Are they lying on a beach somewhere recovering from a tough season, toping up their tans like David Beckham or dancing up a storm in the top nightclubs ala Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately not! Well at least for most of them.
Most WPS players have taken on other jobs as the WPS season lasts for 6 months only and they only get paid for the length of the season. From the end of the previous season to the next some players will be coaching at colleges stateside, taking soccer clinics, going back to complete their own degrees or jump into the world of proper employment . Ahhh!!!
However there are some lucky ones who get to play for some of the best women’s clubsides in the world, continuing their soccer education on loan from their WPS teams.
Here is a rundown of where some of your favourite WPS players have ended up during the off-season.
Australia - Westfield W-League
Saint Louis Athletica’s back-up goalie Jillian Loyden ,midfielder Kendall Fletcher and Chicago Red Stars defender Lydia Vandenbergh have ended up playing for the Central Coast Mariners.
They got off to a great start in the league last weekend defeating the glamour team Sydney FC. All three were in the starting line-up and contributed to the 3-1 win.
Sydney FC had Athletica’s native Australian striker Sarah Walsh and Chicago Red Stars Heather Garriock in their starting 11. Walsh scored Sydney’s only goal.
Washington Freedom players defender Alex Singer and Aussie striker Lisa DeVanna , along with Sky Blue’s Aussie midfielder Collette McCallum have hooked up with the Perth Glory. DeVanna and McCallum reunite with their previous team after a successful stint in the WPS.
Perth Glory lost out in their first game of the season to the Melbourne Victory at the weekend to a 2-1 defeat. Singer didn’t take part in the match as she had just arrived in Australia.
Sky Blue’s midfielder Julianne Sitch was in the starting line-up for the Melbourne Victory win, competing against and coming out on top of her former teamate McCallum.
Chicago Red Stars reserve goalie Lydia Williams returned to her previous club Canberra United.
Williams was in goal at the weekend but went down to a 3-0 defeat to the defending champions the Brisbane Roar.
Brazil - Copa Do Brazil & Copa Libertadores de Futbol Femenino
LA Sol’s striker Marta, Chicago Red Stars forward Cristiane, Sky Blue FC’s midfielder Francielle and FC Gold Pride’s defender Erika have packed their bags for the return to their native Brazil to play for the top women’s soccer team Santos FC. The ladies will be looking to help Santos defend their Copa Do Brazil championship title and win the inaugural cup the 2009 Copa Libertadores.
Marta and Cristiane especially have scored a bucket load of goals since their inclusion on the team in the past month.
Japan - Nadeshiko Women’s L- League
Washington Freedom’s midfielder Homare Sawa and FC Gold Pride’s Eriko Arakawa return to their previous club NTV Beleza. Sawa also recommended the club to two of her Freedom teamates, midfielder Joanna Lohman and striker Rebecca Moros.
At the moment Lohman and Moros are just training with the team. They have yet to take part in any games. Sawa and Arikawa played in Beleza’s latest match winning 2-0.
England - The FA Tesco Women’s Premier League
Boston Breakers striker Kelly Smith, defender Alex Scott and Chicago Red Stars midfielder Karen Carney have all signed with their former club Arsenal Ladies FC on loan till February 2010.
The trio will train in preparation for England’s World Cup qualifiers and look to compete in some of Arsenal’s matches.
So far Arsenal have only played 1 Premier League match. In the Women’s Champions league they thrashed PAOK this past Wednesday night 9-0 to record an 18-0 aggregate scorline.
Smith, Scott and Carney have yet to play any games as they are recovering from the WPS season and Euro 2009.
Sweden - Damallsvenskan
Former Saint Louis Athletica Swedish defender Sara Larsson has returned to her former club Linkoping’s FC. Linkoping’s currently sit at the top of the league with 4 games still to play. They are also currently still in the Women’s Champions League having defeated FC Zurich 3-0 this past Wednesday to record a 5-0 aggregate win. Larsson has played in all games since her return.
Jennifer Nobis from the Boston Breakers is currently on loan to Pitea IF. The striker is on loan till the end of the Swedish season. Pitea IF are currently 2nd bottom of the league in a 3-way relegation fight.
Nobis has played 2 games and scored 1 goal so far.
France - Championnat De France De Football Feminin
Washington Freedom’s midfielder Sonia Bompastor and Los Angeles Sol midfielder Camille Abily have returned to France on loan to play for Paris Saint-Germain. Both players are on loan for 6 months till February 2010. 2 games into the season Paris Saint -Germain have got maximum points with Bompastor already on the score sheet and are looking to challenge Olympique Lyonnais for the championship with the help of the experienced French internationals.
Germany - Frauen - Bundesliga
Ali Krieger the Washington Freedom defender has returned to former club 1.FFC Frankfurt.
Krieger is now in her 3rd season with the German outfit but unfortunately is out injured with a foot injury sustained in their opening match last month.
Norway - Kvinne Toppserien
Another Washington Freedom defender Becky Sauerbrunn has crossed the Atlantic to join Norwegian powerhouse Roa IL. Roa are currently on top of the league with 4 games left to play and are still very much in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after defeating the English club Everton 3-2 on aggregate. Sauerbrunn has been in the starting 11 since her loan move in September and has already scored her first goal.
D J Simons
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