Gearing up for women's professional soccer

September 13, 9:46 PMWomen's Sports ExaminerZalika Green

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Five years after the  Women’s United Soccer Association  folded in September of 2003,  Women’s Professional Soccer is looking to revive a professional league under Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. This coming Tuesday will mark the first major event in the WPS’s nascent history with a press conference to announce the results of the U.S. National Team player allocation. There are currently seven teams that are set to play in the inaugural 2009 season: New Jersey/New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, St. Louis, Boston, and the Bay Area. Franchises in Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia will hopefully be joining in 2010.

The resurrection of former WUSA franchises in Washington and Boston will give the WPS a familiar feel. Boston resumed operations as the Breakers and will be playing home games at Harvard Stadium with Tony DiCicco as head coach.The Washington Freedom are slated to return to the field as a professional team next April after a five year hiatus. The Freedom refused to dissolve after WUSA suspended play, and created the Freedom Reserves from a collection of WUSA and local players. The Reserves played exhibition matches against college and W-League teams and then later joined the W-League in 2007.

New Jersey/New York spawned from the W-League’s Jersey Sky Blue, which debuted in 2007 and made an immediate impact with 12 -2 record in its first season. Ian Sawyers will be the general manager and head coach of the professional team. After a lengthy contest Chicago decided to call the team 'Red Stars' and chose Emma Hayes to be its head coach. St. Louis selected Brazilian Women's National Team Coach Jorge Barcellos to lead its team in 2009.

Players are already giving fans a sneak peak at who may be playing where next year. New Jersey natives Heather O’ Reilly and Christie Rampone expressed interest in playing for New Jersey/New York. Carli Lloyd and Heather Mitts put the Windy City on their short list. Past WUSA teams will have the chance to bring back their own, such as former Boston Breaker Angela Hucles. Will Abby Wambach be allocated to Washington where her cardboard cutout still stands beside the display case at Freedom headquarters? Where will players Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo, and Natasha Kai be allocated? Women’s soccer fans will be holding their collective breaths until Tuesday.