Washington Freedom
Encyclopedia
The Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer
. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association
. Since 2004, the Freedom had played its home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex
. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida and became magicJack
.
in Washington, D.C., where the team offices were also located. The team's "founding players" (players from the national team
allocated three to each WUSA team) were Mia Hamm
, Siri Mullinix
and Michelle French. The team was expected by some to be one of the best in the league but finished seventh out of the eight teams their first season.
However, this finish allowed the Freedom to select Abby Wambach
as their first pick in the 2002 WUSA draft. Additional personnel changes, better performance from retained players, and a Mia Hamm improved by off-season knee surgery led to a far better finish, as Washington went undefeated in their last eight matches and finished in third place (only two points out of first). In the postseason, they won their semifinal match against the Philadelphia Charge
, 1–0, and went to the Founders Cup, the WUSA championship match, which they lost, 3–2, to the Carolina Courage
.
In 2003, the Freedom were just good enough to make the playoffs, clinching the fourth and final spot with two games to go. However, they would go on to beat the regular season champion Boston Breakers
in the semifinals, 0–0 (3–1 penalty kick shootout), and then defeated the Atlanta Beat in the Founders Cup, 2–1, in overtime. It was the last Golden Goal
in a FIFA
-sanctioned first-division league before the practice was changed.
In 2005, the roster was significantly upgraded by adding former WUSA players like Tiffany Roberts
, Kylie Bivens
, and Emily Janss
, as well as players Ali Krieger
and Joanna Lohman
from the U-21 National Team. The team also brought in former star soccer players Sun Wen and Brandi Chastain
as guest players for one game each. In a season of exhibition matches, almost all against W-League teams, the Freedom compiled a 7–2–2 record.
In 2007, playing games that mattered for the first time since 2003, the Freedom compiled a 12–1–1 record, defeated the regular season champion Ottawa Fury
in the Eastern Conference championship game, then went on to beat the Atlanta Silverbacks
, 3–1, in the W-League championship match.
In 2008, the Freedom went 11–1–2 in the regular season, winning the Northeast Division, then defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks, 2–1, to capture the Eastern Conference championship, but then fell to the eventual W-League champion Pali Blues
, 2–0, in the W-League semifinals.
league formed in 2008, the Freedom became one of the original seven teams that started play in 2009.
The coaching staff went to considerable lengths to retain as many players with past Freedom experience as possible. The initial WPS player allocation, announced on 16 September 2008, assigned US Women's National Team players Abby Wambach
, Cat Whitehill
and Ali Krieger
to the Freedom. Wambach had played for the Freedom in 2002 and 2003, while Krieger played for the Washington Freedom Reserves in 2004 and 2005, and for the W-League team in 2007.
In the 2008 WPS International Draft
, conducted on 24 September 2008, the Freedom selected Japanese striker Homare Sawa
, French players Sonia Bompastor
and Louisa Necib
and Australian forward Lisa De Vanna
. Following the draft, the Freedom named Erin McLeod
and Lene Mykjåland
as post-draft discovery players.
Following that was the 2008 WPS General Draft
on 6 October 2008, and all of the players selected by the Freedom were from the Freedom's 2008 W-League roster: Sarah Huffman
, Becky Sauerbrunn
, Lori Lindsey
and Emily Janss
. Lindsey had been on the Freedom roster since the final WUSA season in 2003, and Janss had been with the team since 2005.
The 2009 WPS Draft
took place on 16 January 2009. The Freedom drafted Allie Long
, Alex Singer
, Jill Gilbeau
, Parrissa Eyorokon
, Briana Scurry
, Rebecca Moros
, Sarah Senty, Kati Jo Spisak, Claire Zimmeck, and Christen Karniski. Additionally, the Freedom received the rights to Joanna Lohman
in a trade with Saint Louis Athletica. All of the players except for Long, Eyorokon, and Scurry had previous experience playing for the Freedom's W-League team.
Two players were added to the roster after tryouts and training camp: Kristin DeDycker
and Madison Keller. Keller had experience with the Freedom going back to 2004, while DeDycker (née Warren) had played for the Atlanta Beat in the WUSA.
McLeod was intended to be the starting goalkeeper, but visa issues kept her unavailable through the first five matches of the regular season, and the Freedom had mixed success with Briana Scurry and Kati Jo Spisak in goal. Following her arrival, though, the Freedom won three out of the next six matches while only losing once.
