Warning: This is a rather lengthy read and shoved all together since eight different posts in a day would be a bit much.

Therefore, here’s the TL;DR-averse predictions from yours truly:

1. WNY Flash

2. FC Kansas City

3. Portland Thorns FC

4. Chicago Red Stars

–

5. Sky Blue FC

6. Boston Breakers

7. Seattle Reign FC

8. Washington Spirit

Playoffs – WNY over Chicago, FCKC over Portland

Final – WNY over FCKC

MVP – Christine Sinclair, Portland

Rookie of the Year – AD Franch, WNY Flash

Goalkeeper of the Year – AD Franch, WNY Flash

Defender of the Year – Becky Sauerbrunn, FC Kansas City

Projected lineups are for the beginning of the season and YMMV on formation/personnel. Questionable starters in parentheses.



Boston Breakers

The troubles generally started at the end of February for the Breakers, who began to see what looked like one of the most sure-footed backlines in the league crumble. First-round selection Casey Short, the team’s projected left-back would suffer a serious knee injury in U.S. U23 action, ruling her out for the season and leaving a rather copious hole for a club that, while looking fine for a starting lineup in defense, wasn’t exactly blessed with the greatest depth in the backline. A double whammy would hit shortly after, with USWNT’er Heather Mitts calling time on her career after what had effectively been the end of her international career in the face of the new management.

Lisa Cole’s side have struggled for options to fill the pesky left-back role vacated by Short’s injury, and with no natural left-back options on the roster, the Breakers were forced into hastily converting Bianca D’Agostino into a makeshift full-back. D’Agostino and her backline mates likely set alarm bells ringing in an underwhelming showing against Sky Blue FC in a preseason friendly, with the opposition’s Kelley O’Hara running riot. Improbably, Boston’s situation got much worse in the run up to the season opener, as D’Agostino suffered a partial tear of her ACL, ruling her out for a chunk of the season at the very least. Julie King is the only other recognized defender besides the three veteran starters and can play right-back or center-back but may be shifted again to left-back out of necessity. What happens when Rhian Wilkinson heads off on international duty is the big mystery, and the Breakers may be perusing the waiver wire for additional defensive cover or looking into converting more players into defenders to help abate the backline crisis.

The center-back pairing of Kia McNeill and Cat Whitehill is one of the league’s most experienced, but neither comes without their own worries. McNeill physicality is both an asset and liability at times, as her robust challenges have at times made her a target of strict refereeing, and this club can seldom afford missing any defender through suspension. McNeill’s strength should be pivotal against big center forwards though in a league full of them. Whitehill’s shown she has enough in the gas tank to be a starter at this level the past two years in Atlanta and Boston, but as the odometer creeps upward, the end might not be glorious. Cole will hope that terminus can be averted again this season. If it can’t, the Breakers’ threadbare defense could be in all sorts of trouble.

Little of the above is likely comforting when you recognize that the club could also be facing some real headaches in between the pipes. The odds of Mexican teenager Cecilia Santiago being in goal on opening day weren’t exactly high considering the teenager is, well, still a teenager. Boston would have loved to bring in a more experienced option to either let Santiago mature on the bench or at least mentor and push the Mexican international in training. Finding another goalkeeper ended up being a real headache for the Boston outfit though, as the Breakers went through Vikki Alonzo, Adelaide Gay, and Colleen Boyd, finding none to their liking before bringing back a familiar face. Ashley Phillips certainly doesn’t lack for years or experience with the Breakers, but one senses she is hardly the club’s first choice for a top-flight netminder given her late arrival to the club. Also arriving late was Santiago, who only arrived at the club on Sunday, missing virtually the entire preseason. Even if the Mexican youngster is a quick learner, she figures to be shackled to the bench early in the season while she acclimates to the league, though Phillips’ performances in between the pipes could dictate just how fast she’s thrown into deep water.

