The WUSA Inaugural Player Draft, held before Women's United Soccer Association's initial 2001 season, distributed players to the league's eight inaugural teams. The draft occurred on December 10 and 11, 2000. This took place after each team was allocated three national team players and two foreign players.

Round 1

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

1Sun Wen (F)Atlanta BeatChina WNT
2Liu Ailing (M)Philadelphia ChargeChina WNT
3Fan Yunjie (D)San Diego SpiritChina WNT
4Gao Hong (GK)New York PowerChina WNT
5Dagny Mellgren (M)Boston BreakersBjørnar
6Wen Lirong (D)Carolina CourageChina WNT
7Anne Mäkinen (M)Washington FreedomNotre Dame
8Thori Staples Bryan (D)Bay Area CyberRaysRaleigh WingsNorth Carolina State
1.^ First American pick.

Round 2

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

9Julie Murray (F)Bay Area CyberRaysNSW Sapphires
10Lindsay Stoecker (D)Washington FreedomNorth Carolina
11Meredith Florance (F)Carolina CourageNorth Carolina
12Keri Sanchez Raygor (D)Boston BreakersSilicon Valley Red DevilsNorth Carolina
13Jennifer Lalor (M)New York PowerSan Diego WFCSanta Clara
14Sherrill Kester (F)San Diego SpiritRaleigh WingsDuke
15Heather Mitts (D)Philadelphia ChargeTampa Bay ExtremeFlorida
16Kylie Bivens (D)Atlanta BeatNorth Texas HeatSanta Clara

Round 3

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

17Sharolta Nonen (D)Atlanta BeatNebraska–Lincoln
18Jenny Benson (M)Philadelphia ChargeNebraska–Lincoln
19Shannon Boxx (M)San Diego SpiritAjax America WomenNotre Dame
20Kristy Whelchel (D)New York PowerRaleigh WingsDuke
21Karina LeBlanc (GK)Boston BreakersNebraska–Lincoln
22Nicole Roberts (M)Carolina CourageRaleigh WingsNorth Carolina
23Krista Davey (M)Washington FreedomChicago CobrasNorth Texas
24Amy Walsh (D)Bay Area CyberRaysNebraska–Lincoln

Round 4

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

25Ann Cook (M)Bay Area CyberRaysChicago CobrasWilliam & Mary
26Skylar Little (D)Washington FreedomUCLA
27Erin Baxter (M)Carolina CourageTampa Bay ExtremeFlorida
28Heather Aldama (D)Boston BreakersSanta Clara
29Beth Zotter (F)New York PowerHarvard
30Jen Mascaro (M)San Diego SpiritNotre Dame
31Ruth Van't Land (F)Philadelphia ChargeCal Poly Pomona
32Marci Miller (M)Atlanta BeatChicago CobrasSMU
32Kimberly Pickup (D)San Diego SpiritBoston RenegadesSanta Clara
1.^ San Diego got an additional "compensation pick" because Joy Fawcett, one of their allocated players, was pregnant.[1]

Round 5

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

33Nancy Augustyniak (D)Atlanta BeatAtlanta ClassicsClemson
34Sarah Yohe (F)Philadelphia ChargeFlorida
35Gina Oceguera (D/F)San Diego SpiritCalifornia StormCal Poly
36Nel Fettig (D)New York PowerRaleigh WingsNorth Carolina
37Robin Confer (F)Boston BreakersNew Jersey Lady StallionsNorth Carolina
38Naomi Stone (M)Carolina CourageNew Hampshire Lady PhantomsUConn
39Emmy Barr (F)Washington FreedomCalifornia StormSanta Clara
40Carey Dorn (D)Bay Area CyberRaysLong Island Lady RidersUConn

Round 6

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

41Jacqui Little (M)Bay Area CyberRaysSanta Clara
42Amanda Cromwell (M)Washington FreedomCharlotte Lady EaglesVirginia
43Kim Yankowski (M)Carolina CourageRaleigh WingsNorth Carolina State
44Elie Foster (M)Boston BreakersFoothill FCStanford
45Jennifer O'Sullivan (D)New York PowerStanford
46Kerry Gragg (M)Atlanta BeatAtlanta ClassicsUNC Greensboro
47Raven McDonald (M)Philadelphia ChargeNorth Carolina
48Jaime Pagliarulo (GK)San Diego SpiritMaryland PrideGeorge Mason
1.^ Traded from the San Diego Spirit for a 6th round pick and a 2nd round pick in the February 2001 supplemental draft. Soccer America noted that this trade apparently disrupted the subsequent order of the draft.[1]

Round 7

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

49Rebekah McDowell (M)Philadelphia ChargeCharlotte Lady EaglesNorth Carolina
50Traci Arkenberg-Gatell (F)San Diego SpiritAjax America WomenUCLA
51Carlene Stenson (F)New York PowerTampa Bay ExtremeSouth Florida
52Sarah Powell (D)Boston BreakersBoston RenegadesBoston College
53Maren Hendershot (F)Carolina CourageUtah SpidersBrigham Young
54Monica Gerardo (M)Washington FreedomAjax America WomenNotre Dame
55Jennifer Mead (GK)Bay Area CyberRaysBoston RenegadesGeorge Mason
56Lisa Krzykowski (M)Atlanta BeatChicago CobrasWisconsin–Milwaukee

Round 8

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

57Kim Clark (M)Bay Area CyberRaysAjax America WomenSouthern California
58Erin Fahey (GK)Washington FreedomPortland RainPortland
59Staci Burt (M)Carolina CourageChicago CobrasUtah
60Allie Kemp (F)Boston BreakersSan Diego WFCUC Berkeley
61Kerry Connors (F)New York PowerBoston RenegadesUConn
62Missy Wycinsky (M)San Diego SpiritMaryland PrideWilliam & Mary
63Michelle Demko (M)Philadelphia ChargeTampa Bay ExtremeMaryland
64Julie Augustyniak (D)Atlanta BeatAtlanta ClassicsClemson

Round 9

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

65Melanie Wilson (GK)Atlanta BeatTexas A&M
66Kalli Kamholz (M)Philadelphia ChargeTampa Bay ExtremeNorth Carolina
67Margaret Tietjen (M)San Diego SpiritLong Island Lady RidersUConn
68Erica Iverson (D)New York PowerBoston RenegadesMassachusetts
69Kim Stiles (D)Boston BreakersPortland
70Mikka Hansen (F)Carolina CourageFortuna HjørringSanta Clara
71Tracey Milburn (F)Washington FreedomUCLA
72Theresa Wagner (M)Bay Area CyberRaysWashington

Round 10

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

73Lisa Náñez (D)Bay Area CyberRaysCalifornia StormSanta Clara
74Justi Baumgardt (M)Washington FreedomCalifornia StormPortland
75Kristin Luckenbill (GK)Carolina CourageDartmouth
76Ally Wagner (F)Boston BreakersWisconsin
77Tammy Pearman (F)New York PowerMaryland PrideGeorge Mason
78Kara Brown (D)San Diego SpiritBoston RenegadesNotre Dame
79Carly Smolak (GK)Philadelphia ChargeStanford
80Kelly Cagle (M)Atlanta BeatRaleigh WingsDuke

Round 11

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

81Mary Pitera (D)Atlanta BeatMaryland PrideNorth Carolina State
82Jennifer Tietjen (M)Philadelphia ChargeLong Island Lady RidersUConn
83Tara Koleski (F)San Diego SpiritCalifornia StormPortland
84Ronnie Fair (M)New York PowerBoston RenegadesStanford
85Sherice Bartling (F)Boston BreakersSan Diego WFCSan Diego
86Sarah Dacey (M)Carolina CourageBoston RenegadesNorth Carolina
87Stephanie Loehr (D)Washington FreedomMaryland PrideWilliam & Mary
88Venus James (M)Bay Area CyberRaysUCLA

Round 12

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

89Megan Horvath (M)Bay Area CyberRaysSilicon Valley Red DevilsSanta Clara
90Amy Gray (M)Washington FreedomAtlanta ClassicsClemson
91Ásthildur Helgadóttir (M)Carolina CourageBreiðablikVanderbilt
92Angela Hucles (F)Boston BreakersHampton Roads PiranhasVirginia
93Jessica Reifer (F)New York PowerFC MaltersHartford
94Erin Martinez-Montoya (M)San Diego SpiritCalifornia StormSanta Clara
95Erin Martin (F)Philadelphia ChargeThree Kings UnitedStanford
96Emily Burt (F)Atlanta BeatFoothill FCStanford

Round 13

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

97Bryn Blalack (F)Atlanta BeatNorth Texas HeatTexas A&M
98Beth Keller (F)Philadelphia ChargeChicago CobrasClemson
99Jennifer Babel (D)San Diego SpiritAjax America WomenAzusa Pacific
100Emily Janss (D)New York PowerMaryland PrideMaryland
101Lindsay Eddleman (F)Boston BreakersDenver DiamondsNebraska–Lincoln
102Staci Wilson (D)Carolina CourageRaleigh WingsNorth Carolina
103Keri Sarver (F)Washington FreedomMaryland PrideMaryland
104Christina Bell (D)Bay Area CyberRaysCalifornia StormFresno State

Round 14

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

105Linda Kurtyka (M)Bay Area CyberRaysFoothill FCNorth Carolina State
106Carrie Moore (D)Washington FreedomHampton Roads PiranhasWilliam & Mary
107Jessica Post (F)Carolina CourageDartmouth
108Lindsay Massengale (D)Boston BreakersCalifornia StormClemson
109Rebecca Hornbacher (GK)New York PowerNebraska–Lincoln
110Trudi Sharpsteen (M)San Diego SpiritAjax America WomenUC Berkeley
111Laurie Schwoy (M)Philadelphia ChargeNorth Carolina
112Kimberly Engesser (F)Atlanta BeatNebraska–Lincoln