Abby Wambach, meanwhile, was recovering from a broken leg and didn't feel fully recovered until late in the season, when she returned from national team duty having scored her 100th international goal. She then went on a tear, scoring five goals and two assists in the team's final four games. The Freedom won three of those four matches and thereby clinched third place in the standings and a home playoff match. But despite looking strong going into the playoff match, and coming off a solid 3–1 victory over their opponents, Sky Blue FC
, they put on a listless performance and were eliminated from the playoffs, 2–1.
. The team then signed Christie Welsh, who had helped lead the 2007 Freedom to the W-League championship before being drafted by the WPS Los Angeles Sol and then traded to the St. Louis Athletica. Brittany Bock was acquired in the dispersal draft
to place former Los Angeles Sol players. Marisa Abegg and Meagan McCray were brought in after going unsigned by their former WPS team, FC Gold Pride
. After the St. Louis Athletica
folded, the Freedom signed their 2010 second-round draft pick Ashlyn Harris, who went on to become the starting goalkeeper after Erin McLeod tore her ACL in a match on July 24. On August 5, the Freedom traded their rights to Nigerian defender Faith Ikidi
to the Chicago Red Stars
for English national team defender Anita Asante.
Players did not return for several reasons. Lori Lindsey
and Sarah Senty were picked up in the expansion draft by the Philadelphia Independence, one of the two new WPS teams for 2010. Lindsey had originally joined the team in 2003 during its last year in the WUSA, while Senty joined the W-League team in 2007. Ali Krieger
signed a two-year contract with FFC Frankfurt, keeping her there into 2012. Other players with extended Freedom experience not re-signed included Emily Janss
(since 2005), Joanna Lohman
(2005), Kati Jo Spisak (2007), and Christen Karniski (2008). Additionally, Alex Singer
, who joined the W-League team in 2007, was cut on August 5 to make room for Anita Asante.
The Freedom started their season solidly in April and May, with a 4–2–1 record good enough for second place. However, in July and August they went on a ten-game winless streak ending with five losses in a row that put them out of playoff position and put head coach Gabarra's job in jeopardy. Longtime assistant coach Clyde Watson resigned and former Chicago Red Stars
head coach Emma Hayes
was hired as a consultant. The team rebounded to finish the regular season 4–1–2, good enough for the fourth and final playoff position. That led to a road match against the Philadelphia Independence, which the Freedom lost on a goal from Amy Rodriguez
in the waning seconds of overtime, wasting a superb performance from rookie backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
Following the season, Gabarra announced his resignation, citing "irreconcilable differences" between himself and team management.
, owner of the phone service magicJack
, came in to buy the Freedom. Sweeping changes were made, including changing the team name and moving the team to Boca Raton, Florida.
Bai Jie (2001–2002) Kylie Bivens
(2005) Sonia Bompastor
(2009–2010) Brandi Chastain
(2005) Amanda Cromwell
(2001) Joy Fawcett (2004) Julie Foudy (2004) Michelle French (2001) Kelly Golebiowski
(2003–2008) Jennifer Grubb
(2001–2006) Mia Hamm
(2001–2003, 2007) Angela Hucles
(2004) Emily Janss
(2005–2009) Steffi Jones
(2002–2003) Ali Krieger
(2004, 2006–2007, 2009) Lori Lindsey
(2003–2009) Joanna Lohman
(2005–2006, 2009) Shannon MacMillan
(2004)
Anne Mäkinen
(2001–2002) Lene Mykjåland
(2010) Ella Masar
(2008) Jennifer Meier
(2003) Sandra Minnert
(2003) Heather Mitts
(2004) Siri Mullinix
(2001–2003) Pretinha
(2001) Pu Wei
(2002) Christie Rampone
(2004) Tiffany Roberts
(2005–2006) Roseli (2001) Briana Scurry
(2009–2010) Tiffany Weimer
(2006) Sun Wen (2005) Cat Whitehill
(2009–2010) Nicci Wright (2003–2006, 2009)
from 2001 to 2003. The team won the WUSA Founders Cup III in their final year, shortly before the league announced on September 15, 2003, that it was suspending operations. Unique among the WUSA teams, though, the Freedom maintained a continued existence, playing exhibition seasons in 2004 and 2005, then joining the W-League
in 2006 and winning the W-League Championship in 2007. The Freedom are now a part of Women's Professional Soccer
that launched in April 2009.