Given those worries in defense and in goal, Boston faithful might be correct in assuming a path to the playoffs will run through the offense. In this, the Breakers might be in good stead with the degree of firepower they enter 2013 with. Sydney Leroux’s been waiting for a chance to shine since the collapse of WPS shattered chances to make an early impression after being drafted #1 in 2012. The UCLA alum will likely be chomping at the bit to prove she’s not just a super sub and will likely be expected to lead the line for this offense, a role she hasn’t embraced since her college days with the Bruins. UCLA fans will note such a role had varying degrees of success in Westwood, but Boston will be hoping Leroux has matured as a player since then and is capable of heading up the attack.

Should Leroux falter, the Breakers still have some intriguing options to help score en masse. Fan favorite Kyah Simon was quite the successful import last season from Australia, making it rain goals in WPSL Elite action for the Breakers and will be hoping to push her game to another level this year against stiffer resistance. Simon’s role in the offense could be one of Cole’s trickiest challenges to solve. While Leroux figures to spearhead the attack, and Heather O’Reilly looks like a lock on the right wing, Simon may be thrown into a left-wing role by default. It’d be foolish to think that the Australian couldn’t see time up top for the Breakers though.

There’s no shortage of firepower off the bench either, as Adriana Leon could easily slot in on the left as a winger, though the mercurial Canadian’s struggle with consistency might see her as a better wild card off the bench to begin with as a rookie. Katie Schoepfer’s a pure center forward who isn’t going to go ninety minutes and has struggled against tough opposition but is still an experienced option off the bench who can punish lax defending if need be.

Unlocking defenses could be a concern, as the midfield is filled more with destroyers, possessors, and pure attackers than creative types. Heather O’Reilly’s jaunts down the right wing and crosses should be a reliable source of created chances, but there are questions beyond her in midfield. Lianne Sanderson’s more nine-and-a-half than pure number ten and could be used in a center forward role or off the bench for instant offense as well. Another option could be using Leon out left, while sliding Simon into the hole playing behind Leroux in the 4-2-3-1. Late signee Libby Guess has the technical skill and creative nous to operate in a playmaker role but hasn’t tasted this level in a long time and looks best served as a bench option if the club is chasing the game late.

The second band of the midfield also has plenty of options, depending on Cole’s mood and mindset. Veteran Joanna Lohman has often blown hot and cold at this level, and the Breakers will be hopeful for consistency and production from one of the team’s veteran players. If the club is springing for an attack minded setup, the option looks to be Lisa-Marie Woods, who has played a defensive midfield role in the past for club and country but whose direct thrusts towards goal are more indicative of her strengths. Rookies Mariah Nogueira and Jo Dragotta could both force their way into major minutes throughout the year as well. Nogueira’s likely going to be a popular option to come in late with a Breakers lead and help add steel to the midfield, while Dragotta’s ability to help establish a passing rhythm in midfield could itself be effective as Boston tries to do its best to flood the midfield and ensure the back four is tested as little as possible.

Outlook

While many eyes may be focused on the offensive war chests of Portland and Western New York, it’s not like the Breakers made out too badly for themselves in the firepower department. Leroux and Simon are both young but have shown tantalizing glimpses of ability at both club and international level and could both rise to the occasion of being this club’s top gun this year. For ancillary options, you could certainly do far worse than O’Reilly, Sanderson, Leon, and Woods in the lineup. On paper, the club certainly looks fit to fire.

They’ll have to be if the defensive breaks don’t go their way. They certainly haven’t so far. The loss of Short and Mitts have already torn a threadbare backline to its breaking point, and with just a handful of natural defenders, including little recourse on the bench, there’s precious little room for error. The situation in goal isn’t exactly comforting either. Santiago’s got plenty of potential but is still extremely raw, while Phillips’ hasty addition raised eyebrows considering she hasn’t featured consistently at this level since the early days of WPS.

It all adds up to a recipe that could make the Breakers this year’s great entertainers. Explosive in the opposing final third and forgiving in your own final third may make Boston a lot of friends with the neutrals, but it might not equal a playoff spot in what could be a cramped mid-table.

