These Interested Player FAQs were created to provide current information to players about plans for their selection and employment by WPS Teams and about related League and FIFA policies. These FAQs will be updated as plans develop.
Last updated: Sept. 11, 2009
1. What is the Player Selection Process timeline?
Sept. 15, 2009: Expansion Draft. The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence will select players who played in WPS in 2009 and were left unprotected by their club.
Sept. 22, 2009: 2009 WPS International Draft for Expansion Teams. The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence may select the rights to up to five international players apiece.
Sept. 23, 2009: International Discovery. Discovery opens for all teams to acquire the WPS-playing rights to international players.
Jan. 15, 2010: 2010 WPS Draft at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
Beginning February 1: WPS Tryouts in Team’s local market may begin as of February 1. Exact dates of all local tryouts will be posted to both League and Team websites.
March 1, 2009: Start of WPS Pre-Season
March 27/28 (TBD): Start of WPS Regular Season
2. What requirements must a player meet in order to play in WPS?
In order to play in WPS, a player must be 18 years old by March 1, 2010, have either completed or forfeited her NCAA eligibility and have completed and submitted the Interested Player Form: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/players/interested-player.aspx
3. How can a player be removed from the Interested Player list?
If you have a change of heart regarding your interest in playing in WPS, please request that we remove you from our list by emailing players@womensprosoccer.com.
4. How does the Expansion Draft work?
Prior to the Expansion Draft on Tuesday, Sept. 15, existing WPS teams may protect up to 10 players (but must leave a minimum of 6 unprotected). The 2010 Expansion teams, the Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence, must each select one player from each existing team prior to selecting a second player from an existing team. This will also hold true after a second player is selected from an existing team. Existing teams may protect two more players after losing their first player. Existing teams may protect one additional player after losing their second player. After an existing team loses 3 players, all players are then protected, ensuring that an existing team will not lose more than three players. Expansion teams may each select a total of nine players.
5. What is the selection order for the Expansion Draft?
A coin flip was held to determine which expansion team will pick first in the Expansion Draft. The Atlanta Beat will have the first pick in the Expansion Draft with the Philadelphia Independence holding the second and third picks. The Beat will then select fourth and the Independence fifth with the teams continuing to alternate picks. Each team will make nine selections meaning there will be 18 selections in total.
6. Will the list of players who are left unprotected by their existing WPS teams be made public?
No, the list of unprotected players will not be made public. There is precedent for this as the WNBA and NBA do not publicly release the list of unprotected players for expansion drafts.
7. What happens to unprotected players who are not selected in the Expansion Draft?
The rights to any unprotected players who are not selected in the Expansion Draft will remain with their existing club. If these players have options, their existing club may then decide whether to exercise their option.
8. What is the definition of an International player? What is the maximum number of International players a team can include?
International players are defined as players who are not U.S. citizens and do not possess a green card for employment in the U.S. Per U.S. Soccer Federation guidelines, currently WPS teams may sign up to 5 (five) International players per team. WPS teams may also hold the WPS playing rights to an additional international player, for a total of six international players overall.
9. How will WPS teams contact International players?
In regards to contacting, negotiating and signing International players, the League and individual teams must abide by FIFA guidelines. The League and the WPS teams know there is interest from International players in playing in WPS, but players who are under contract cannot be contacted by the League or the teams without permission first being granted by the player’sinternational team.
It is anticipated that discussions will take place with international teams about those players WPS teams are interested in. WPS teams, having already notified the player’s current club, can speak with any International player whose contract has either expired or will expire within six months.
10. How will the draft of International Players be conducted?
A draft for International players will be held on Sept. 22. This draft is specifically for the two 2010 expansion teams: the Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The maximum number of internationals an expansion team may select during the international expansion draft is five, with the maximum number of international players that a team can have rights to at any one time being six. The Philadelphia Independence will select first in the international draft, the Atlanta Beat second, alternating picks throughout.
11. Outside of the International Draft, how else can International players join WPS?
International players who did not play in WPS in 2009, can have their rights selected by either the Atlanta Beat or Philadelphia Independence in the WPS International Draft on Sept. 22. Following the WPS International Draft, the International Discovery period for all WPS teams will open on September 23, whereby all teams may acquire WPS rights for an international player, subject to the aforementioned limit.
12. What is International Discovery? How does it work?
International Discovery gives WPS teams the ability to acquire the WPS-playing rights to international players. At any one time, each WPS team may hold the WPS-playing rights to up to six International players. If a team has open international player slots, it may place a claim on an international player through the League office. If no other team places a claim on the same international player in the same 24-hour window, the international player’s WPS-playing rights are awarded to the team who placed the claim on the player. If multiple teams place a claim on the same international player in the same 24-hour window, tiebreakers are used to award the international player’s WPS-playing rights to a WPS team.
13. Will WPS hold a player combine leading up to the 2010 WPS Draft?
Yes, an invitation-only player combine will be held in December 2009. More details on the combine to follow shortly.
14. Who is eligible to be drafted in the 2010 WPS Draft? How many rounds will the 2010 WPS Draft consist of?
The 2010 WPS Draft, to be conducted on January 15 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., is a multi-round draft. Any eligible player who has submitted the Interested Player Form will be considered for selection. More details, including the number of rounds, will be announced in the buildup to the draft.
15. What is the order of team selections for the 2010 WPS Draft?
The selection order for the 2010 WPS Draft is as follows: The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence own the first and second picks, respectively. The original seven WPS teams will draft in positions 3-9 in reverse order of their finish in the 2009 regular season standings: FC Gold Pride, Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers, Sky Blue FC, Washington Freedom, Los Angeles Sol (via trade with Saint Louis Athletica), Los Angeles Sol. The Atlanta Beat (10th) and the Philadelphia Independence (11th) have an additional pick at the end of the first round. Barring any trades, the selection order for the remaining rounds is: Atlanta Beat, Philadelphia Independence, FC Gold Pride, Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers, Sky Blue FC, Washington Freedom, Saint Louis Athletica, Los Angeles Sol.
16. Who is eligible to be drafted in the 2010 WPS Draft?
Players who are on the Interested Player List are eligible to be drafted or selected by WPS teams for pre-season tryouts, or to be added later. Players may indicate their interest in playing in the league by completing the Interested Player Form: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/players/interested-player.aspx
17. If a player who has completed/forfeited her NCAA eligibility is selected in the 2010 WPS Draft, will she be able to complete the spring semester before joining her WPS team?
This is a matter that should be decided by the player in consultation with her WPS coach and general manager.
18. If a player is not selected in the 2010 WPS Draft, will she still have the opportunity to play in WPS?
Yes, a player will still have the opportunity to play in WPS even if she is not selected in the 2010 WPS Draft. All players interested in playing in WPS should complete the Interested Player Form: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/players/interested-player.aspx
19. How will Local Tryouts be conducted by WPS teams?
The specifics of Local Tryouts, including whether tryouts will be invitation-only or open, and how many players will participate in each tryout will be determined by each WPS team on an individual basis. Dates and locations of Local Tryouts will also be determined by each WPS team on an individual basis, with Feb. 1 being the first date on which Local Tryouts may be conducted. Following the 2010 WPS Draft, each team will publicize its own Local Tryout information, which will also be posted on their websites.
20. When does WPS Pre-Season start? Where will it be held? Who will participate in pre-season?
The WPS pre-season begins on March 1, 2010. Each team will determine where it will hold its own pre-season training, although there may be a league-organized pre-season involving multiple teams. Players who have been allocated to, drafted by or invited by WPS teams will participate in pre-season.
21. How many players will be on each team’s roster?
A team roster will include at least 18 players, with a maximum of 22 players with up to 4 developmental players included.
22. Where can I submit other questions?
Please send other questions to players@womensprosoccer.com.