Despite the addition of a professional team, the Freedom have maintained an elite amateur team, which currently plays in the W-League
, finishing second in the league in 2009.
While in the WUSA, the Washington Freedom played their home games in RFK Stadium in Washington DC. Since the WUSA ended, the Washington Freedom has played most of their home matches at the Soccerplex in Maryland. They have, however, continued to play some games at RFK as doubleheaders with DC United. These include games as the Freedom Reserves in 2004, while in the W-League, and since joining the WPS. They played three doubleheaders in 2009 and one doubleheader in 2010.
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
. Since 2004, the Freedom had played its home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Maryland SoccerPlex
Maryland Soccerplex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, United States . There are nineteen natural grass fields, three artificial fields, and eight indoor courts...
. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida and became magicJack
MagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
.
WUSA (2001–03)
The team played its home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
in Washington, D.C., where the team offices were also located. The team's "founding players" (players from the national team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
allocated three to each WUSA team) were Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
, Siri Mullinix
Siri Mullinix
Siri Lynn Mullinix is an American soccer goalkeeper. As keeper for the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic soccer team, she recorded two shutouts helping the team win the silver medal...
and Michelle French. The team was expected by some to be one of the best in the league but finished seventh out of the eight teams their first season.
However, this finish allowed the Freedom to select Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach and Olympic gold medalist. A four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she has been a regular on the U.S. women's national team since 2003...
as their first pick in the 2002 WUSA draft. Additional personnel changes, better performance from retained players, and a Mia Hamm improved by off-season knee surgery led to a far better finish, as Washington went undefeated in their last eight matches and finished in third place (only two points out of first). In the postseason, they won their semifinal match against the Philadelphia Charge
Philadelphia Charge
The Philadelphia Charge was an American women's professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association.The team played at Villanova Stadium on the campus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team began play in 2001. The league announced on September...
, 1–0, and went to the Founders Cup, the WUSA championship match, which they lost, 3–2, to the Carolina Courage
Carolina Courage
Carolina Courage were a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Fetzer Field on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus in 2001, and then at the soccer-specific SAS Stadium in Cary, North Carolina in 2002 and 2003. The team began play in 2001; the...
.
Boston Breakers (WUSA)
The Boston Breakers were a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Nickerson Field on the campus of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. The team held a "name the team" contest that Laura DeDonato of Easton Massachusetts won with the...
in the semifinals, 0–0 (3–1 penalty kick shootout), and then defeated the Atlanta Beat in the Founders Cup, 2–1, in overtime. It was the last Golden Goal
Golden goal
The golden goal is a method used in association football, field hockey, ice hockey and korfball to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of regulation time. It is a type of sudden death. Golden goal rules allow the team that scores the first goal during...
in a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
-sanctioned first-division league before the practice was changed.
Exhibition years (2004–05)
After the WUSA folded, the Freedom maintained an existence as the Washington Freedom Soccer Club, moving their home stadium to the Maryland Soccerplex and putting together a team called the Washington Freedom Reserves, which consisted of half-a-dozen players from the WUSA days along with young local players. In 2004, they played assorted exhibition matches against college and W-League teams and participated in the WUSA Festivals.In 2005, the roster was significantly upgraded by adding former WUSA players like Tiffany Roberts
Tiffany Roberts
Tiffany M. Roberts is an American Soccer player, world and olympic champion. She attended the all-girls' Carondelet High School.She won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.-External links:*...
, Kylie Bivens
Kylie Bivens
Kylie Elizabeth Bivens is an American association football player and a member of the United States women's national soccer team. She represented the United States at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup finals....
, and Emily Janss
Emily Janss
Emily Janss is an American soccer defender who last played for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. She is currently an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland.-External links:* * *...
, as well as players Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger
Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.-Youth and High School:...
and Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman is an American soccer midfielder/defender who currently plays for Espanyol in Spain.She has played in the WPS for Washington Freedom, Saint Louis Athletica and Philadelphia Independence. She has also served the general manager of the Washington Freedom Futures, the Washington Freedom...
from the U-21 National Team. The team also brought in former star soccer players Sun Wen and Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
as guest players for one game each. In a season of exhibition matches, almost all against W-League teams, the Freedom compiled a 7–2–2 record.
