Marquee Signings Rolling In to WPS

Frankly, we’d like to keep this place filled with scurrilous rumours, mischief and nonsense, but sometimes we hear actual news that’s too good not to pass on.

We’re hearing that three top international players are getting their i’s dotted and their t’s crossed this week by WPS, and will be officially unveiled shortly.

Firstly, we have Brazil’s Cristiane, scorer of five goals at the Olympics and who some think should have been the actual FIFA Female Player of the Year in 2008, all but confirmed as a Red Star (of course, the actual winner was Marta, already confirmed with the LA Sol). All I can say to that is: awesome.

Secondly, there’s Kelly Smith (England’s maestro), who I’d hoped to see sign in Chicago with her former coach from Arsenal Emma Hayes, but who now seems set to finally be confirmed as Boston’s marquee signing — not coincidentally, shortly after Boston acquired the rights to her erstwhile teammate at Arsenal, Alex Scott.

And thirdly, speaking of Arsenal players, recent reports in the English press that Karen Carney will be joining the Red Stars seem set to be confirmed this week as well. I had the pleasure of meeting Karen a month or two ago in Chicago, and presented her with a couple of Local 134 scarves made by our Red Stars supporters group of that name. Looks like someone owes me a beer.

So it seems that WPS is all set to kick off as the marquee women’s league globally as had originally been planned, despite the many months of contract wranglings. Despite the American economy’s problems, the even weaker pound has surely only made the American dollar more appealing to British players; but hopefully, it’s more the lure of playing in a fully professional league with the best competition in the world that’s won over these foreign stars. Oh, and being given a cool scarf or two.

Category: WPS News

Tags: WPS News

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