Prediction – 6th

Chicago Red Stars

As far as statements of intent go, it’s hard to top Chicago’s stunning mid-March announcement that they had agreed to sign German internationals Inka Grings and Sonja Fuss in May. It was perhaps the coup de grace to a roller coaster of an offseason that saw the Red Stars begin behind the eight-ball with an allocation heavy on defensive midfielders, short on firepower, and already dealing with a season ending injury to defender Amy LePeilbet. Confidence had hardly been bolstered by an eye-raising draft that defied conventional wisdom in many respects, including taking UCLA’s Zakiya Bywaters first overall.

Slowly but surely though, the Red Stars have assembled a more than respectable squad to take into battle. The club appears to have picked wisely in free agency, filling holes with a combination of shrewd signings and proven commodities while also investing in familiar players in the supplemental draft as many of their rivals fumbled blindly through the process. Adding the experience and international class of Grings and Fuss might be the masterstroke of managerial genius that could make the Red Stars a real contender if things break in their favor.

That’s not to say the double signing of the Germans isn’t without some serious risk. The duo have been plying their trade in the Swiss league, and while they’ve been putting up some gaudy numbers for a dominant Zurich side, that their signing for the European club was regarded by many as little more than a pair of golden parachutes for two aging veterans should speak volumes about the perceived lack of quality of opposition the duo has run up against in recent months.

The big name acquisition is Grings of course, scorer of countless goals for both club and country during a glittering career that will surely see her retire as one of the world’s most dangerous assassins in front of goal. Potentially her last assignment could be one of the toughest, leading the Chicago line towards the playoffs and a potential title challenge. They say class is permanent, but Father Time shares no sentiment to even the greatest of players, with one wondering how Grings’ legs will hold up in withering Summer heat amongst a congested fixture list that will likely push her conditioning to the breaking point. A franchise who’ve suffered through their fair share of foreign flops back in WPS days will be hoping Grings can buck the trend, all the more so because of the notable lack of a true A-list striker to fall back on.

The supporting cast carries promise up front however. Up front, Ella Masar has grown into a crowd favorite during her multiple tenures with the Red Stars but may find herself thrown out left on the wing as Rory Dames tries to shoehorn his best attackers into a cohesive formation. The Illinois alum probably fits better as a center-forward, but tactical necessity may call for Masar to fill a hole on the wing. The other wing should be a zone of less contention, with Bywaters likely to get every chance to live up to her billing as a #1 overall pick. The UCLA grad proved to be plenty capable of leading the line this past year in college in a revelatory season, but her goalscoring before this season was hardly much to write home about. Stretching defenses and whipping in crosses from out wide will likely be in the cards for the prized pick this season, though raves about her versatility could mean some eventual tinkering with her role.

Any crosses floated into the area will likely have some tantalizing targets, as the club gets to choose from the likes of Jessica McDonald, Lauren Fowlkes, and eventually, Grings. McDonald has had a career comeback from the ages since being decimated by the injury bug during her first pro stint in Chicago. A force in Australia this past Winter, McDonald still has enormous upside and has a scary combination of pace and power that could make her one of the league’s most dangerous center forwards and a potential contender for a USWNT spot in the future. Fowlkes has been on fire in the preseason, scoring goals for fun in an attacking role, but you have to believe the Notre Dame grad is going to be more valuable at center-back early on in all likelihood. It’s hard to believe that Fowlkes won’t see some time up front this season though, whether the club is chasing the game or just needs a change of pace up top.

Defenders Fowlkes and Taryn Hemmings are probably the best Plan B’s for the frontline. Maribel Dominguez missed almost all of preseason camp and is aging with little to show in the way of top level experience in recent years. Rookie Hanna Gilmore is one of the league’s better stories of the preseason after making it as an undrafted rookie, but the Baylor grad could struggle to hang around as the club gets some of its inactive players back. Those inactive players include rookie Jen Hoy, deadly in front of goal as a college senior at Princeton, who is finishing school for the opening weeks of the season.

If the Red Stars have a “most important” player going into 2013, it’s probably Lori Chalupny, who will likely see the creative onus fall upon her shoulders in what looks like an otherwise functional midfield. Still very much one of the world’s best, Chalupny will look to pull the strings for Chicago, whether it’s setting up a potentially potent frontline or dribbling towards goal herself. After some miserable seasons with Atlanta in WPS, Chalupny will surely be looking to prove a point at club level given her forced international retirement.