W-League (2006–08)
The team became an associate member of the W-League in 2006 and played an exhibition season based on home-and-home series against east coast W-League teams. Then, on December 7, 2006, Washington announced that they had acquired a full W-League franchise.In 2007, playing games that mattered for the first time since 2003, the Freedom compiled a 12–1–1 record, defeated the regular season champion Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury is a Canadian soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2005, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference....
in the Eastern Conference championship game, then went on to beat the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
, 3–1, in the W-League championship match.
In 2008, the Freedom went 11–1–2 in the regular season, winning the Northeast Division, then defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks, 2–1, to capture the Eastern Conference championship, but then fell to the eventual W-League champion Pali Blues
Pali Blues
Pali Blues is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2008. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
, 2–0, in the W-League semifinals.
Women's Professional Soccer: The first season (2009)
When the Women's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
league formed in 2008, the Freedom became one of the original seven teams that started play in 2009.
The coaching staff went to considerable lengths to retain as many players with past Freedom experience as possible. The initial WPS player allocation, announced on 16 September 2008, assigned US Women's National Team players Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach and Olympic gold medalist. A four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she has been a regular on the U.S. women's national team since 2003...
, Cat Whitehill
Cat Whitehill
Cat Whitehill is an American soccer player. She plays as a defender for the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer and the United States women's national soccer team, and formerly played on the Washington Freedom W-League team.She was born in Richmond, Virginia, but grew up in Birmingham,...
and Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger
Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.-Youth and High School:...
to the Freedom. Wambach had played for the Freedom in 2002 and 2003, while Krieger played for the Washington Freedom Reserves in 2004 and 2005, and for the W-League team in 2007.
In the 2008 WPS International Draft
2008 WPS International Draft
The 2008 WPS International Draft took place on September 24, 2008. It was the first international draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of international players to the American-based teams...
, conducted on 24 September 2008, the Freedom selected Japanese striker Homare Sawa
Homare Sawa
is a female football player from Japan. She currently plays for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Nadeshiko League Division 1.- Career :Long considered Japan's finest female footballer, she made her debut in Japan's highest domestic league at age 12. On December 6, 1993, at age 15, she made her Japanese...
, French players Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor is a French football player who currently plays for French club Lyon of the Division 1 Féminine. She primarily plays in the midfield position, preferably on the left side. Bompastor can also play in the left back position...
and Louisa Necib
Louisa Necib
Louisa Nécib is a French football player who plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays as a central attacking midfielder and is described as a "gifted playmaker" who "possesses superb technique". Nécib is also known for her "elegant possession, sublime passing...
and Australian forward Lisa De Vanna
Lisa De Vanna
Lisa Marie De Vanna is an Australian football forward currently playing for Newcastle Jets in the W-League in Australia and is a member of the Australian National Team.-Early years & playing style:...
. Following the draft, the Freedom named Erin McLeod
Erin McLeod
Erin McLeod is a Canadian football player. She is a goalkeeper for Dalsjöfors GoIF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan....
and Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland is a Norwegian football striker.She currently plays for Røa. She is also a member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team, having made her debut for the senior team on March 7, 2007, in a 1–2 loss against Germany.She started her career in Randesund IL, a district club in...
as post-draft discovery players.
Following that was the 2008 WPS General Draft
2008 WPS General Draft
The 2008 WPS General Draft took place on October 6, 2008. It was the first general draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of international and domestic players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
on 6 October 2008, and all of the players selected by the Freedom were from the Freedom's 2008 W-League roster: Sarah Huffman
Sarah Huffman
Sarah Huffman is an American soccer player from Flower Mound, Texas. She is a midfielder for the magicJack soccer club.-External links:**...
, Becky Sauerbrunn
Becky Sauerbrunn
Rebecca Elizabeth "Becky" Sauerbrunn is an American soccer defender currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Club career:...
, Lori Lindsey
Lori Lindsey
Lori Ann Lindsey is an American soccer midfielder and current member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team who played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany...
and Emily Janss
Emily Janss
Emily Janss is an American soccer defender who last played for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. She is currently an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland.-External links:* * *...
. Lindsey had been on the Freedom roster since the final WUSA season in 2003, and Janss had been with the team since 2005.
