Chicago Red Stars Pass on Mature Talent in WPS LA Dispersal Draft

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 4, 2010)

The WPS Chicago Red Stars had fourth crack at the talent packed stable of the now defunct Los Angeles Sol today, during the WPS Dispersal Draft. While marquis names such as Shannon Boxx , Karina Leblanc and Brazilian superstar Marta were taken in the first three picks, in that order, there was still lots of A-list talent on the board when Chicago took their turn.

The Red Stars passed on players who'd had a major impact in the league for Los Angeles in the league's premier season, such as Stephanie Cox, Chicago native Brittany Bock, and Aya Miama. Instead, they selected rookie Forward, Casey Nogeuria , from North Carolina.

For Nogeuria , it was her second experience of being drafted in three weeks, as she had just been taken by Los Angeles during the league's General Draft on January 15th . Nogeuria joins two other Tarheel teammates taken by Chicago in the general draft: Defender Whitney Engen and Nikki Washington.

One can only speculate why Chicago opted for Nogeuria rather than one of the Sol's best established players. Either they'd already spent the cookie money on personnel already signed, or they were confident enough in their ability to win with the existing roster, that they didn't need to add any weapons.

This is not to say that Casey Nogueria is not a potential weapon, but she's also not likely to be the equivalent of Cox, Bock or Miama from day one.

That being said, the Red Stars enhanced their future options by trading their next two picks for twice as many picks (second round) in next year's draft. Chicago will own five of the 8 picks in the second round of the 2011 draft. At the same time, their selection of Nogueria essentially gives them an additional first round pick (retroactively) in the 2010 draft.

Nogueria was a three-year letter winner and two-year starter at forward for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. She won five national player of the year awards in 2008 while also being named the female athlete of the year in the ACC .

She scored the game-winning goals in both the semifinal and championship games of the 2006 NCAA College Cup before turning 18 years old. She is a ambidextrous shooter.

Casey was a member of the U.S. U23 National Team in 2009 and earned her first U.S. full National Team cap in 2007 at age 18. She played on the U.S. U20 National Teams which competed in the 2006 U20 World Championship in Russia and the 2007 Pan American Games, winning a silver medal in Brazil. They also played in the 2008 CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the U20 World Championship in November 2008 in Chile.

In high school Casey ranked as the No. 9 recruit in the nation by Soccer Buzz magazine coming out of high school in 2006.

The Los Angeles franchise was shut down last week when it became apparent the league would be unable to find a new owner in time to be ready for the upcoming season. The franchise's original owner, AEG Entertainment Group, gave the club back to the league at the end of the inaugural season.