Beat gains rights to teenage star

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 23, 2009

[WPS] Expansion teams Atlanta and Philadelphia made their selections in Women's Professional Soccer's expansion draft, selecting five players apiece whose WPS rights they acquired.

Philadelphia took Swedish national team midfielder Caroline Seger with the first pick.

Atlanta's first choice was Swiss striker Ramona Bachmann, considered the best teenager in the world. With the Beat's third pick, it took Bachmann's teammate at Swedish club Umea, the 2007 Hermann Trophy winner Mami Yamaguchi.

The teams must first negotiate with the players' clubs before they can sign the players.

Philadelphia:
Player (Pos.) Country, Club
1.) Caroline Seger (M) Sweden, Linkopings FK
3.) Charlotte Rohlin (D) Sweden, Linkopings FK
5.) Holmfridur Magnusdottir (M) Iceland, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden)
7.) Fara Williams (M) England, Everton Ladies
9.) Lianne Sanderson (F) England, Chelsea Ladies

Atlanta:
Player (Pos.) Country, Club
2.) Ramona Bachmann (F) Switzerland, Umea (Sweden)
4.) Johanna Rasmussen (F) Denmark, Umea (Sweden)
6.) Mami Yamaguchi (M) Japan, Umea (Sweden)
8.) Maurine (M) Brazil, Santos
10.) Therese Sjogran (M) Sweden, Malmo FF