NWSL – Abby’s Going Home

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Abby Wambach is going home to the Western New York Flash, but with Alex Morgan teaming up with Canadian goal machine Christine Sinclair and American creator Tobin Heath, the Portland Thorns are the (very) early favorites for the inaugural NWSL crown.

U.S Soccer President Sunil Gulati and NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey addressed members of the American Soccer media shortly after the 55 allocated players had been divided up between the league’s eight teams.

Each club now has seven players, except for the Flash, who are one shy because just 23 United States internationals were allocated, not the expected 24. Gulati maintains that another American international could yet be allocated, although he made no promises on that score.

Abby and Carli will ply their trade in Western New York. (Getty Images)

Wambach will team up with Carli Lloyd in Rochester, where the Flash will be play, so Western New York should have plenty of firepower. Gulati said that Wambach, “is very fond of her hometown and very much looking forward to playing there.” There had been speculation that Ballon D’Or winner, who owns a home in Portland, might land with the Thorns. In answering why the Flash were allocated just two Americans, Gulati joked that Wambach was worth two players.

Sydney Leroux during the fans tour. (Getty Images)

Dynamic young striker Sydney Leroux told GotSoccer during the Fan Tribute Tour stop in Houston that she was hoping for a chance to play on the West Coast. But Leroux also told us that she realized that as younger player, she might not get her first choice. Boston looks like a pretty good landing spot for the 22 year old, where she will team up with the two Heathers, O’Reilly and Mitts. Both fullback Mitts and winger O’Reilly love to get up and down the flank and Leroux should get plenty of scoring chances.

Veteran midfielder Shannon Boxx and defender Amy LePeilbet will provide a solid base for the Chicago Red Star to build from in front of Canadian number one goalkeeper Erin McLeod. Out from Hope Solo’s shadow, U.S. backup keeper Nicole Barnhart will get a chance to play with FC Kansas City. She’ll be joined by national teammates Becky Sauerbrunn, who will lead the defense and attack minded midfielder Lauren Cheney, who can play up front or in the midfield.

Alex Morgan will hope to as effective in the league as she has been for the National Team.(ISI Photos/Craig Mitchelldyer)

The “Buehldozer,” Rachel Buehler, will play central defense for Portland where she usually lines out for the U.S.  As we noted earlier the Thorns are already well stocked offensively, with Morgan and Sinclair. The Seattle Reign FC will have to wait on Megan Rapinoe, while the goal scoring midfielder plays out her contract with Lyon in the French League. Amy Rodriguez should pick up the offensive slack in the meantime, while Hope Solo keeps the defense in order. Last year’s Hermann Trophy winner from Stanford, Mexican international Teresa Noyola, is a versatile player who can be counted on by the Reign.

United States captain Christie Rampone will provide leadership and a defensive anchor for Sky Blue FC, who will play in Rapinoe’s home state of New Jersey. Another of Solo’s backups, Jill Loyden will get a chance to shine, and could we see attacking fullback Kelley O’Hara in a more advanced role. She did win the Hermann Trophy at Stanford as a striker.

Ali Krieger will return to the U.S. to play in the league after an extensive time in Germany. (Getty Images)

The Washington Spirit may have been short changed as far as marquee names, but all three of the Spirits’ U.S. players have played in Washington before. Alexandria, Virginia native Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris are both coming back from Germany to play in D.C. Krieger was a U.S. starter at fullback in the 2011 World Cup in Germany, before getting injured. She spent several years playing for Frankfurt, and formerly played for the Washington Freedom of the WPS, as did Harris. Lindsey just missed out on the London Olympics, serving as an alternate. The veteran midfielder also played for the Freedom, in both the WUSA and WPS.

The teams will add players at next Friday’s college draft as they fill out their 20 player rosters.

Former England international player Lianne Sanderson (R) is rumoured to be selected for the league. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

Free agents will also be added, including the possible signings of some international players. Gulati though, stressed the leagues economic model and noted the international character of the league, that already includes 13 bronze medal winners from Canada, along with the Mexican internationals and all 18 U.S. gold medal winners. So big name international signings, i.e. Marta seem unlikely for now at least.

Gulati said that, “although there are a lot of moving pieces,” meaning things yet to be decided, “today is a very important day.” One of those moving parts is the order of next Friday’s draft. Gulati mooted that Western New York could get the next pick, being that the Flash have one fewer player than the rest of the teams. That decision will be announced on Monday.

Following are the team-by-team allocations: