U.S. WNT veterans Lesley Osborne, Sarah Huffman and Cat Whitehill were among a list of 16 free agents signed last month by National Women’s Soccer League teams. Each club could sign up to four or five players through Jan. 31.
Osborne was signed by the Chicago Red Stars, Huffman by the Western New York Flash, and Whitehill by the Boston Breakers. Osborne and Whitehill played together on the 2007 U.S. Women’s World Cup team.
Other players signed for the inaugural 2013 season include Australians Lisa De Vanna (Sky Blue FC) and Samantha Kerr (Western New York) and Spanish international Adriana (Western New York).
Western New York, allocated one less player than its seven rivals, was supposed to be the only team allowed to sign a fifth free agent, but three other teams were able to sign a fifth free agent to make up for players lost due to unforeseen absences or late-season arrivals.
Chicago and Seattle were were allowed an additional free-agent signing because of the loss of Amy LePeilbet (ACL surgery) and Amy Rodriguez (pregnancy), respectively. Washington goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris may have to finish her season at Duisburg in Germany before joining the Spirit, which was granted a fifth signing.
Only six of the eight teams signed free agents during the January free agent period. Seattle and Washington decided not to participate in signing free agents.
Next up: the six-round supplemental draft on Thursday in which Washington has the No. 1 pick.
NWSL free-agent signings:
Boston Breakers
Cat Whitehill (Boston Breakers, WPSL)
Chicago Red Stars
Lesley Osborne (Boston Breakers, WPSL)
FC Kansas City
Jen Buczkowski (Chicago Red Stars, WPSL)
Sinead Farrelly (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus)
Melissa Henderson (Boston Breakers, WPSL)
Leigh Ann Robinson (New York Fury, WPSL)
Portland Thorns
Ally Long (Paris St. Germain, France)
Seattle Reign
none.
Sky Blue FC
Danesha Adams (Vittsjo, Sweden)
Brittany Bock (Colorado Rush, W-League)
Lisa De Vanna (Perth Glory, Australia)
Manya Makoski (Aland United, Finland)
Washington Spirit
none.
Western New York Flash
Adriana (Chelsea Ladies, England)
Sarah Huffman (Pali Blues, W-League)
Samantha Kerr (Sydney FC, Australia)
Brittany Taylor (New York Fury, WPSL)
McCall Zerboni (Western New York Flash, WPSL)