Marta, World’s Best Female Player, Picked by L.A. WPS Franchise

Marta, generally universally acknowledged as the world’s best female player, was picked today in the international draft by the as yet unnamed L.A. Women’s Professional Soccer franchise.

All told, 28 foreign players were picked by the seven WPS teams over four rounds.

It doesn’t mean the players will automatically join the league. It simply gives the team that picked a player the right to negotiate with them – if the club currently holding their contract agrees.

“The international draft was created to allow an equitable opportunity for the individual WPS clubs to develop their teams, by assigning the WPS-playing rights to the seven franchises that are beginning play in April 2009,” said Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. “Now they can go out to the market – and after receiving permission from the player’s clubs – put together the most competitive team they possibly can based on their selections.”

Still, Marta is apparently interested in the WPS, even though she currently plays for a Swedish team. But she won’t come cheap: L.A. picked third, so it’s likely the first two teams to pick were scared off by her price tag.

L.A. also picked Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama, who has been compared to a female David Beckham by some British newspapers and Chinese striker Han Duan.

The complete international draft.

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