The 2009 WPS Draft
2009 WPS Draft
The 2009 WPS College Draft took place on January 16, 2009. It was the first college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:...
took place on 16 January 2009. The Freedom drafted Allie Long
Allie Long
Alexandra "Allie" Linsley Long is an American soccer forward currently playing for Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer. She played for the Washington Freedom in 2009 and 2010.-External links:* * *...
, Alex Singer
Alex Singer (footballer)
Alex Singer is an American soccer defender who has played for Washington Freedom in the Women's Professional Soccer and for Perth Glory in Australia's W-League....
, Jill Gilbeau
Jill Gilbeau
Jillian May Gilbeau is an American soccer defender currently playing for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer.-External links:* * *...
, Parrissa Eyorokon
Parrissa Eyorokon
Parrissa Amouahn-Etchi Eyorokon is an American soccer midfielder who last played for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. She attended Purdue University.-External links:* *...
, Briana Scurry
Briana Scurry
Briana Colette Scurry is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Scurry was the starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team at the 1995 World Cup , 1996 Olympics , 1999 World Cup , 2003 World Cup , 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Cup...
, Rebecca Moros
Rebecca Moros
Rebecca Ann Moros is an American soccer forward currently playing for Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer.-External links:* * * *...
, Sarah Senty, Kati Jo Spisak, Claire Zimmeck, and Christen Karniski. Additionally, the Freedom received the rights to Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman is an American soccer midfielder/defender who currently plays for Espanyol in Spain.She has played in the WPS for Washington Freedom, Saint Louis Athletica and Philadelphia Independence. She has also served the general manager of the Washington Freedom Futures, the Washington Freedom...
in a trade with Saint Louis Athletica. All of the players except for Long, Eyorokon, and Scurry had previous experience playing for the Freedom's W-League team.
Two players were added to the roster after tryouts and training camp: Kristin DeDycker
Kristin DeDycker
Kristin DeDycker is an American soccer midfielder who last played for the Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer.-External links:* *...
and Madison Keller. Keller had experience with the Freedom going back to 2004, while DeDycker (née Warren) had played for the Atlanta Beat in the WUSA.
McLeod was intended to be the starting goalkeeper, but visa issues kept her unavailable through the first five matches of the regular season, and the Freedom had mixed success with Briana Scurry and Kati Jo Spisak in goal. Following her arrival, though, the Freedom won three out of the next six matches while only losing once.
Abby Wambach, meanwhile, was recovering from a broken leg and didn't feel fully recovered until late in the season, when she returned from national team duty having scored her 100th international goal. She then went on a tear, scoring five goals and two assists in the team's final four games. The Freedom won three of those four matches and thereby clinched third place in the standings and a home playoff match. But despite looking strong going into the playoff match, and coming off a solid 3–1 victory over their opponents, Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
, they put on a listless performance and were eliminated from the playoffs, 2–1.
Women's Professional Soccer: season two (2010)
Unlike most of the other WPS teams, the Freedom made only limited changes in the offseason. The marquee signing was of young forward Lene Mykjåland from the Norwegian national team, followed by picking up Nikki Marshall, Beverly Goebel, Kristi Eveland, and Caitlin Miskel in the 2010 college draft2010 WPS Draft
The 2010 WPS College Draft took place on January 15, 2010. It was the second college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Format:...
. The team then signed Christie Welsh, who had helped lead the 2007 Freedom to the W-League championship before being drafted by the WPS Los Angeles Sol and then traded to the St. Louis Athletica. Brittany Bock was acquired in the dispersal draft
2010 WPS Dispersal Draft
When the Los Angeles Sol folded on January 28, 2010 after a potential sale of the team fell through at the last minute, WPS, which had been running the team after AEG backed out, announced that the nineteen players under contract to the Sol would be dispersed to the remaining WPS teams in a...
to place former Los Angeles Sol players. Marisa Abegg and Meagan McCray were brought in after going unsigned by their former WPS team, FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. After the St. Louis Athletica
St. Louis Athletica
Saint Louis Athletica was an American professional soccer club that was based in the St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. Athletica started the 2009 season playing its home games at Ralph Korte Stadium, on the campus of SIUE in Edwardsville,...
folded, the Freedom signed their 2010 second-round draft pick Ashlyn Harris, who went on to become the starting goalkeeper after Erin McLeod tore her ACL in a match on July 24. On August 5, the Freedom traded their rights to Nigerian defender Faith Ikidi
Faith Ikidi
Faith Ikidi , in Nigeria soccer Defender currently playing for Pitea IF of the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She plays in the Nigeria women's national football team.-References:...
to the Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
for English national team defender Anita Asante.
