U.S. National Team member Kacey White, selected by Sky Blue FC in the most recent draft, is no stranger to New Jersey, having played for the 2005 W-League Champion New Jersey Wildcats. She was also a standout player at the University of North Carolina (UNC), alma mater of other top WPS drafted players such as Heather O’Reilly, Cat Whitehill, Lori Chalupny and Lindsey Tarpley. Says UNC coach Anson Dorrance, “In the storied history of our program, Kacey White is the most productive flank midfielder we’ve ever had.”

How does a Texas girl feel about coming to New Jersey?

I’m actually really excited. A lot of people have asked me what it’s like to live in the Northeast. I enjoyed it, and I don’t think it’s going to be difficult to acclimate to New Jersey. When I played for the Wildcats, I went into New York City a lot. I enjoyed all the sights, going to Broadway, everything the City has to offer. I’ve actually always been a “city girl,” even though I’m from Texas. I really love the area, and want to get to know it better. That’s not just New York; it’s New Jersey. I wouldn’t want to live there and not take full advantage of it.

What was it like going through the WPS draft?

It helped to know I'd be okay any place I went. That's the good thing about having lived overseas. But during the draft, it seemed all the teams were selecting defenders. I was sitting with my dad at the computer, and we talked about what it would be like for an NFL player, who is shown on T.V. during the process; how hard that would be. I really believe that I ended up where I need to be. The process was nerve racking though. You put your heart into what you do, but so many factors go into the draft. It's not just about you. It's what's the best fit (for the team), and the best timing.

What did you learn playing overseas?

In 2006, I played for one season for Balinge IF (in the Swedish Premier League Damallsvenskan). I went back to a different Swedish club in the Fall of ’07. The cultures play very differently. Americans are different from the Swedish, or the Brazilians. Playing overseas expanded the way I look at the game, tactically, and how the game can be played. I think it’s helped me develop as a player and helped me bring that to my game in the past two years.

Part of the challenge of WPS is to create a “viewing culture” in youth soccer. They play but don’t tend to watch. Did you watch soccer growing up?

Definitely. I grew up watching videos of World Cups and other championships with my parents. I always had a passion. My father played in college and professionally in Colorado. That fostered within me an excitement about watching, and helped me develop my love of the game. I started having role models, both on and off the field, at a young age. That doesn’t happen enough today, but I was lucky to have it. Only recently, though, I’ve started using watching as a tool, to help me develop into a better player.

One thing that stood out about being overseas, is that they are all students of the game. Players are always watching, in person or on television or videos, how to play at the highest level. I took that from being over there as a way I could develop my game—by watching soccer even more. It’s so accessible in Europe. It’s mostly men’s games, but also the women’s game.

What can you and other players do to ensure success of WPS?

It’s important we put the best product on the field. We have to train hard and take it seriously. Also, we have to do what we can to be positive role models off the field: participating in camps and clinics--whatever we can to promote game, so that young girls can relate to us and we can be accessible to them as well.

Support Kacey White and all the players at Sky Blue FC by purchasing tickets to the inaugural season. Contact tickets@skybluesoccer.com or telephone 1-888-SBFC-TIX

SBS Blogger

(Photo: Brad Smith/ISIPhotos.com)

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 16, 2008) – The 2009 WPS Draft will be held at the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis, January 14-18, 2009.

The selection order for the draft was determined via lottery with the following results:

1. Boston Breakers
2. Chicago Red Stars
3. Bay Area
4. Sky Blue FC
5. Los Angeles
6. St. Louis
7. Washington Freedom

The draft order will follow the same pattern as the WPS General Draft in October with teams selecting in the order of 1-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-1 until the draft is completed.

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.

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

1. Washington Freedom
2. Bay Area
3. Washington Freedom (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
4. Boston Breakers
5. Los Angeles
6. Chicago Red Stars
7. Sky Blue FC

Round Two

1. Sky Blue FC
2. Chicago Red Stars
3. Los Angeles
4. Boston Breakers
5. Los Angeles (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
6. Bay Area
7. St. Louis (via trade with the Washington Freedom on Sept. 24)

Round Three

1. St. Louis (via trade with the Washington Freedom on Sept. 24)
2. Bay Area
3. Washington Freedom (via trade with St. Louis on Sept. 24)
4. Boston Breakers
5. Los Angeles
6. Chicago Red Stars
7. Sky Blue FC

Round Four

1. Sky Blue FC
2. Chicago Red Stars
3. St. Louis (via trade with Los Angeles on Sept. 24)
4. Boston Breakers
5. St. Louis
6. Bay Area
7. Washington Freedom

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 ...

