Sky Blue FC has been in the new a lot lately. In addition to Christie Rampone Day at her alma mater Monmouth University last Sunday (which Sky Blue FC staffers attended in support of Christie), here is more news on our Olympic gold medal drafted players. In addition, following the round of the draft this past Monday, Sky Blue FC and Ian Sawyers quotes are featured on college women's soccer websites such as the University of Portland and the University of North Carolina.
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10/5: Natasha Kai to appear on "L.A. Ink" - Star-Bulletin
10/5: Kai still draw in alumnae's 2-2 draw with UH varsity - Honolulu Advertiser
10/5: There's a new, more mature Natasha in town - Star Bulletin
Here are some of the WPS General Draft recaps and analysis from around the internet:
Assessing the General Draft drama - WPS
W-League players in high demand in 2008 WPS General Draft - USL
WPS draft has a few surprises - USA Today
ZOMG! DRAFT! - The Offside WPS Blog
WPS - draftier than the Bates Motel - Big Soccer
General Draft Day! Today! Hooray! Let's Play! - NJ Sky Blue FC Fan Blog
WPS General Draft reaction from Sky Blue FC Head Coach and General Manager Ian Sawyers:
Again, as in the last draft, I am delighted with the mix of players I was able to select. In this group we have international experience, either the full US National team, Under 23 or Under 20 US National teams. So they've played in big games, under pressure, and they bring that high level of playing experience with them to our team. All four of them also come from high level collegiate programs; at least two have won NCAA National Championships.
Trying to do your homework is the most difficult thing; especially when there are a lot of concerns, ground to be covered, budgetary constraints, and seeing players at the peak of their playing season, which is not always easy. As soon as I got on board I immediately went to Portugal (to the Algarve Cup in February) to try to get the download on international players, W-League and WPSL games and combines, and players in collegiate environment to try to get a sense of the general depth of talent. It all affects your perspective on both American and international talent, and assists in maximizing the odds, so you are always reaching for the cream of the crop.
One of the things you’ll see in WPS, is that coaches have chosen international players for almost all the offensive skill positions. One of great results is that Americans will compete with and against them, get better from that, and learn from them.
One of the major differences between the WPS and my tenure with the WUSA is we don’t have the headliners this time around. There’s no Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz-- the real household names ’99 brought. The beauty of this is that WPS will make a lot of stars. For some of these players, their professional journey is just beginning. Being able to forge their way into the American consciousness will be an exciting journey for them.
My wife and child haven’t seen me in three weeks. This last week I had to get my blackberry surgically removed from my ear—I was talking to so many players, interviewing them. The thing we all have to remember is that this is like the futures market. You’re banking that even while you’ve seen these players, they come in fit, healthy, and strong. That’s the investment you’re willing to take, based on your character assessment as well as an evaluation of their soccer. For the most part, I was lucky in the past. I’ve had a lot of success with my speculation. I really feel good about our group, who are great people, as well as great athletes and soccer players. One of our major challenges will be to make them into a great team.
The most important part of any team is that it becomes a meritocracy; that players earn their way onto the team. There are some who have earned respect by winning gold medals and World Cups, and there are some staring their journey. Senior players will want to prove they’re worthy, and junior players will want to establish themselves. We want to create an environment that allows for both, as well as a strong sense of team cohesion.
Tonya Antonucci, the WPS Commissioner, begins by reading the rules of the draft, including time limits, breaks, and rules. The WPS lawyer comes on the line, to elaborate, and to extend a caution on keeping certain rules.
The Staff sits around the phone call, trolling the Internet for “instant bios” to send to media (and to you! Our fans). Then, in the breaks (each team has one five minute “time out”, which is on as I write this), we glance up at the board in the conference room, where all the players on every team thus far have been listed, and we gossip about whom we think might be suitable for whom (like we are some kind of “Ian Sawyers” experts…). Who will we get??
Sky Blue FC has snagged Cori Alexander, goalkeeper from the 2005 NCAA Championship University of Portland team, and defender Keeley Dowling, a standout from the University of Tennessee.
(I stop to text my daughter, who knows the delightful Ella Masar, a forward who played for the U. of Illinois and the USA Under-23 team). She has just been selected to Chicago. And Kendall Fletcher, UNC alumni, and a wonderful leader, goes to adoptive home, Los Angeles.)
There’s a long pause between picks. At times, the pure silence can set the imagination going, or, if the pause goes long enough, you begin to think of your shopping list.
