Video: Women’s Professional Soccer Extraordinary – Hope Solo and Natasha Kai

Here are are couple of new Women’s Professional Soccers’  promo videos showing off the skills of two of WPS’ marquee players – ever popular USA internationals Hope Solo and Natasha Kai of Sky Blue FC and Saint Louis Athletica respectively. The WPS “Extraordinary” commercials are well done to say the least.

Who said that the ladies couldn’t do bicycle kicks? Can you?

Video: USA 1 – Sweden 1 (Women's 2009 Algarve Cup Final)

March 11, 2009 — Sweden defeated the United States 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night in the final of the Algarve Cup women’s soccer tournament.

Sweden took the lead via a 19th-minute goal by Lotta Schelin. However, the heavily favored United States rallied until Shannon Boxx tapped in a 90th-minute equalizer.

Team USA Goalkeeper Hope Solo made several excellent saves for the United States. She was voted the tournament’s most valuable player.

Sweden’s win game them their third Algarve Cup, following titles in 2001 and 1995. The U.S. team has won the tournament six times.

Penalty Summary:
SWE: Fors (goal), Dahlkvist (goal), Sembrandt (goal), Paulson (miss – high), Schelin (saved), Ölander (miss – high), Segerström (goal)
USA: Boxx (goal), Rapinoe (saved), Lloyd (goal), Rampone (miss – left post), DiMartino (goal), Woznuk (saved), Mitts (miss – left post)

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (capt.), 7-Shannon Boxx, 3-Christie Rampone, 4-Rachel Buehler; 9-Heather O’Reilly (12-Angie Woznuk, 88), 16-Angela Hucles (19-Tina DiMartino, 83), 10-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (8-Amy Rodriguez, 46); 15-Megan Rapinoe, 6-Natasha Kai
Subs not used: 13-Kendall Fletcher, 17-Lori Chalupny, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Kacey White
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

SWE: 12-Kristin Hammarstrøm, 2-Charlotte Rohlin, 3-Stina Segerström, 4-Anna Paulson, 6-Sara Thunebro (7-Emelie Ölander, 46); 5-Caroline Seger (19-Linda Sembrandt, 78), 15-Therese Sjögran (16-Louise Fors, 63), 17-Kosovare Aslani (14-Madelaine Edlund, 53), 18-Nilla Fischer (20-Lisa Dahlkvist, 37); 11-Victoria Svensson (capt.) (10-Sara Lindén, 71), 8-Lotta Schelin
Subs not used: 1-Hedvid Lindahl, 9-Anna Lindblom, 13-Alexandra Niilsson
Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby

Video: USA 1 – Norway 0 (Women's Algarve Cup 2009)

FERREIRAS, Portugal (March 9, 2009) – Striker Megan Rapinoe scored a 21st minute goal to give the U.S. Women’s National Team a 1-0 victory against Norway in the final group 2009 Algarve Cup game for both teams.

Team USA faces Sweden in the Algarve Cup championship game on Wednesday, March 11, at the Stadium Algarve in Faro. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (7-Shannon Boxx, 62), 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 13-Kendall Fletcher, 4-Rachel Buehler; 9-Heather O’Reilly (12-Angie Woznuk, 83), 16-Angela Hucles (10-Carli Lloyd, 46), 5-Lindsay Tarpley, 21-Kacey White, 15-Megan Rapinoe (19-Tina DiMartino, 70), 8-Amy Rodriguez (6-Natasha Kai, 46)
Subs not used: 17-Lori Chalupny, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

NOR: 12-Caroline Knutsen; 6-Camilla Huse (10-Lindy Melissa Wiik, 60), 7-Trine Rønning, 15-Hedda Strand Gardsjord, 18-Toril Akerhaugen; 4-Ingvild Stensland, 5-Anneli Giske, 17-Maren Mjelde, 21-Lena Storløkken (13-Siri Nordeide Grønli, 80); 19-Ingvild Isaksen (11-Leni Larsen Kaurin, 60), 20-Kristin Lie
Subs not used: 1-Ingrid Hjelmseth, 2-Solfrid Andersen, 3-Marita Skammelsrud Lund, 8-Solveig Gulbrandsen, 14-Marthe Johansen, 16-Ingrid Schjelderup
Head Coach: Bjarne Berntsen

