Women's Professional Soccer Players

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 26, 2009

[BY THE NUMBERS] The University of North Carolina and Brazil have supplied the most talent to Women's Professionel Soccer teams. Four holdovers from the 1999 U.S. World Cup championship team are among the former WUSA players on opening day rosters.

5 Members of the 1999 U.S. World Cup championship team on opening day rosters: Kristine Lilly (Boston), Briana Scurry (Washington), Brandi Chastain (FC Gold Pride) and Tiffeny Milbrett (FC Gold Pride), and Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC).

9 Countries represented on WPS opening day rosters. Along with the Americans, players are coming from Brazil (9), Canada (6), Australia (5), England (5), Sweden (4), Japan (3), France (2) and China (1).

12 The University of North Carolina led all schools with 12 former players landing a place on WPS rosters or developmental slots. Notre Dame followed with nine, and Portland, Santa Clara and Virginia were third with seven.

15 Members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gold-medalist team playing in the inaugural WPS season. Lauren Cheney and Tobin Heath are still in college, and Kate Markgraf is pregnant and sitting out the 2009 season.

22 WPS players who played in the WUSA during its 2003 season, its last before its demise.