2009 Washington Freedom season
ClubWashington Freedom
Season2009
ChrtitleGeneral manager
ChairmanChris Hummer
MgrtitleHead coach
ManagerJim Gabarra
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
LeagueWSP
League result3rd
League topscorerAbby Wambach (6)
Americantrue
Prevseason2008
Nextseason2010

The 2009 season is Washington Freedom's first season competing in the Women's Professional Soccer league, the top division of women's soccer in the United States, and seventh competitive season. The team was coached by Jim Gabarra who has led the team since its founding in 2001.[1]

Review

In January 2008, Washington was selected as one of the seven cities to launch Women’s Professional Soccer in spring 2009. The WPS would be the next iteration of a women’s professional league since the WUSA folded in 2003.[2]

The Washington Freedom had been competing in the W-League since 2006, would begin the Washington franchise to field a WSP team.[clarification needed] Still led by head coach Jim Gabarra, the coaching staff stayed intact transitioning to the new league. The initial player allocation aimed to keep players in preferred locations and best marketing potential, with the Freedom getting Abby Wambach, Cat Whitehill, and Ali Krieger (on loan from FFC Frankfurt).[3][4][5]

The Freedom played in the league’s inaugural match on March 29, 2009, against Los Angeles Sol before a crowd of 14,382.[6] They lost the match, 2–0, and struggled for the first three weeks. The Freedom picked up their first win of the WPS era back in California, beating FC Gold Pride, 3–4, thanks to a 90th-minute goal from Abby Wambach.[7]

The season continued to be an up and down one with a strong run through June (going undefeated through 8 matches) followed by three consecutive losses. Winning four of their last five, the Freedom finished their first WPS regular season in 3rd place, earning their first playoff appearance.

The first round playoff match was a rematch of the last week of the season, where the Freedom defeated Sky Blue FC at home 3–1.[8] Sky Blue would get revenge winning 2–1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex, thanks to an 85th-minute goal from Francielle.[9]

Club

Roster

The first-team roster of Washington Freedom.[10]

Team management

2009 coaching staff[10]
PositionNameNationality
Head coachJim GabarraUnited States
Assistant coachClyde WatsonGuyana
Goalkeeper coachNicci WrightCanada

Competition

WPS playoffs

The Freedom finished 3rd in the table earning a place in the WPS Playoffs in a First Round match up versus 4th place Sky Blue FC. Despite having defeated Sky Blue on the final day of the regular season, the Freedom dropped the First Round match at home after conceding a late goal to Francielle.

Statistics

|- |colspan="10"|Defenders: |-

|- |colspan="10"|Midfielders: |-

|- |colspan="10"|Forwards: |-

|}

Goalkeepers

No.NatPlayerWomen's Professional Soccer
style="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|GPstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|GSstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|MINstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|Wstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|Lstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|Dstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|GAstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|GAAstyle="color:white; background:#D52635; width=60|CS
1Briana Scurry3327002161.970
18Erin McLeod14141260653201.413
23Nicci Wright102610000.001
61Kati Jo Spisak3324410162.181

Honors and awards

Player of the Week

WeekPlayer of the WeekWeek's Statline
Week 5Abby Wambach2 G (18', 90') GWG, 1 A (51')
Week 6Sonia Bompastor2 G (29', 90')
Week 13Erin McLeod7 SVS, SHO
Week 18Abby Wambach2 G (35', 56')
Week 20[dead link]Abby Wambach1 A (58'), 2 G (20', 49')

Player of the Month

MonthPlayer of the MonthMonth's Statline
MaySonia Bompastor2 G, 3 A in 4 games; Freedom 2–0–2 in May
JulyAbby Wambach4 G, 1 A in 5 games; Freedom 3–2–1 in July

Transfers

As part of the inaugural season, each of the league’s seven teams went through several mechanisms for player acquisitions to fill out their rosters. These included:

  • WPS Player Allocation – allocation of existing US national team players across the league
  • International Draft – draft of international players across the league
  • General Draft – draft of existing professional players not active with their respective national teams
  • Draft – inaugural college draft

In

DatePlayerNumberPositionPrevious clubFee/notes
September 16, 2008Cat Whitehill4DFNew Jersey WildcatsWPS Player Allocation[11]
Abby Wambach20FWWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Player Allocation[11]
Ali KriegerDF1. FFC FrankfurtWPS Player Allocation; loan from June[11][12]
September 24, 2008Sonia Bompastor8MFLyonWPS International Draft[13]
Homare Sawa10MFNippon TV BelezaWPS International Draft[13]
Lisa De Vanna17FWAIKWPS International Draft[13]
Louisa NecibMFLyonWPS International Draft[13]
October 6, 2008Lori Lindsey6MFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS General Draft[14]
Emily Janss11DFFortuna HjørringWPS General Draft[14]
Sarah Huffman14MFRøa ILWPS General Draft[14]
Becky Sauerbrunn22DFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS General Draft[14]
January 16, 2009Briana Scurry1GKAtlanta BeatWPS Draft[15]
Jill Gilbeau3MFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[15]
Parrissa Eyorokon7MFPurdue UniversityWPS Draft[15]
Allie Long9MFUniversity of North CarolinaWPS Draft[15]
Rebecca Moros19MFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[15]
Alex Singer21DFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[15]
Christen Karniski24DFBälinge IFWPS Draft[15]
Clair Zimmeck25FWRichmond StrikersWPS Draft[15]
Kati Jo Spisak61GKWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[15]
Sarah SentyDFWashington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[15]
March 26, 2009Madison Keller26MFWashington Freedom (W-League)Free Agent[16]
April 16, 2009Erin McLeod18GKVancouver WhitecapsPost International Draft[17]
Kristin DeDycker15MFAtlanta BeatFree Agent[18]

References

  1. ^ Drew Crossley (25 November 2018). "2001-2010 Washington Freedom". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Hamm's imprint made on new women's soccer league". USA TODAY. January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  3. ^ Steve Goff (September 16, 2008). "WPS Allocation List". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ali Kreiger | Biography". alikrieger.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "US soccer players allocated to women's pro league". prettytough.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Drew Crossley (November 25, 2018). "2001-2010 Washington Freedom". funwhileitlasted.net. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Paul Tenorio (June 1, 2009). "Freedom Extends Unbeaten Streak to Five Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "WPS Weekly August 11, 2009: It's What's Happening In The WPS". Bleacher Report. August 13, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "WCounterattack Special: WPS Playoffs". goal.com. August 19, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  10. ^ "Washington Freedom Media Guide". Washington Freedom. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  11. ^ Beau Dure (September 16, 2008). "Wambach goes full circle as women's league stocks rosters". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ali Krieger | Biography". alikrieger.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Brazilian stars selected in women's draft". USA TODAY. September 24, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "WPS General Draft Results". Women's Professional Soccer. October 6, 2008. Archived October 9, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. ^ "2009 WPS Draft Results". Women's Professional Soccer. January 16, 2009. Archived February 5, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "Keller Signs With Washington Freedom". East Carolina University Pirates. March 26, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. ^ "Goalkeeper McLeod signs with Freedom". Women's Soccer Show. April 16, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ "Kristin DeDycker | Player Profile". Archived April 22, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 5, 2019.