There's a feature on the WPS website about Sky Blue FC's allocated players. CLICK HERE to read the story about Heather O'Reilly, Christie Rampone, and Natasha Kai.

Sky Blue FC was officially allocated its first three players today - Olympic gold medalists Heather O'Reilly, Christie Rampone, and Natasha Kai. The press conference at the Sports Museum of America was a great success with Steve Nash helping MC the festivities. After the announcement, the three new Sky Blue FC players made a trip up to the top of the Empire State Building for some pictures.

Sky Blue FC's allocations were considered among the best in WPS - the starting US center back and team captain (Rampone), one of the team's top midfielders (O'Reilly), and a dynamic scoring threat (Kai). Boston and Chicago and can definitely challenge Sky Blue FC for top allocation honors. The Breakers got one of the all-time greats in Kristine Lilly, a breakout performer at the Olympics in Angela Hucles, and a starting defender in Heather Mitts while Chicago got three USWNT starters in midfielder Carli Lloyd and Lindsey Tarpley and defender Kate Markgraf.

Stay tuned for more updates from the allocation event including Sky Blue FC video and reactions from the players and head coach Ian Sawyers.

Women’s Professional Soccer will be offering live coverage of the 2008 WPS Player Allocation announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 12:30pm ET (9:30am PT) on fans.womensprosoccer.com via Twitter. What is Twitter? It’s a micro-blogging platform that allows users to broadcast short posts on the web and via text message.

Here’s how to follow WPS’s Twitter:

• On WPS’s Social Network. Our Twitter will be embedded on our fans.womensprosoccer.com homepage on Tuesday. You can get a sneak peek now.
• On WPS’s Twitter Page. http://twitter.com/womensprosoccer
• Via Text Message. Won’t be near a computer on Tuesday? Not a problem. Follow these steps to receive the Allocation results via text message:
  • Go to http://twitter.com/womensprosoccer
  • Create a Twitter account by joining today.
  • Once your account is created, be sure you are following our Twitter.
  • Then set up your phone to receive our tweets by going to http://twitter.com/devices
  • One last step: Go to http://twitter.com/friends and turn on device updates for womensprosoccer

Prior to Allocation, several National Team players will be making the rounds on morning TV shows. Look for players to ring the NASDAQ's opening bell on Monday, Sept. 15 on CNBC (9:30am ET). On Tuesday, Sept. 16, catch the players on NBC's Today Show, Fox & Friends and more.

And after the Allocation announcement is made on Tuesday, visit fans.womensprosoccer.com to rank the teams based on their Allocation results. Tell us who came out on top!

Frank Giase - the soccer writer for the Star-Ledger newspaper - provides some insight into the WPS allocations in an article in today's edition. Among the notes of interest are:

• The US Women's National Team players have submitted their preferences for which team they would like to be allocated to in the new league. These preferences will be shared with the teams, which will submit a preference list of their own to WPS. The league will then award three players to each team to complete the process.
• Carli Lloyd shunned New Jersey in her selections for preferred locations choosing to pick just two teams instead of the three allowed to each player. Her top choice was Chicago, followed by Washington DC.
• As a result of Lloyd's picks, Heather O'Reilly and Christie Rampone will almost surely be allocated to Sky Blue since NJ is their top choice.
• The final list of allocations will be revealed on Sept. 16 at a press conference in New York.

While Lloyd's decision to omit New Jersey is a pretty big surprise, Sky Blue can't lose if it gets two out of the three NJ girls. Lloyd may have scored the winning goal in the gold medal game at the Olympics but O'Reilly had a very consistently strong tournament and Rampone was the leader of the US defense that shut down Brazil and made Lloyd's overtime goal possible. Now for Sky Blue's third player ........ let the spectulation begin!

Lloyd's choice to leave NJ surely won't be the only surprise as far as allocations go. As Sky Blue owner Thomas Hofstetter says in the Giase article, there are so many considerations in the process and what may seem obvious to some is not always the case. Besides the player preferences and the team preferences, the league also has to take into account competitive balance and marketing advantages as factors in which players go where. Nevertheless, the excitement is starting to build for WPS fans that can see more and more the reality of the new league as we get closer to kickoff in 2009.