2010 WPS Power Rankings: Final Edition

What a year. We close the books on another successful season in Women's Professional Soccer season with FC Gold Pride hoisting the silverware. From far and wide, fans have been treated to great games, great goals and great skill from the best in the women's game.

It has been an honor to bring you these Power Rankings for the 2010 WPS season on the WPS Fan Corner, the View from Victoria Street, and Bleacher Report. With all that said, here are the final WPS Power Rankings.

1. FC GOLD PRIDE

Albertin Montoya's FC Gold Pride, heading into the second year of Women's Professional Soccer action, were a group of women on a mission: to exorcise the ghosts of 2009.

Not only did the Lionesses of the East Bay succeed in destroying the painful memories of finishing last place in the league that year, they ended 2010 as the first club to win the WPS Double, being named WPS Regular Season Champions and WPS Champions.

It's a turnaround that will be sure to energize excitement for soccer in the East Bay, San Francisco, San Jose, and beyond heading into the 2011 season.

The Pride didn't exactly begin their season on the right end of things, losing to St. Louis Athletica (who would wind themselves up later that year). But the Lionesses roared through the rest of April, May, and June with seven victories, two defeats, and one draw before cleaning out July with a perfect record of 5-0-0

The Pride did suffer a three-game scoreless draw streak before flipping the goal-scoring switch to on, ending the regular season with a 4-0-1 record and a blistering overall record of 16-3-5 (53 points).

With essentially two weeks to prepare for the postseason, the well-rested Pride took on the Philadelphia Independence and shut them out in emphatic fashion to the tune of 4-0.

Marta, who played her role in the victory with two assists and the final goal of the season, ends her campaign with the Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award and the Golden Boot, tallying a season-high 20 goals to her credit.

Her right-hand partner-in-crime, Christine Sinclair, finishes 2010 with a team-high nine assists and also scored a brace in the Championship Game.

Defensively, the Pride were led by WPS Rookie of the Year Ali Riley and U.S. Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Barnhart.

Riley started all of the matches for the Pride except for one, dispossessing opposing attacks with sheer tenacity and exceptional skill. Barnhart ends her season with a 13-3-5 record, a 0.77 goals against average and 73 saves to her name.

FC Gold Pride will look to add another gold star to their crest when the Lionesses of the East Bay do it all over again in 2011.

2. PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENCE

The Philadephia Independence, led by WPS Coach of the Year Paul Riley, did not play like an expansion team in 2010. In fact, the club played as if they were a part of it all from the very beginning.

A 10-10-4 record (34 points) and a WPS Championship appearance told the story for the Indies, who will head into next season with aspirations of becoming the third team to hoist the trophy in the young league's history.

During the regular season, Philly did very well in June, with a 3-1-1 record. During a stretch from July 24 to August 15, the Independence stormed to a 4-1-1 record, punching a ticket to the playoffs in the process.

Philadelphia didn't do particularly well to end the regular season, however, dropping four straight.

Nonetheless, the Indies showed that they can—and will—win games that go into extra time.

In the first round of the playoffs, a 120th minute-goal from Amy Rodriguez gave Philly a 1-0 victory over the Washington Freedom. During the Super Semifinal, a controversial goal from Danesha Adams that looked to be a possible handball gave Philadelphia a 2-1 win over the Boston Breakers. In the end, the Independence were unable to hold down the class of the league in FC Gold Pride.

Rodriguez finishes the year with a team-best 12 goals, while captain Lori Lindsey ends 2010 with a team-high eight assists. Val Henderson, in relief of Karina LeBlanc, ends her campaign as the club's leading goalkeeper with a 5-5-0 record and a 1.50 GAA.

3. BOSTON BREAKERS

Tony DiCicco's Boston Breakers will only wonder how they let Danesha Adams get away with breaking their hearts in Super Semifinal extra time at Soldiers' Field.

Led by MedImmune Defender of the Year Amy LePeilbet, the Breakers finished with a 10-8-6 record (36 points). They didn't start the season on the right track, managing just one victory and four draws in the first three months of the campaign.

However, July proved to be the month of reckoning for the Breakers, who finished that month with five victories and only one defeat. Boston also finished August with a 3-1-1 record.

