Following the conclusion of the USL W-League Combine held the previous weekend in Tampa, Northern Virginia Majestics Kelly Hammond, Amanda Detterline, and Tara Kidwell returned home energized with the prospect of playing professionally in 2009. After laboring several days to impress the cadre of professional evaluators, the Majestic players took a moment to discuss the unique opportunity of helping launch the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league.
With 128 players in action on eight teams at the USL W-League Combine at the Ed Radice Sports Complex, there was plenty to keep the WPS and W-League coaches and executives attentive as they scouted the professional prospects over the course of matches that spanned four days. The combine player list featured participants who played for 31 different W-League teams in 2008, attended 97 different universities and represent 13 different nationalities, all vying for selection on one of the inaugural seven professional teams.
"The W-League combine was an opportunity that not many will get," commented Majestic midfielder Hammond. "I feel that it was a privilege to compete this past weekend in Tampa among the best players in the W-League and lucky enough to be on Team 5 with Coach Denise Reddy from Jersey Sky Blue. I am so glad to have met her this past weekend and gain so much insight to the game."
"I enjoyed the combine," continued 2007 Majestic player Detterline. "I think it was a great showcase of the talent and skill in the W-League and it was fun to play with some of the top players in the league/country. It also exposed me to the WPS coaches that weren’t coaches in the W-League or in our division that may not have seen me before."
"As I step back and replay this past weekend, I have many thoughts and emotions," reflected Hammond. "I walk away knowing exactly what the process will look like over the next few months as rosters are filled with talented players. I also walk away with much thanks to the coaches and programs that have got me to this point in my playing career. And finally, I am filled with absolute excitement and anticipation of what the next few months will tell."
"The experience was a tremendous opportunity and I owe much thanks to the Northern Virginia Majestics organization that helped me continue to strive for my dream of playing professional," concluded Hammond. "The W-League is currently the highest level at which women can play and the Northern Virginia Majestics provided a training environment conducive to the next level which ultimately helped while competing during the combine."
"After college, it’s difficult to get top level competition to keep yourself active, motivated, and playing at the highest level," added Detterline. "The Majestics and other teams provide players with the opportunity to get in competitive game minutes which is essential in training for the WPS."
The inaugural WPS season kicks off in April 2009 with play in seven cities: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. W-League players will have their first opportunity to be selected by WPS teams when the WPS General Draft is held on Oct. 6. The new professional league will hold another player draft the week of January 14, 2009, which will be followed by team tryouts in each market.
