You’ve seen the list. I’ve heard the conference call. So what can we say at this point?
Q: Is Portland the overwhelming favorite?
A: We still have a lot of roster moves to go, but after the Thorns landed Alex Morgan AND Christine Sinclair, the league certainly doesn’t owe them any favors.
Seattle looks great, too. Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe? And Teresa Noyola? And Kaylyn Kyle?
We heard the Northwest teams might be stacked, and the whispers were right.
Was Washington ripped off?
Don’t forget how great a defender Ali Krieger has been when healthy. Diana Matheson and Lori Lindsey are a good start in midfield. Ashlyn Harris was a terrific keeper in WPS. But they do indeed need a scorer.
Was Sky Blue ripped off?
Jill Loyden may be the second-best keeper in the allocation, so that’s a good start. One question is whether Christie Rampone can keep turning back time — it’s easier for an older player to put together one good three-week spurt than it is to play a whole season. (That’s one reason I’m a little concerned about the Chicago Red Stars, which unofficially lead the league in WUSA veterans with Shannon Boxx and Maribel Dominguez.) It’ll be interesting to see whether Kelley O’Hara plays left back or midfield. Sophie Schmidt’s solid.
Will Western NY be compensated for getting only two U.S. allocations?
They could easily end up over-compensated. In the conference call, we heard two possibilities: They could end up getting an early draft pick as compensation, or U.S. Soccer may eventually find a 24th player to fill its league-wide allocations. Suppose they get a top draft pick AND a U.S. pool player who decides to come home from Europe?
Which team got the least from a marketing standpoint?
Kansas City. We hard-core fans have a lot of respect for Lauren Cheney, Becky Sauerbrunn and Nicole Barnhart, and Canadian Lauren Sesselmann has her fans. But they’re not big names, and aside from Sauerbrunn’s St. Louis ties, I don’t know of an obvious tie between the players and the community. (Please chime in if I’ve overlooked something.) Washington’s players may also be low-profile, but Ali Krieger grew up in Northern Virginia, and Lori Lindsey is a Washington Freedom alumna.
Are we all making too big a deal out of allocations and forgetting how much will change with free agency and the draft?
Hmm … let’s ponder the history of MLS and the two women’s leagues that … YES! Yes, we are.
Look — a couple of the allocated players are currently in the player pool but have barely been in camps, much less games. Are they really a full tier above Leslie Osborne, Lori Chalupny, Tasha Kai or other U.S. veterans who simply weren’t in Pia Sundhage’s plans?
Also, consider this: New leagues always yield breakout stars. Looking back at the WUSA, would you rather have had Shannon Boxx on your team or some of the original national teamers?
So it’s a fun time to talk about the rosters. Way too early to freak out over them.
Duresport.com 
I just don’t know what the league was thinking when putting both Sinclair and Morgan on one team. Morgan would be much more needed in a place like Chicago, DC, or (especially) Kansas City. Portland is going to sell lots of tickets regardless.
Sinclair and Morgan played on the same Western New York Flash team last year – with Marta. I don’t remember anyone complaining then.
I’m happy for all the players, teams & fans. Off to a good (if sputtering) start.
it’s a relatively good allocation from a marketing standpoint–these players are going to bring in those who only watch WC and Olympics and they ended up mostly in familiar territory.
At the moment it is more about sustaining a league.
I think it was bad form for both Morgan and Sinclair to be on the same team with the lack of true forwards in the allocations. Morgan, Sinclair, and Marta really is overkill but that was not the results of an allocation process. Of course last year Morgan was trying to get some minutes behind Sinc and Marta, and was just starting to be her superstar self. I think it will work out though. Clearly some forwards who want a chance to shine and make a name for themselves or even a national team are going to get a big opportunity.
Re: LT There are 2 more teams as compared to 2011 and Morgan has developed a whole lot since then. My point was about sharing the wealth because there is not a lot of forward depth and more of the top free agent forwards are in Europe (as compared to 2011).
Can build around Cheney in MD. Becky solid in back. Key for selling tickets in KC will be to get local players,people identify with. Fowlkes, K. Kelley and Gina Schiraldi a must.
Washington just had to have homegirls Krieger and Lindsey, and Harris is a steal. Wouldn’t be surprised for her to be NWSL’s 2013 Goalkeeper of the Year. So I’m not losing sleep over the allocation. However, we do need forwards. I’m hoping the organization can re-sign Lianne Sanderson and lure Lisa de Vanna back from Australia – that would be that problem solved in a hurry.
I like the way you’re thinking Starcityfan! Sanderson (and Lohman) must surely be on the horizon.
You’ve got to think Sanderson and Lohman are a package deal – and both would definitely be assets for any NWSL team.
Portland & Seattle will be the NWSL’s answer to the David Beckham road show. Guaranteed attendance jump when they come to town.
interesting selections for Portland Thorns with Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan
“Q: Is Portland the overwhelming favorite?”
Let us wait until the player selection process is finished and the teams have full rosters, then pick a favorite.
Still, I feel sorry for Cindy Parlow Cone. If Portland wins it all, it will be because they have two of the best four or five players in the world in WoSo. If they lose, it will be the coach’s fault…