Kelly Smith ends 2010 as Boston's leading scorer and provider, with 11 goals and five assists on the campaign. Alyssa Naeher finishes the season with a 9-4-2 record, 1.17 GAA, and 69 saves to her credit.

4. WASHINGTON FREEDOM

Like last year, Jim Gabarra's Washington Freedom were eliminated in the WPS First Round. Last year. it was Sky Blue FC, this year it was the Philadelphia Independence on a last-minute goal from Amy Rodriguez.

Then again, it should be considered an achievement for the Freedom to have qualified for the playoffs in the first place, winning three out of their last four matches against a five-game losing streak in July.

Washington ended their regular season with a 8-9-7 record (31 points). The Freedom will look to count their blessings as the countdown to the 2011 WPS season begins in earnest.

When fans think of the Washington Freedom, they think of Abby Wambach. A guiding force for the Freedom, she scored a team-best 13 goals and eight assists. Erin McLeod put on an admirable effort as goalkeeper with a 4-5-5 record and a 1.36 GAA before a season-ending injury gave way to Ashlyn Harris.

Harris ended her campaign with a 4-3-2 record and a 1.11 GAA in relief of the Canadian international.

5. SKY BLUE FC

For Sky Blue FC, they saw their title defense end late in the season, as the Washington Freedom edged the Ladies of the Raritan for the fourth playoff spot. They went on to end the year with a 7-10-7 record (28 points). Over the course of the 2010 campaign, Pauliina Miettenen was also sacked as manager of the club.

Sky Blue FC's underperforming year can be pinpointed to results in two months: July and September.

July saw the Ladies of the Raritan manage one point and slump to a five-game winless streak before defeating the Atlanta Beat 2-1. And in September, when Sky Blue FC needed wins to stay in contention, all the club could manage... was three draws.

Tasha Kai and Laura Kalmari each scored five goals to lead the club, while Heather O'Reilly recorded a team-best five assists. Sky Blue FC's leading goalkeeper was Karen Bardsley, who ended her 2010 run with a 5-3-2 record and a 0.90 GAA.

6. CHICAGO RED STARS

Another disappointing season awaited the Chicago Red Stars, who went through a managerial change midway through the season, sacking Emma Hayes en route to a 7-11-6 record (27 points).

A disastrous April, which saw Chicago gain just one point in their three matches, set the stage for bad results to come later on in the year. The Red Stars were only able to come away with one victory in June and July, and saw their playoffs end with a three-game losing streak to end August.

To the credit of the Women of the Windy City, they ended their season with victories over WPS Playoffs participants Philadelphia and Washington, giving their weary supporters motivation heading into next season.

Ella Masar was the Red Stars' biggest scoring threat, ending her breakthrough year with a team-high eight goals. Marian Dalmy and Casey Nogueira were Chicago's top providers, each notching four assists on the year. Jillian Loyden was the Red Stars' leading keeper, with a 6-11-6 record and a 1.17 GAA to go with 72 saves.

7. ATLANTA BEAT

It hasn't been the prettiest of seasons for the Atlanta Beat, who have gone through a trying inaugural year to finish 5-13-6 (21 points). Two coaching changes and a poor start to the season doomed this side's playoff prospects.

The Beat went through April and may with only one point to show for it and did not earn their first victory until June 19, a 1-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Red Stars. There was reason for hope, however, with the additions of players like Hope Solo and Eniola Aluko to the mix.

Atlanta showed signs of life late in July, winning three straight matches. But a dry spell in August, where they went winless during the early part of the month sealed their fates and saw Gareth O'Sullivan sacked as manager.

Eniola Aluko finishes the season as the Beat's leader in goals with nine, while Aya Miyama ends her year with a team-best four assists. Solo ended her 2010 season with a 6-8-8 record and a 1.64 GAA.

Fans in the South will hope for the Beat to turn their fortunes around to that of a different drum in the 2011 season.


And this concludes the Power Rankings for the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season on the View from Victoria Street, the WPS Fans Corner, and Bleacher Report. Be sure to look forward to next March, when the action in WPS begins with the 2011 preseason Power Rankings!