Gallery: USA and Sweden Women's Algarve Cup Final Training Sessions

Sweden will face the United States in the Algarve Cup final tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Stadium Algarve in Faro, Portugal. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET. Here are some pictures of the Swedish and American teams in training for tomorrow’s cup finale. All pictures were taken on Tuesday, March 10 2009, in Montechoro, southern Portugal.

Click on the thumbnails to see bigger versions of the pictures.

Hope Solo - starting goalkeeper of the United States women's soccer team

Video: USA 1 – Iceland 0 (Women’s Algrave Cup 2009)

FERREIRAS, Portugal (March 6, 2009) – Striker Natasha Kai scored a last minute of goal to give the U.S. Women’s National Team a 1-0 victory over Iceland in the second group game for both teams at the 2009 Algarve Cup.

The U.S. victory, along with Denmark’s 2-0 win against Norway, clinched Group B and a berth in the championship game on March 11 at Stadium Algarve in Faro for the U.S. The U.S. will face Norway in its final group match on March 9.

Here are the current Algarve Cup standings and schedule.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Nicole Barnhart; 2-Heather Mitts, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 7-Shannon Boxx, 17-Lori Chalupny; 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Angela Hucles (4-Rachel Buehler, 84), 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Angie Woznuk (9-Heather O’Reilly, 46), 19-Tina DiMartino (5-Lindsay Tarpley, 46), 8-Amy Rodriguez (6-Natasha Kai, 68).
Subs not used: 1-Hope Solo, 13-Kendall Fletcher, 21-Kacey White.
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

ISL: 12-Gudbörg Gunnarsdóttir; 2-Gúdrun Gunnarsdóttir, 3-Ólina Gudbjörg Vidarsdóttir, 8-Katrin Jonsdóttir – Capt., 18-Sif Altadóttir (14-Erna Björk Sigurdardóttir, 36); 4-Edda Gardarsdóttir, 6- Hólmfridur Magnusdóttir (17-Rakel Hönnudóttir, 64), 7-Dóra Stefansdóttir, 10-Dóra Maria Larusdóttir (16-Erla Steina Arnardóttir, 91+), 11-Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (20-Katrin Ómarsdóttir, 45); 9-Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir.
Subs not used: 1-María Bjorg Águstsdóttir, 5-Ásta Árnadóttir, 13-Gudný Björk Odinsdóttir, 15-Hallbera Gudný Gisladóttir, 19-Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir
Head Coach: Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjolfsson

Video: USA 2 – Denmark 0 (Women's Algrave Cup 2009)

March 4, 2009 – Tina DiMartino scored her first international goal Wednesday as defending champion United States defeated Denmark 2-0 in the Algarve Cup.

In only her second international appearance, the 22-year-old forward, knocked in the ball from short range in the 35th minute after Natasha Kai’s header rebounded off the post.

Angie Woznuk scored the first goal for the USA in the 22nd minute when controlled a cross and sent the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (4-Rachel Buehler, 46), 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 7-Shannon Boxx, 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly (21-Kacey White, 78), 10-Carli Lloyd, 16-Angela Hucles, 12-Angie Woznuk (15-Megan Rapinoe, 62), 19-Tina DiMartino (5-Lindsay Tarpley, 46), 6-Natasha Kai (8-Amy Rodriguez, 62)
Subs not used: 13-Kendall Fletcher, 18-Nicole Barnhart

DEN: 1-Heidi Johansen; 2-Mia Olsen, 3-Katrine Pedersen (capt.) (19-Marianne Pedersen, 67), 4-Christina Ømtoft, 5-Line Hansen, 6-Marianne Knudsen, 7-Cathrine Sørensen (18-Nanna Christiansen, 72), 10-Camilla Sand, 13-Johanna Rasmussen, 9-Maiken Pape (17-Nadia Nadim, 21), 11-Merete Pedersen (8-Julie Rydahl-Bukh, 67)
Subs not used: 12-Janne Madsen, 14-Marie Bjerg, 15-Sanne Troelsgaard, 16-Tine Cederkvist Vsikær, 20-Tina Rasmussen

Video: Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) 2009 Puma Kits / Jerseys Fashion Show

Earlier this week, we brought you pictures of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league home and away uniforms presentation.

