Aug 28, 2009
Freedom keeper list for expansion draft leaked
Apparently the Post’s Steven Goff has done it again – this time he has obtained the list of players the Freedom will protect heading into the Sept. 15 expansion draft.
*The Insider has obtained the Washington Freedom’s protected list ahead of WPS’s expansion draft: Abby Wambach, Cat Whitehill, Ali Kreiger, Homare Sawa, Lisa De Vanna, Sonia Bompastor, Erin McLeod, Sarah Huffman, Becky Sauerbrunn and Allie Long.
I had planned on covering this topic (including trying to predict who would be kept) closer to the actual draft but with the release of the list, that plan is out the window so I will make one observation here and find another angle for the draft. The obvious omission to the group is Lori Lindsey, who just earned her first national team callup in years. It is possible she could be added to the list if she is not the first Freedom player taken, but I have a feeling she may be one of the top talents available on the board.
The one question mark on the list would appear to be Allie Long, however, I have heard Jim Gabarra talk about Allie before and he feels she was one of the best player in last year’s draft and were lucky to have fall to them at pick 7. Apparently one slow start/injury-marred season hasn’t deterred Gabarra too much but you have to wonder what the fallout is if Lindsey is taken early and goes on to be a star.
Again, I will have more on this as we get closer to the draft but I wanted to make sure this list was at least a little easier to find.
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I don’t understand how they could leave Lori Lindsey unprotected and save Allie Long. Mistake…mistake….mistake…period!
I can only imagine that Gabarra hopes someone on the list other than Lori is the first player selected from the team. Then when that player goes he can protect Lori and someone else.
I know Gabarra thinks very highly of Allie and must believe her potential is worth possibly losing Lori.
I still don’t agree with it but I think I can figure out the thought process.