There’s little in the way of proven creativity in reserve though. Alyssa Mautz is a tremendously talented player and a complete steal for the club given where she was taken in the supplemental draft but more of a direct threat towards goal, while Mexican international Dinora Garza has plenty of potential but is still a raw player. If Chalupny were to be indisposed for any time this season, the Red Stars could in effect become a broken team, with trouble linking attack and defense.

The wild card of course is Lindsay Tarpley. Calls that Tarpley would be able to make the opening bell for the new season seemed optimistic to say the least, and the UNC alum and USWNT veteran is not on the club’s active roster to begin the season. That the club codified her return in “months” rather than “weeks” is grim fodder for pessimism. Tarpley’s versatility would allow her to fill in where needed in the attack, but with match fitness likely to suffer after such a long layoff, she might be restricted to cameos off the bench should she make it back.

There’s plenty of steel to balance out Chalupny’s style in the middle of the park. Leslie Osborne has been consistently one of this level’s top defensive midfielders for some time now and should again be a rock in the middle for the Red Stars this season. She should have a great partner in midfield in Shannon Boxx, who continues to plug along, rolling back the years with the USWNT. Whether Boxx can last ninety minutes all season under such a grinding schedule is up for debate, but the duo of her and Osborne should give the club a great fulcrum to sit in front of the back four. Old hand Julianne Sitch looks likeliest of the midfield options on the bench to call upon when needing to close a game out, with Fowlkes also an option to fill in at defensive midfielder.

The back four could be the zone of the park packing the most questions going into 2013. Left-back, as is the case with many clubs this year, could be the area of most contention. Lydia Vandenbergh might be the early favorite to win the job after winning a roster spot in camp. Vandenbergh’s stock soared as she played well with the erstwhile magicJack in 2011, and the Red Stars could be in good shape if she can do more of the same this year. If she can’t, the club has a multitude of options to fall back on. Michelle Wenino has had a cup of coffee at this level in addition to experience in Germany and played with the club last year in WPSL Elite but has questionable pace at this level. Rachel Quon played a season at left-back at Stanford but seems like a more natural fit on the right. Chalupny, of course, could play at left-back, though given her importance elsewhere and aversion to playing there, it’d be a surprise to see her on the backline except in an emergency.

If she isn’t used in the middle, Taryn Hemmings looks a good bet for a spot at right-back. At one time the last pick in the WPS Draft, Hemmings has made a nice career for herself in pro WoSo, gradually making the shift to defense during her time with Boston and looking good doing it. Capable out wide or in the middle in defense, Hemmings’ power and pace, along with a versatility allowing her to also feature in attack, should make her a valuable commodity this year. Quon doesn’t pack anywhere near Hemmings’ size but has just as much attacking intent as evidenced by a successful college career at Stanford. With Hemmings likely to move inside when Carmelina Moscato is away on international duty, Quon could yet see major minutes this year. Sitch is also available as an option at full-back if not deployed in midfield.

Fuss is the intriguing addition to the backline corps. As is the case with Grings, it’s anybody’s guess as to how she holds up in the oppressive heat of the Summer and at this pace after a year in the Swiss league. Fuss has the versatility to play multiple positions on the backline, but would seemingly be a best option at left-back. Whether she has the pace to last out wide against fleet-footed wingers is a big question.

Fowlkes’ blistering offensive form in the preseason has given Dames a tricky dilemma. The club could certainly use her size and talent at center-back, but scoring goals for fun as a forward in preseason could tempt the club to deploy her up top. I suspect Dames and co. are comfortable enough with their other forward options that they’ll start with the Notre Dame alum in the middle of defense though that could change rapidly based on the attack’s early form. Her center-back partner is likely to be Moscato, who has drawn mixed reviews for the Canadian WNT since the Olympics. It’s not like the club is barren in depth in the middle of defense, but a lack of form from the Canadian could result in some headache induced shifting around the back four for Dames.

Hemmings is likely Option A if the club needs a fill-in at center-back in lieu of Fowlkes and Moscato. Off the bench, Jackie Santacaterina has size and experience with the Red Stars but probably isn’t a long-term option for major minutes, meaning Fuss could be another option here once she arrives from Switzerland in May.

