WPS Top Town Video Challenge: Weighing the factors

As we’ve launched the WPS Top Town Video Challenge to find out why your city is a great soccer town, we decided to pose a question to three soccer writers: If you were a U.S. Women’s National Team player, which city would you want to be allocated to?

Perhaps their answers will spur an idea or two for you as you create your video entries for the WPS Top Town Challenge. Be sure to submit your videos as Brandi Chastain will select the winning clip with a trip for two to the WPS Public Allocation Event is on the line.

If you were a U.S. Women’s National Team player, which city would you want to be allocated to?

By Stacy Wahlberg | Special to fans.womensprosoccer.com

Now that’s a loaded question if there ever was one. I don’t think it’s a question that I can answer for others. It’s a very personal question. Every player has her own concerns. The best I can do is discuss some of those concerns.

For some players the issue is locale. A player with a team in her hometown or where she went to college might prioritize locale highly. Of course, the players with spouses and/or children will probably prioritize locale a bit higher than younger players fresh out of college who might want an adventure in a new city.

For older players or players with knee injuries, the issue might be the turf. A favorable field might prolong a career for a player with chronic problems.

Some players I imagine will be lured by the soccer specific stadiums. Some of the WPS venues are more established than others. I can’t imagine any player wouldn’t love playing in a stadium like that in Chicago.

Some players might be looking to play for a particular coach. Different coaches look for different skill sets and I would imagine a player would want to play for a coach who historically likes what she has to offer. If my speed surpasses my skill set, I’m probably looking to play for Tony DiCicco. He values athleticism and speed highly and he’s shown in the past, he’s willing to work with a superior athlete to try to improve her soccer skills.

I would imagine a player would want to go where she would have the best chance to play and to play at her natural position. (Anyone else want to see Tina Frimpong Ellerston playing forward or in some offensive capacity again? She was dominant her senior year. Can I get some support from the University of Washington fans? Go where they want you at forward Tina! The league will be better for it!)

Others might be lured to an established organization like the Washington Freedom or Boston Breakers. This whole running a soccer franchise thing isn’t new for them. While players there will have just as many community commitments as players in other cities, there is an advantage to being with a franchise that’s been there and done that.

Essentially, there are pluses and minuses to every venue and every franchise. For those players who actually are able to submit their preferences, each one will have to weigh those factors herself and make the best decision she can.

As for me, if I have to pick a team – well, I’m easy. Give me a nice cold beverage, some cheesy nachos and midfield seats, and I’ll be happy where ever I wind up.

Stacy Wahlberg is a freelance writer and can be reached at beulahbbell@yahoo.com. More of her work can be found at beulahsports.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.