Players did not return for several reasons. Lori Lindsey
Lori Lindsey
Lori Ann Lindsey is an American soccer midfielder and current member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team who played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany...
and Sarah Senty were picked up in the expansion draft by the Philadelphia Independence, one of the two new WPS teams for 2010. Lindsey had originally joined the team in 2003 during its last year in the WUSA, while Senty joined the W-League team in 2007. Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger
Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.-Youth and High School:...
signed a two-year contract with FFC Frankfurt, keeping her there into 2012. Other players with extended Freedom experience not re-signed included Emily Janss
Emily Janss
Emily Janss is an American soccer defender who last played for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. She is currently an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland.-External links:* * *...
(since 2005), Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman is an American soccer midfielder/defender who currently plays for Espanyol in Spain.She has played in the WPS for Washington Freedom, Saint Louis Athletica and Philadelphia Independence. She has also served the general manager of the Washington Freedom Futures, the Washington Freedom...
(2005), Kati Jo Spisak (2007), and Christen Karniski (2008). Additionally, Alex Singer
Alex Singer (footballer)
Alex Singer is an American soccer defender who has played for Washington Freedom in the Women's Professional Soccer and for Perth Glory in Australia's W-League....
, who joined the W-League team in 2007, was cut on August 5 to make room for Anita Asante.
The Freedom started their season solidly in April and May, with a 4–2–1 record good enough for second place. However, in July and August they went on a ten-game winless streak ending with five losses in a row that put them out of playoff position and put head coach Gabarra's job in jeopardy. Longtime assistant coach Clyde Watson resigned and former Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
head coach Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes is an English association football coach. She served as the head coach and director of soccer operations for Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer in the United States from 2008 until 24 May 2010....
was hired as a consultant. The team rebounded to finish the regular season 4–1–2, good enough for the fourth and final playoff position. That led to a road match against the Philadelphia Independence, which the Freedom lost on a goal from Amy Rodriguez
Amy Rodriguez
Amy Joy Rodriguez is an American soccer forward currently playing for Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
in the waning seconds of overtime, wasting a superb performance from rookie backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
Following the season, Gabarra announced his resignation, citing "irreconcilable differences" between himself and team management.
Women's Professional Soccer: purchase & relocation (2011)
Financial troubles that had stirred in the background during the middle of the previous season came to the front during the offseason, with the longtime team owners finally deciding to back out after ten years of supporting the club. With multiple teams having trouble making offseason payments, the league was under threat of folding until Dan BorislowDan Borislow
Daniel M. Borislow is an American entrepreneur, sports team owner, inventor, and thoroughbred horse breeder. Originating in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, Borislow attended Widener University and worked in cable construction and landscaping before going into the telephone business. He...
, owner of the phone service magicJack
MagicJack
MagicJack is a device that plugs into a USB port on the user's computer and that has a standard RJ-11 phone jack into which any standard phone can be plugged. This allows the user to make phone calls to almost any phone in the U.S...
, came in to buy the Freedom. Sweeping changes were made, including changing the team name and moving the team to Boca Raton, Florida.
Most recent squad
- As of 08 August 2010. This was the final roster to play under the Washington Freedom name.
Notable former players
This list includes players who participated in any games played by the top-level Washington Freedom team, whether competitive (WUSA, W-League, WPS) or friendly (WUSA Festivals in 2004, exhibition matches in 2004 and 2005, Hall of Fame game in 2007, etc.).Bai Jie (2001–2002) Kylie Bivens
Kylie Bivens
Kylie Elizabeth Bivens is an American association football player and a member of the United States women's national soccer team. She represented the United States at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup finals....
(2005) Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor is a French football player who currently plays for French club Lyon of the Division 1 Féminine. She primarily plays in the midfield position, preferably on the left side. Bompastor can also play in the left back position...
(2009–2010) Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
(2005) Amanda Cromwell
Amanda Cromwell
Amanda Caryl Cromwell is the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of Central Florida. Cromwell has led the Knights since 1999, with only one losing season, four tournament and eight regular season championships...
