansion teams may each select a total of nine players

And this is how the outcome went...

Selection Player Position Previous Team
1.) Atlanta Leigh Ann Robinson D FC Gold Pride
2.) Philadelphia Lori Lindsey M Washington Freedom
3.) Philadelphia Jen Buczkowski D Sky Blue FC
4.) Atlanta Amanda Cinalli F Saint Louis Athletica
5.) Philadelphia Nikki Krzysik D Chicago Red Stars
6.) Atlanta Katie Larkin D/M Los Angeles Sol
7.) Philadelphia Sue Weber D Boston Breakers
Second Round
8.) Atlanta Sharolta Nonen D Los Angeles Sol
9.) Philadelphia Sarah Senty D Washington Freedom
10.) Atlanta Sara Larsson D Saint Louis Athletica
11.) Philadelphia Danesha Adams F Chicago Red Stars
12.) Atlanta Noelle Keselica F Sky Blue FC
13.) Philadelphia Kelly Schmedes F Boston Breakers
14.) Atlanta Pass
15.) Philadelphia Pass

First impressions...

•Cutting it short?: Awww, I was hoping for Atlanta and Philadelphia to select nine players. Instead, they chose to end the draft after the 13th pick.

Could it be that they are choosing to go after the international players fresh off Women's Euro 2009? Or maybe they have an eye to the future with the next crop of college stars (Tobin Heath and company)?

•Quantity vs. Quality: Philadelphia has more picks (seven) but Atlanta selected some solid players in Sara Larsson (STL), Katie Larkin (LA) and Amanda Cinalli (STL).

•FC Gold Pride gets lucky: Maybe it's the fact that they finished rock-bottom in the inaugural season. But FC Gold Pride only had one of its players drafted, Leigh Ann Robinson, the first selection of the draft, and the first player to be selected by the Atlanta Beat.

•Don't you just love appetizers?: Next week, we will find out who the Beat and Indies take next Tuesday in the International Draft. It's sure to be tantalizing.