Round 15

Pick

Player

WUSA Team

Previous Team

College

113Dayna Smith (D)Atlanta BeatDenver DiamondsSanta Clara
114Laurie Hill (M)Philadelphia ChargeCalifornia StormUC Santa Barbara
115Melissa Ribaudo-Cavitt (D)San Diego SpiritCalifornia StormPortland
116Melissa McBean (F)New York PowerBoston RenegadesPortland
117Jennifer Tissue (M)Boston BreakersSan Francisco NighthawksWhitworth
118Silvana Burtini (F)Carolina CourageRaleigh WingsCapilano
119Louise Lieberman (M)Washington FreedomAjax America WomenUCLA
120Carmel Murphy (M)Bay Area CyberRaysFoothill FCStanford

Draft notes

The draft was preceded by an invitation-only combine held over five days at Florida Atlantic University.[2] Although over 500 players applied, only 198 were invited to take part in supervised training and scrimmages.[3] Around 40 of the players had previously been competing in the pro–am Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL),[4] while most of the others were competing at W-League level.[5]

The draft assigned the rights of 15 players to each team. Teams could contract up to five of the players immediately, to start promotional work in their home cities.[6] WUSA's vice president of legal affairs, Rob Kaler, had decided the draft order by randomly selecting envelopes containing each team's logo in a lottery.[7]

In November 2000, WUSA's vice president of player relations, Lauren Gregg, secured five Chinese players after flying to China for delicate negotiations with a somewhat reluctant Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the players' clubs.[8][9] All five players went into the draft and were selected with five of the first six picks.[10] Top pick Sun Wen was in Rome on the second day of the draft, collecting her award as joint-FIFA Female Player of the Century.[11]

Gregg had traversed the globe since May 2000, trying to sign elite players identified by WUSA commissioner Tony DiCicco.[12] She was not always successful: Norway's Marianne Pettersen accepted a competing offer from Europe's only professional club Fulham,[13] while FFC Frankfurt blocked an approach for their German–American defender Steffi Jones.[14]

American players who had found success overseas, including Colette Cunningham, Denise Reddy and Jill Rutten, reportedly attended the combine but were not selected in the draft. Brazilian goalkeeper Andréia Suntaque and Dutch midfielder Nathalie Geeris were also in attendance but not picked.[15] Each team was restricted to four foreign players, including the two already allocated by the league.[16]

As well as foreign players and combine attendees, college players in their senior year were eligible for the main draft, although a further supplemental draft – specifically for college players – was arranged for February 2001.[17]

Many players, who were typically graduates from leading Universities, faced a substantial drop in salary, even if they made it on to a team's final 20-player roster. A collective bargaining agreement between the players and league allowed a minimum annual wage of $25,000, beneath an average salary of $40,000.[3] After some deliberation, last pick Carmel Murphy decided not to take up her place at Bay Area CyberRays, in favor of going to medical school.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "WUSA: Draft results from Day 1". Soccer America. December 10, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  2. Brousseau, Dave (October 24, 2000). "Wusa To Scout, Draft At Boca In December". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Trecker, Jerry (December 11, 2000). "Wusa Hopefuls: Time To Put Present On Hold". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  4. "Over 40 WPSL Players Invited to WUSA Combine". Women's Premier Soccer League. November 25, 2000. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  5. "Rating the eight WUSA teams" (PDF). Soccer America. December 25, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  6. "Building The Wusa". Hartford Courant. December 11, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  7. "WUSA: Atlanta has first pick in draft". Soccer America. December 6, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  8. "US League Makes Last Bids for Chinese Women Soccer Stars". People's Daily. November 25, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  9. Wahl, Grant (June 19, 2001). "Soccer". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  10. "Sun to shine in Atlanta". CNN Sports Illustrated. December 10, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  11. Yan, Li (December 12, 2000). "Sun Wen Elected FIFA Woman Player of the Century". People's Daily. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. Stossel, Scott (June 2001). "As American as Women's Soccer?". The Atlantic. 287 (6). Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  13. Merritt, Stephanie (April 8, 2001). "Something for the ladies". London: The Guardian. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  14. French, Scott (February 14, 2002). "WUSA: Join the Party". Soccer America. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  15. "After five-day combine, inaugural eight teams prepare for first draft". Soccer Times. December 9, 2000. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  16. Glier, Ray (August 22, 2002). "Foreign talent flocks to WUSA". USA Today. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  17. "Former Notre Dame Player Kara Brown Selected On Second Day Of WUSA Draft". University of Notre Dame. December 12, 2000. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  18. "WUSA Preseason: Murphy trades C-Rays for med school". Soccer America. March 2, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
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