In goal, Erin McLeod has shown a capability for the spectacular and the spectacularly daft at times throughout her career. The former Washington Freedom netminder now looks like Canada’s #1 at international level though, and the Red Stars will be hoping that ascending into that role at that level will help produce more consistent displays at club level. When McLeod’s absent, there could be problems. Rookie Taylor Vancil was a puzzling selection in the NWSL Draft, having done little to distinguish herself at two stops in Louisville and on the bench for Florida State in DI. Experienced at club level in the Chicago area, Dames will likely be familiar with what he’s got in the youngster, but it’s probable that the Red Star fans will be sweating bullets early on when she’s in goal until the former U.S. youth international proves herself at this level.

Outlook

Oh, the difference a few signings can make. It was easy to not be bullish about the Red Stars early on in the offseason as they got dealt a rough hand and went through what looked like a bit of a wobbly rookie draft before some real shrewd roster building in the following weeks. In the long-term, the trade of Keelin Winters for a first-round pick in next season’s draft looks like a masterstroke given the talent in that class and the club’s preexisting depth at defensive midfield.

In the short-term, the club’s prospects look reasonably rosy as well. The midfield could be one of the league’s best if everyone stays fit and on form, while the addition of Grings could be brilliant if she can reproduce some of her European form on these shores. The likes of Bywaters, McDonald, Mautz, and perhaps Fowlkes all have a lot of scoring potential, while Masar figures to get her goals as well.

Reasons to worry? The midfield looks to be heavily dependent on Chalupny for creativity and might have to resort to hoofing it towards McDonald/Grings/Fowlkes if their playmaker isn’t on form. There’s a certain value to having a good Plan B though, and if there’s a side that can play effective long-ball, it could be this one given the depth of target forwards above.

The defense is lacking a star figure to lead by example though, and depth on the whole is a little way short of the likely top tier of teams, especially until the German duo of Grings and Fuss arrive and/or Lindsay Tarpley returns. There’s probably enough to get the Red Stars over the line and into the playoffs, but they’ll likely be overpowered by one of the big guns in the semi-finals.

Prediction – 4th, Defeated Semi-Finalists

FC Kansas City

It was probably easy to view FC Kansas City’s initial foray into the world of professional WoSo with a little skepticism. Despite saying all the right things shortly after the league’s establishment, the club was dealing with the reality of unproven coaching at this level as well as the perceived stigma of perhaps being a less desirable landing spot for allocated players than Portland, Seattle, or one of the established clubs on the East Coast.

The skepticism rapidly dissolved into optimism once the allocations were confirmed, and FCKC were largely adjudged to have been dealt one of the better hands. The club pulled down six bona fide starters despite the withdrawal of Marilyn Diaz by the FMF, and the allocation was also fairly well balanced, leaving the Midwestern club with few true holes in the lineup. What holes that were left were patched up rather quickly by an impressive recruiting effort that included a good many former Philadelphia Independence players. Not a bad strategy considering Paul Riley’s side’s success in WPS.

If anything, FCKC seems to be building from the Independence blueprint, utilizing a strategy of “small ball” if you will, with a litany of talented players who often aren’t in the headlines as superstars. It got Philadelphia into two straight WPS finals, and FC Kansas City will surely be hoping to go one better if the club turns out to be more than the sum of its parts.

The crux of the club’s title ambitions will likely be based on a midfield that won plaudits on paper before the season and should have the potential to be even better in practice. While the plethora of riches in the attacking part of the midfield will likely grab the headlines, it’s the crunching double pivot a little further back that is likely to let the front four run wild. Jen Buczkowski could own the bittersweet title of best American to have not been capped by the USWNT at the moment, but her inclusion could be inevitable at some point given the above’s aging central midfield and her own rock solid play for the last half decade. An unsung hero for the most part, Buczkowski should again do the dirty work in the middle for FCKC this season.

