WPS eyes Brazilian talent

During the WPS international draft yesterday, teams were able to select international players to gain the right to negotiate with them. The creativity of the Brazilian national team must be something that the new league is looking for. Of the 28 players selected, 10 were Brazilian, with four going in the first round and three in the second round. The biggest issue for the league now is team’s being able to sign their international players. With some players still under contract, team’s will need to negotiate transfers and prices could be too steep for the start-up league, but things are looking up if the majority of the talented crop do sign. Let’s hope some international flavor can put fans in the seats.

Team-by-team breakdown

Bay Area: Formiga (Brazil), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Eriko Arakawa (Japan), Erika (Brazil)

Boston Breakers: Kelly Smith (England), Fabiana (Brazil), Maycon (Brazil), Shinobu Ohno (Japan)

Los Angeles: Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Han Duan (China), Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (Iceland)

St. Louis: Daniela (Brazil), Renata Costa (Brazil), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Melissa Tancredi (Canada)

Chicago Red Stars: Christiane (Brazil), Heather Garriock (Australia), Karen Carney (England), Caroline Jonsson (Sweden)

Washington Feedom: Homare Sawa (Japan), Sonia Bompastor (France),
Lisa De Vanna (Australia), Louisa Nécib (France)

Sky Blue FC: Sarah Walsh (Australia), Rosana (Brazil), Ester (Brazil), Kelly Parker (Canada)

Biggest surprise(s):

It’s a toss-up between Marta going third and the Boston Breakers taking Kelly Smith and Fabiana of which is most surprising. Although Marta is arguably the best and most entertaining player in the world, it is rumored that she is looking for $400,000 and LA was the first team in the draft that has the available cash to pony up to sign her. As far as Boston, I’m not understanding what they are trying to do. They just took Lilly and Hucles last week, now they add a Brazilain striker and an English striker. Fabiana and Smith are exteremely talented so it’s hard to fathom why the team needs four strikers at this point. I guess DiCicco is expecting that he can he can keep the ball up front at all times during their games and pray that they can outscore their opponents.