(2001) Joy Fawcett (2004) Julie Foudy (2004) Michelle French (2001) Kelly Golebiowski
Kelly Golebiowski
Kelly Golebiowski is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the Australian W-League...
(2003–2008) Jennifer Grubb
Jennifer Grubb
Jennifer Grubb is an American soccer player. Grubb is currently a player-coach for Sky Blue FC in Women's Professional Soccer.Grubb was the only WUSA player to participate in every minute of every game for her team....
(2001–2006) Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
(2001–2003, 2007) Angela Hucles
Angela Hucles
Angela Khalia Hucles is a former American soccer midfielder and member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Early life:...
(2004) Emily Janss
Emily Janss
Emily Janss is an American soccer defender who last played for Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. She is currently an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland.-External links:* * *...
(2005–2009) Steffi Jones
Steffi Jones
Stephanie Ann "Steffi" Jones is a retired German football defender. She now works as a football administrator, and was in charge of organizing the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.- Biography :...
(2002–2003) Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger
Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.-Youth and High School:...
(2004, 2006–2007, 2009) Lori Lindsey
Lori Lindsey
Lori Ann Lindsey is an American soccer midfielder and current member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team who played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany...
(2003–2009) Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman is an American soccer midfielder/defender who currently plays for Espanyol in Spain.She has played in the WPS for Washington Freedom, Saint Louis Athletica and Philadelphia Independence. She has also served the general manager of the Washington Freedom Futures, the Washington Freedom...
(2005–2006, 2009) Shannon MacMillan
Shannon MacMillan
-References:...
(2004)
Anne Mäkinen
Anne Mäkinen
Anne Maarit Mäkinen is a former Finnish football player, who last played for Swedish club AIK in Stockholm. She was a central midfielder....
(2001–2002) Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland is a Norwegian football striker.She currently plays for Røa. She is also a member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team, having made her debut for the senior team on March 7, 2007, in a 1–2 loss against Germany.She started her career in Randesund IL, a district club in...
(2010) Ella Masar
Ella Masar
Ella Masar is an American soccer forward currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain of France's Division 1 Féminine and is a current member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Youth and university:...
(2008) Jennifer Meier
Jennifer Meier
Jennifer Meier is a German football striker. She currently plays for Djurgårdens IF Dam, and has been capped 7 times for the German national team.Meier has previously played in Sweden for QBIK Karlstad.-References:...
(2003) Sandra Minnert
Sandra Minnert
Sandra Minnert is a former German football defender. She played for SC 07 Bad Neuenahr and the German national team.-Coaching career:...
(2003) Heather Mitts
Heather Mitts
Heather Blaine Mitts Feeley is an American professional soccer player who is a defender in the Women's Professional Soccer league. Mitts played college soccer for the University of Florida, and thereafter, she has played professionally for the Philadelphia Charge, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia...
(2004) Siri Mullinix
Siri Mullinix
Siri Lynn Mullinix is an American soccer goalkeeper. As keeper for the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic soccer team, she recorded two shutouts helping the team win the silver medal...
(2001–2003) Pretinha
Delma Gonçalves
Delma Gonçalves known as Pretinha is a Brazilian women's soccer player. She currently plays as a striker for South Korea's Daekyo Kangaroos. She has been a longtime member of the Brazilian National Team for which she debuted in 1991...
(2001) Pu Wei
Pu Wei
Pu Wei is a female Chinese football player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.In 2000 she finished fifth with the Chinese team in the women's tournament. She played all three matches....
(2002) Christie Rampone
Christie Rampone
Christie Patricia Rampone is an American soccer defender currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer. She is a member and current Captain of the United States women's national soccer team.-High school:...
(2004) Tiffany Roberts
Tiffany Roberts
Tiffany M. Roberts is an American Soccer player, world and olympic champion. She attended the all-girls' Carondelet High School.She won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.-External links:*...
(2005–2006) Roseli (2001) Briana Scurry
Briana Scurry
Briana Colette Scurry is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Scurry was the starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team at the 1995 World Cup , 1996 Olympics , 1999 World Cup , 2003 World Cup , 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Cup...
(2009–2010) Tiffany Weimer
Tiffany Weimer
Tiffany Marie Weimer is an American soccer forward who currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.-Youth and high school careers:...