We’re starting to make bets. Mine started at $100, went do $10, and right as
I realize I am going to lose; I drop it to $1.
Waiting, waiting, waiting…It’s Sky Blue FC’s turn again, and Ian selects midfielder Kacey White, The US National Team and former UNC player. And defender Jenny Anderson-Hammond, who played for the Chicago Gaels of the W-League and is the assistant women’s soccer coach at Eastern Illinois.
We’ve got our four. Time to hear from Coach Sawyers.
Sky Blue FC – the New Jersey/New York entry into Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) – officially announced today that the club has acquired the negotiating rights to international player Anita Asante of England. The rights to Asante were acquired through the WPS post-draft discovery process.
Including Asante, Sky Blue FC has now acquired the negotiating rights to six international players. In the inaugural WPS International Draft, the New Jersey-based team picked Sarah Walsh of Australia, Rosana and Ester of Brazil, and Kelly Parker of Canada. Following that draft, Sky Blue FC added Collette McCallum of Australia as a post-draft discovery selection.
Follow the WPS General Draft online and on Fox Soccer Channel on Monday, Oct. 6
The WPS General Draft will take place on Monday, Oct. 6 as WPS teams continue to fill out their rosters for the inaugural season which kicks off in April 2009. The draft can be followed online in real time at fans.womensprosoccer.com starting at 2pm ET / 11am PT. View more details on how to follow the draft online.
Then watch a recap of the draft and a discussion of WPS with Nick Webster, Steve Cohen and a special WPS guest on Fox Soccer Channel’s Fox Football Fone-In live starting at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Monday, Oct. 6.
The WPS General Draft will consist of four rounds of selections of international and domestic players for all seven WPS teams. The WPS General Draft order was conducted by lottery and is as follows:
Round One
- Washington Freedom
- Bay Area
- Washington Freedom (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
- Boston Breakers
- Los Angeles
- Chicago Red Stars
- Sky Blue FC
Round Two
- Sky Blue FC
- Chicago Red Stars
- Los Angeles
- Boston Breakers
- Los Angeles (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
- Bay Area
- St. Louis (via trade with the Washington Freedom on Sept. 24)
Round Three
- St. Louis (via trade with the Washington Freedom on Sept. 24)
- Bay Area
- Washington Freedom (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
- Boston Breakers
- Los Angeles
- Chicago Red Stars
- Sky Blue FC
Round Four
- Sky Blue FC
- Chicago Red Stars
- St. Louis (via trade with Los Angeles on Sept. 24)
- Boston Breakers
- St. Louis
- Bay Area
- Washington Freedom
Sky Blue FC - the New Jersey/New York entry into Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - officially announced today that the club has acquired the negotiating rights to international player Collette McCallum of Australia. The rights to McCallum were acquired through the WPS post-draft discovery process. McCallum is the fifth international player that Sky Blue FC has acquired the negotiating rights to. In last week's inaugural WPS International Draft, the New Jersey-based team picked Sarah Walsh of Australia, Rosana and Ester of Brazil, and Kelly Parker of Canada. The international players join United States Olympic gold medalists Christie Rampone, Heather O'Reilly, and Natasha Kai as potential players for Sky Blue FC.
"Colette is one of the most talented playmakers in the women's game right now - her ability to split defenses from deep in her own half along with her combination play make her an exceptional pick up for us," said Sky Blue FC General Manager and Head Coach Ian Sawyers. "She combines extremely well with Sarah (Walsh) and we hope they form a tremendous partnership, as they have with the Australian National Team. We look forward to bringing her into the Sky Blue family."
CLICK HERE to read more about Collette McCallum and Sky Blue FC ...
Sky Blue FC's international draft selection Kelly Parker was featured in today's El Paso Times. An assistant at the University of Texas - El Paso, Parker talks about getting picked in the draft and her recent career path since college.
Read more here: Assistant coach selected in new pro league's draft
Women's Professional Soccer conducted its inaugural international draft yesterday and Sky Blue FC came away with four new players for its roster. Sky Blue FC now holds the negotiating rights to Sarah Walsh (Australia), Rosana (Brazil), Ester (Brazil), and Kelly Parker (Canada).
Click here to read the whole story about the WPS international draft ...
Sky Blue Soccer Announces Alliance with Readington Travel
Sky Blue Soccer announced today a partnership with Readington Travel Soccer Club that will see the two organizations work together as Sky Blue prepares its new women's professional team - Sky Blue FC - for the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer in 2009.
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