WPS ALL-STAR WEEKEND

WPS All-Stars v Umea IK Sun Aug 30 5pm ET Live FSC, FSN, CSN


The WPS Inaugural Season comes to a close this weekend, as the best players in WPS – per fans, media, players, and coaches vote – take on Swedish club Umeå IK in the first-ever WPS All-Star Game presented by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The match will take place at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. - for the final time this year, creating a unique melting pot of players with each WPS franchise represented.

WPS All-Star Line-Up:
WPS Starting Eleven: Karina LeBlanc (LA), Tina Ellertson (STL), Amy LePeilbet (BOS), Christie Rampone (NJ), Shannon Boxx (LA), Lori Chalupny (STL), Kristine Lilly (BOS), Aya Miyama (LA), Megan Rapinoe (CHI), Marta (LA), Cristiane (CHI).
WPS Substitutes: Hope Solo (STL), Cat Whitehill (WSH), Brittany Klein (CHI), Heather O’Reilly (NJ), Tiffeny Milbrett (BAY), Christine Sinclair (BAY), Abby Wambach (WSH).

Coached by Los Angeles Sol coach Abner Rogers and Captained By NJ Sky Blue FC's Christie Rampone the All-Stars will be looking to show which league is the best. All friendly banter as Umeå IK coach Mika Sankala has said jokingly that the Swedish Damallsvenskan is still the best league in the world.

Umeå bring a talented squad to the match although they are missing some players to Euro 2009.
Chicago Red Stars Frida Ostberg and Los Angeles Sol's Johanna Frisk will suit up for Umeå. Both of them having played for Umeå last season before making the switch to WPS.

Umeå also have the talented Swiss forward Ramana Bachmann who is the second-leading goalscorer in the Damallsvenksan with 14 goals and five assists so far this season. Now that Marta is not there Bachmann has become the star of the Damallsvenskan league.

Another player to look out for is the Japanese midfielder Mami Yamaguchi. The former Florida State player and 2007 MAC Hermann Trophy winner moved to Umeå in 2008 and has quickly settled in and impressed the Swedish fans and sports journalists.











The players started arriving in Saint Louis on Friday night where both teams had dinner together. On Saturday there was a press conference and photoshoots and interviews to get done.
Saturday evening saw the first WPS Year-End Awards Gala and Banquet.

The event was hosted by Fox Soccer Channel’s Mark Rogondino and Jenn Hildreth and featured appearances by WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci, WPS Chief Operating Officer Mary Harvey and former President & GM of the Boston Breakers, Joe Cummings, who was honored for his contributions to WPS on-stage with a special WPS All-Star Game jersey in his name.

Six categories were awarded on the night.

2009 Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award
Marta (F) Los Angeles Sol

2009 PUMA Golden Boot Award
Marta (F) Los Angeles Sol

2009 Hint Water Sportswoman of the Year
Christie Rampone (D) Sky Blue FC

2009 Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year
Hope Solo (GK) Saint Louis Athletica

2009 MedImmune Defender of the Year
Amy LePeilbet (D) Boston Breakers

2009 AdvoCare Coach of the Year
Abner Rogers Los Angeles Sol