So far so good

By: Melissa | June 17th, 2008

I recently stumbled upon the site, Womens World Football and their list of the top 20 world club teams (which may or may not be completely up to date but I’m going to assume it’s accurate). And, hey, it turns out, the list is scattered with W-League teams. Here’s the list:

1 FFC Frankfurt, Germany
2 Washington Freedom, USA
3 FC Indiana, USA
4 Umea IK, Sweden
5 Pali Blues, USA
6 Arsenal, England
7 Ottawa Fury, Canada
8 Rossiyanka, Russia
9 Duisburg, Germany
10 Kolbotn, Norway
11 Trondheims Orn, Norway
12 Malmo, Sweden
13 Djurgarden/Alvsjo, Sweden
14 Brondby, Denmark
15 FC Nippon Beleza, Japan
16 Bad Neuenahr, Germany
17 Soccer Plus, USA
18 Fortuna Hjorring, Denmark
19 Jersey Sky Blue, USA
20 Montpellier, France

So what does this have to do with the new WPS league? Well, the Washington Freedom will become the DC WPS team, FC Indiana have a partnership with the Chicago Red Stars, the Jersey Sky Blue will become the NY/NJ WPS team, and Soccer Plus (the lone WPSL team) is coached by Tony DiCicco who will coach the Boston Breakers of the WPS. Also of note, Ali Krieger (currently with the WNT in Korea) plays for FFC Frankfurt, Marta (who may start negotiations to play in WPS) plays for Umea IK, and Arsenal was most recently coached by Red Stars head coach Emma Hayes.

So that really just leaves the Pali Blues. The W-League expansion team is still on a tear right now with 6 wins and zero losses and it currently sits at first place in the Western Conference. So I’ve looked all over their website and I see nothing indicating the future Los Angeles WPS team even knows they exist. Did I miss the thrilling press release announcing a fantastic partnership between LA WPS and this W-League club? And the Blues appear to have a strong infrastructure already in place featuring camps, local affiliations, and scholarship opportunities. The Los Angeles WPS team doesn’t even have a name. I’m just saying… if LA WPS doesn’t get their act together (*cough* AEG *cough*), let’s just make Pali Blues a WPS team. And if AEG no longer owns LA WPS, and that rumor Anthony LaPaglia does is true, then I’m looking at you Mr. Without A Trace to start negotiating with the Blues immediately.