If we can move beyond the subplots of her final game, Solo had a terrific overall performance in China. — Graham Hays

The United States and Brazil, not to mention the future host nation, will have to wait until the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 to renew their rivalries, but it's only a few short months until many of the individual protagonists renew acquaintances as foes – and sometimes friends – when Women’s Professional Soccer kicks off in April 2009. Next month's allocation process will provide the first real answers as to who goes where, but while we wait, how about a Beijing-based wish list of potential franchise cornerstones?

1. Marta, Brazil: Whether from a personnel or tactical standpoint, it's the natural order of things not to have any answers when it comes to Marta. Even after another disappointing final match, she's clearly the world's best player and alongside the likes of Candace Parker and Jennie Finch, one of the most recognizable names in women's team sports.

2. Cristiane, Brazil: A coworker of mine grew up in Italy and is a passionate AC Milan fan. A soccer addict, he's not predisposed against the women's game, but it's safe to say he doesn't spend a lot of time searching it out. And yet after each of Brazil's games in the Olympics, he couldn't stop raving about Cristiane. Her talent is hard enough to quantify, but it's nothing compared to her ability to generate that kind of buzz.

3. Homare Sawa, Japan: Imagine what the Japanese playmaking whiz could do opening up space and chances for an up-and-coming forward like Ashlee Pistorious or a veteran like Christie Welsh? She's arguably the best midfielder in the world at the moment.

4. Christie Rampone, United States: Considering she'll outrun anyone you put on the field with her, the 33-year-old United States captain appears to have a lot of soccer left in her legs. The most consistent American player in last fall's World Cup as an outside back, Rampone moved inside this year and was the cornerstone of a tremendous defense in the Olympics.

5. Birgit Prinz, Germany: The German captain didn't have a cohesive offensive mix around her and may have lost a fraction of a step herself as she approaches her 30th birthday this fall. But when the ball finally did find her feet, the advantage was still clearly on her side against overmatched defenders.

6. Christine Sinclair, Canada: She's a good fit in any system, and she hasn't suffered through much in the way of goal-scoring droughts at the international level for a consistently successful Canadian side, but it's still tough to shake the feeling that the team's direct style didn't always explore the full range of Sinclair's talents. She's a league MVP waiting to happen for some team and she's still just 25.

7. Nadine Angerer, Germany: Forget the semifinal nightmare against Brazil. By the time she was called on to do the impossible, she was trying to slow an avalanche with a snow shovel. That result might have left a few faint chips in the confidence built upon a World Cup and Olympic shutout streak, but she's still the most assertive ‘keeper in the world.

8. Hope Solo, United States: If we can move beyond the subplots of her final game, Solo had a terrific overall performance in China. The athleticism was a given – nobody has topped her on that count – but she used the world stage to show off some poise after a disastrous beginning against Norway and leadership skills marshalling the back line.

9. Lotta Schelin, Sweden: It wasn't complete redemption for Sweden after bowing out of last fall's World Cup in the group stage, but even advancing to the quarterfinals this time around was largely the result of Schelin stepping up. She's not going to create chances for herself at the same rate as the Brazilian duo, but paired with talent, she's an assassin.

10. Han Duan, China: Speaking of up and down performances, Duan had a rough go of things at less than full strength in front of the home crowd. But the celebration that seemed to exacerbate, or perhaps even create, the injury that knocked her out of one game and left her looking like less than herself in the quarterfinals came after a typically polished Han finish against Sweden.

Graham Hays is an ESPN columnist and a contributor to womensprosoccer.com. He can be reached at moonlighthays@gmail.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.