(2006) Sun Wen (2005) Cat Whitehill
Cat Whitehill
Cat Whitehill is an American soccer player. She plays as a defender for the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer and the United States women's national soccer team, and formerly played on the Washington Freedom W-League team.She was born in Richmond, Virginia, but grew up in Birmingham,...
(2009–2010) Nicci Wright (2003–2006, 2009)
Hall of Freedom
In 2009, the Washington Freedom introduced the "Hall of Freedom", an honor bestowed upon former players and personnel "in recognition of exceptional achievements, dedication and service to the club." Current members of the Hall of Freedom are:- Jennifer Grubb, DF, 2001–2006, inducted July 24, 2010
- Mia Hamm, FW, 2001–2003, inducted May 3, 2009
- Steffi Jones, MF, 2002–2003, inducted July 5, 2009
- Siri Mullinix, GK, 2001–2003, inducted May 3, 2009
- David Vanole, goalkeeper coach, 2001–2003, inducted July 5, 2009
Current coaching staff
- As of 20 April 2009.
Position Name Nationality Head coach Jim Gabarra Jim GabarraJim Gabarra is a retired American soccer forward who coached the Washington Freedom women's soccer team for ten years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance.-Early...Assistant coach Clyde Watson Clyde WatsonClyde Watson is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the American Soccer League. He is currently assistant coach at the Washington Freedom....Goalkeeper coach Nicci Wright
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | WUSA | 7th | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 1 | WUSA | 3rd | Founders Cup Final (2nd Place) |
| 2003 | 1 | WUSA | 4th | Champions |
| 2006 | 1 | USL W-League | exhibition season | |
| 2007 | 1 | USL W-League | 1st, Northeast | Champions |
| 2008 | 1 | USL W-League | 1st, Northeast | National Semifinals (3rd Place) |
| 2009 | 1 | WPS | 3rd | First round (4th Place) |
| 2010 | 1 | WPS | 4th | First round (4th Place) |
Annual Performance record
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | WUSA | 6 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 26 | 35 | 3–6–1 | 3–6–2 |
| 2002 | WUSA | 11 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 40 | 29 | 6–2–3 | 5–3–2 |
| 2003 | WUSA | 9 | 8 | 4 | 31 | 40 | 31 | 6–2–2 | 3–6–2 |
| 2007 | W-League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 48 | 10 | 6–1–0 | 6–0–1 |
| 2008 | W-League | 11 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 32 | 7 | 5–1–1 | 6–0–1 |
| 2009 | WPS | 8 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 5–2–3 | 3–5–2 |
| 2010 | WPS | 8 | 9 | 7 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 7–2–3 | 1–7–4 |
Honors
- USL W-League Eastern Conference Champions 2008
- USL W-League Northeast Division Champions 2008
- USL W-League Champions 2007
- USL W-League Eastern Conference Champions 2007
- USL W-League Northeast Division Champions 2007
- WUSA Founders Cup Champions 2003
Competition history
The Washington Freedom was one of the eight professional soccer teams that played in the Women's United Soccer AssociationWomen's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
from 2001 to 2003. The team won the WUSA Founders Cup III in their final year, shortly before the league announced on September 15, 2003, that it was suspending operations. Unique among the WUSA teams, though, the Freedom maintained a continued existence, playing exhibition seasons in 2004 and 2005, then joining the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
in 2006 and winning the W-League Championship in 2007. The Freedom are now a part of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
that launched in April 2009.
Despite the addition of a professional team, the Freedom have maintained an elite amateur team, which currently plays in the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
, finishing second in the league in 2009.
Stadia
- Robert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
, Washington, D.C. 2001–2004, 2008–present - Maryland SoccerPlexMaryland SoccerPlexMaryland Soccerplex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, United States . There are nineteen natural grass fields, three artificial fields, and eight indoor courts...
, Germantown, Maryland 2004–present
While in the WUSA, the Washington Freedom played their home games in RFK Stadium in Washington DC. Since the WUSA ended, the Washington Freedom has played most of their home matches at the Soccerplex in Maryland. They have, however, continued to play some games at RFK as doubleheaders with DC United. These include games as the Freedom Reserves in 2004, while in the W-League, and since joining the WPS. They played three doubleheaders in 2009 and one doubleheader in 2010.