Now here’s a video of the event featuring the following WPS players modeling the league’s Puma kits on the runway:
– Amy Rodriguez and Angela Hucles for the Boston Breakers
– Carli Lloyd and Nikki Krzysik for the Chicago Red Stars
– Leslie Osborne and Christina DiMartino for FC Gold Pride (San Francisco Bay Area)
– Marta Vieira da Silva and Johanna Frisk for the Los Angeles Sol
– Hope Solo and Lori Chalupny for the Saint Louis Athletica
– Heather O’Reilly and Christie Rampone for the Sky Blue FC (NY/NJ Area)
– Allie Long and Sarah Huffman for the Washington Freedom

Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) 2009 Puma Kits / Jerseys

NEW YORK – PUMA and the star players from the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), including three-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, Marta, unveiled the league’s home and away uniforms yesterday.

Two players from each of the new league’s seven teams modeled their respective home and away kits. They were Amy Rodriguez and Angela Hucles for the Boston Breakers, Carli Lloyd and Nikki Krzysik for the Chicago Red Stars, Leslie Osborne and Christina DiMartino for FC Gold Pride (San Francisco Bay Area), Marta Vieira da Silva and Johanna Frisk for the Los Angeles Sol, Hope Solo and Lori Chalupny for the Saint Louis Athletica, Heather O’Reilly and Christie Rampone for the Sky Blue FC (NY/NJ Area), and Allie Long and Sarah Huffman for the Washington Freedom. The color combinations for the team uniforms are as follows:

Team	Home	Away
Boston Breakers	Team Royal	White
Chicago Red Stars	Team Pearl Blue	White
FC Gold Pride	PUMA Black	Team Gold
Los Angeles Sol	New Navy & Team Yellow	White
Saint Louis Athletica	USA Forest Green	Pace Grey
Sky Blue FC	Team Pearl Blue	Team Orange
Washington Freedom	New Navy	PUMA Red

Women's Professional Soccer 2008 Player Allocation

For the first time since the foldering of the WUSA in 2003, professional soccer returns to the United States in the form of the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS).  WPS’ mission is to become the premier women’s soccer league in the world. It will start in the Spring of 2009 with teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league will then expand in 2010 with the inclusion of Atlanta, Dallas, and Philadelphia.

On September 16, 2008 WPS announced the allocations of the U.S. Women’s National Team to its seven franchises Tuesday during a ceremony at the Sports Museum of America in downtown Manhattan.

The announcement was hosted by NBA All-Star and WPS part-owner Steve Nash. Each of the league’s seven founding teams were allocated three players apiece from the U.S. Women’s National Team pool as listed below.

WPS Team	Players Listed in Alphabetical Order
Bay Area	Nicole Barnhart	Rachel Buehler	Leslie Osborne
Boston Breakers	Angela Hucles	Kristine Lilly	Heather Mitts
Chicago Red Stars	Carli Lloyd	Kate Markgraf	Lindsay Tarpley
Los Angeles	Shannon Boxx	Stephanie Cox	Aly Wagner
Sky Blue FC	Natasha Kai	Heather O’Reilly	Christie Rampone
St. Louis	Lori Chalupny	Tina Ellertson	Hope Solo
Washington Freedom	Ali Krieger	Abby Wambach	Cat Whitehill

The draft of top non-American players will occur during the week of September 22, 2008.

Here are several pictures from yesterday’s draft event.

