Washington Freedom photo
An open tryout this weekend allows women's soccer players the chance to earn a place alongside Washington Freedom veteran Lori Lindsey (right).
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Eighth-year Washington Freedom coach Jim Gabarra has long awaited this moment: Women's professional soccer is officially back with the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season set to kick off with preseason camp March 1.
The Freedom won the Women's United Soccer Association Founder's Cup in 2003, the last of three seasons for the first professional women's soccer league in the country.
This season's WPS drafts and U.S. National Team player allocations are finished, and Gabarra is currently working on contractual agreements with about 22 players. But he is allowed to bring 28 women to preseason camp, so the Freedom will hold an open tryout Feb. 20-21 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds.
"There's always that one diamond out there that everyone looks past," Gabarra said. "Basically this is these players' chance to prove that we were wrong in our evaluation process. We want to make sure everyone gets a fair chance and then we will make our decision."
There will be two sessions each day: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Players can attend all four, but are only required to participate in one.
The tryouts are open to anyone who registers online at www.washingtonfreedom.com, pays the $60 fee and presents proof of insurance. The best will earn a bid to the Freedom's invitation-only tryouts Feb. 26-28; Gabarra said he expects to invite anywhere from two to 12 players who try out this weekend.
During the season, the Freedom are limited to an 18-woman roster, plus four developmental players. Those who do not make the final cut are eligible to play for the Freedom's amateur team in the W-League, where the franchise has competed for the last two years while waiting for the birth of WPS.
About 40 athletes had signed up for the open tryout as of last week; Gabarra is hoping that number to reach between 60 and 100 by Friday.
Gabarra will run participants through some Freedom training drills, to test skill and technique. But the tryouts will consist mostly of scrimmages and game simulations.
"We will evaluate the players like at any combine, international or national game," Gabarra said. "We want athletes with athletic ability, with technical ability and, really, with psychological ability. That's what makes a good professional player."
Washington was the only WUSA franchise that did not disband when the league shut down. Gabarra, who has been with the team since its inception in 2001, implemented several youth and adult programs and teams under the Freedom name, creating a loyal fan following.
Gabarra has drafted many of his W-League players back to play in WPS. Lori Lindsey, who has been with the Freedom since 2003; Emily Janss (2004) and two-year players Kati Jo Spisak and Alex Singer are among familiar faces Freedom fans can expect to see in preseason camp.
"It's a really exciting time," Gabarra said. "Things are starting to become tangible. This could be shaping up to be one of, if not the best, women's soccer league in the world."
