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With the first pick in the WPS Expansion Draft the Atlanta Beat selected Leigh Ann Robinson, formerly of FC Gold Pride.  The Philadelphia Independence then tabbed Lori Lindsey, formerly of the Washington Freedom, with the seccond overall pick.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 15, 2009) – Women’s Professional Soccer held the WPS Expansion Draft on Tuesday for its two 2010 expansion clubs, the Atlanta Beat and the Philadelphia Independence. Each team was able to select up to nine players from other WPS teams that played the 2009 season. Initially, existing teams were able to protect up to 10 players – adding two more protected players after losing a player. No team could lose more than three players and expansion teams collectively had to select one player from each existing team prior to selecting a second player from an existing team. In addition, the expansion teams collectively had to select a second player from each existing team prior to selecting a third player from an existing team. One international was selected in Saint Louis Athletica’s Sara Larsson, who was tabbed by Atlanta.

With the 14th pick, Atlanta passed and with the 15th pick, Philadelphia passed concluding the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft.

The results of the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft:

Selection  Player    Position Previous Team
1.) Atlanta          Leigh Ann Robinson      D      FC Gold Pride 
2.) Philadelphia   Lori Lindsey                 M      Washington Freedom
3.) Philadelphia   Jen Buczkowski            D      Sky Blue FC
4.) Atlanta          Amanda Cinalli             F      Saint Louis Athletica
5.) Philadelphia   Nikki Krzysik                D      Chicago Red Stars
6.) Atlanta          Katie Larkin                 D/M   Los Angeles Sol
7.) Philadelphia   Sue Weber                  D       Boston Breakers
Second Round
8.) Atlanta          Sharolta Nonen           D        Los Angeles Sol
9.) Philadelphia   Sarah Senty                D        Washington Freedom
10.) Atlanta        Sara Larsson               D        Saint Louis Athletica
11.) Philadelphia Danesha Adams          F        Chicago Red Stars
12.) Atlanta        Noelle Keselica            F         Sky Blue FC  
13.) Philadelphia Kelly Schmedes           F         Boston Breakers
14.) Atlanta        Pass
15.) Philadelphia Pass

About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured.  The Inaugural Season kicked off in March 2009 with seven WPS teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.  The league’s eighth and nine franchises, Philadelphia and Atlanta, will begin play in the 2010 WPS Season, which begins March 2010. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.