Video: Women's Olympic Soccer / Football Final and Third Place Game Summaries – August 21, 2008

FULL GAME HIGH DEFINITION VIDEOS of all of the Beijing 2008 Olympic soccer / football games are available at at this link.

Déjà vu for golden US

It was a case of Déjà vu as the USA beat Brazil to the gold medal in extra time for the second straight Olympic final on Thursday in Beijing. A Carli Lloyd goal in the 96th minute was the only difference between the sides as they collect their third top Olympic prize in four instalments. Brazil, as they did four years ago in Athens and last year at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, have to tearfully settle for silver.

The contest began cautiously with both sides unwilling to commit too much to attack. The best challenge for the holders came in the 16th minute when Angela Hucles’ corner kick nearly soared directly into the Brazilian net. The bending left-footed try could only splatter against the top of Barbara’s crossbar.

As the half wore on, the Brazilians began to uncoil their springs slightly and push Marta and Cristiane into the US’s defensive third. On 31 minutes, Lori Chalupney gave the ball away in midfield and Formiga took advantage, stringing a fine through ball to the onrushing Cristiane. But the striker – top scorer at these women’s finals – was unable to settle the ball with her first touch and Hope Solo came out to grab hold.

Marta and Cristiane finished the opening period terrorising a supremely organised US defence, but the whistle went before the dynamic duo could do any statistical damage.

Brazil were searching for the crucial goal at the start of the second half, but the American rearguard were standing up to everything thrown at them. On 72 minutes, the dazzling Marta seemed to have found a way through, but after jinking and slinking her way into the penalty area, Solo made an outstanding reflex save at the near post to keep the scores level. It proved to be the turning-point.

Both sides were visibly tiring in the last ten minutes of regular time. In the 85th minute, the US – on the back foot for so long – nearly grabbed a winner, but Barbara was equal to Hucles’ low drive from 18 yards. Then, with just seconds to go, substitute Amy Rodriguez was denied by the Brazilian keeper when it looked an odds-on a goal.

The North Americans’ superior strength and fitness began to really show in the extra-time period. And only six minutes into the first half of it, they laid claim to that elusive, and precious, goal. Rodriguez knocked the ball off for Carli Lloyd at the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder skipped past two defenders before rifling a left-footer low past Barbara (1-0).

The USA’s gold medal is their third in four Olympic finals and their second on the trot. For Brazil, who lit up the tournament with their flair and creativity, it’s another case of so close yet so far.

Bajramaj brace bags bronze

An opportunistic double from substitute Fatmire Bajramaj sealed a 2-0 win over Japan and ensured Germany claimed bronze for the third successive Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

The youngster’s well-taken brace put paid to a spirited Japanese challenge that only faded in the second half as the impressive Asians began to tire, but the Nadeshiko nevertheless emerged with huge credit from this closely-matched encounter.

Japan certainly dominated the opening period, outpassing and at times outclassing the world champions, who were once again forced to rely on their outstanding goalkeeper, Nadine Angerer.

On 21 minutes, the German No1 came to her side’s rescue by tipping round the post a low shot from Aya Miyama that seemed destined for the bottom corner. It was a fantastic save, but Angerer somehow contrived to better it just seconds later when she leapt to her left to claw away another goal-bound effort from the Japan forward.

The weary-looking Germans, for their part, failed to create a single clear-cut opportunity of note in a first half that belonged completely to their unfancied Asian opponents.

However, Silvia Neid’s team have a well-deserved reputation for being able to grind out results even when they are not at their best, and the introduction of three young substitutes early in the second half provided them with the spark to do just that.

Of all the replacements, the introduction of Kosovo-born Bajramaj undoubtedly made the biggest impact, with the talented youngster firing Germany in front on 69 minutes from an acute angle after Kerstin Garefrekes’ initial header had been parried clear.

Then, with the clock ticking down and Japan searching frantically for an equaliser, Bajramaj sealed Germany’s place on the podium with a superbly-executed second, cutting in from the left and drilling a low shot just inside the left-hand post with just three minutes remaining.