She should have a capable partner beside her in the form of stylistic doppleganger Desiree Scott. Scott doesn’t have near as much size as her midfield partner, but she has plenty of bite, with the “Destroyer” more than ready to nip at the heels of any opposition daring to roam the center of the park. Depth at defensive midfield could be a worry, as there are few options beyond the starting duo considering the club’s center-back pairing looks set in stone.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski looks spoilt for choice when considering attacking options in the midfield. The club made Sinead Farrelly one of their first free agent acquisitions, and the former Philadelphia player will be looking to build on an eye-opening rookie season in WPS. Capable as a creator but more apt to threaten goal directly, Farrelly looks most likely to play in the hole behind a center forward for FCKC. There’s also a high likelihood that Lauren Cheney will be deployed in a role similar to her left midfielder role with the USWNT in recent years. With her position potentially under threat in the international setup, Cheney will be eager to prove a point at club level with FCKC this year. The former UCLA star could also line up as a center forward whether the club goes 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, or 4-4-2 as well.

Who joins them, either in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 is less defined. Given the (brief) evidence in preseason, it’d be hard to exclude Casey Loyd from the starting lineup. Loyd looked to be in smoldering form in the club’s late exhibitions and may have forced her way into the first XI despite getting a late start to preseason with the club. Given the club’s center forward threats and Loyd’s creativity and ability from long range, she might be entrusted with a role in between the lines, either as an attacking midfielder or wide forward to help break teams down. Loyd’s consistency issues may be the only thing holding her back from potential stardom, and she’ll have to be consistent in her form here with a bevy of rivals waiting to pounce.

A pair of rookies could also make their presence felt in the attacking midfield battle this season. Kristen Mewis is a capable option as a left-winger or central attacking midfielder but could be shifted elsewhere dependent on team need. Given all the firepower above, it might be Mewis who moves into the left-back slot, continuing an experiment first started by the USWNT. Mewis clearly isn’t totally comfortable with the role at international level yet, but given the utter dearth of left-backs in the league, a move back there at club level could yet be a stroke of genius.

Bench options are copious. Erika Tymrak was a steal for the club in the second round, even if she was a bit of a luxury item given the club’s numbers in midfield. The Florida alum is a wizard with the ball at her feet but isn’t the biggest player and could take a pounding from more physical defensive midfielders. There’s no denying her technical quality though, and she could easily steal major minutes if she adapts to the physicality of this level. Courtney Jones played full-back last season in Boston in WPSL Elite but was used more as an attacking option in the preseason. Her role this year is yet to be defined, but full-back might be an easier path into the starting lineup. Her versatility may suit her being a utility player off the bench though. Merritt Mathias is another WPSL Elite graduate who saw time at full-back in preseason. Given the logjam in attack, she might well be deployed there from off the bench this season instead of further forward.

Whoever spearheads the line isn’t going to be hurting for opportunities. That much was evident in the preseason, even against middling college opposition, as Renae Cuellar showed why she is one of the potential new faces of Mexican women’s soccer with some stunning displays. It’s certainly not going to be as easy against more stern defensive opposition, but Cuellar has certainly shown the potential to be a star thus far for the club. Initially, it seemed like the Oklahoma alum would most likely be used off the bench as a rookie, but it seems unfathomable that she’d not win a starting place given her preseason form. It likely means that super sub role could fall to Melissa Henderson early in 2013. Through no fault of her own really, Henderson’s pro career has stagnated a bit, not helped in the least by the WPS’ 2012 collapse. A big season is needed if she’s to get back in the mix for a potential call-up to the USWNT, and it’d hardly be a surprise to see Henderson force her way into the starting lineup at some juncture this year. Many of the club’s attacking midfield options can also play up front, including Cheney, Loyd, Jones, and Mathias, leaving the club flush with forward depth.

They aren’t going to be getting as much of the headlines, but the club’s defensive personnel also looks formidable. Becky Sauerbrunn has been steadily excellent at club level for some time now and has worked her way into major minutes for the USWNT as of late. The Virginia product will again get a chance to marshal a strong backline here. Her partner at center-back looks likely to be Lauren Sesselmann, the Canadian having resurrected a flagging career with a shift to defense that has her playing with renewed vigor at international level. Though she’s played more often at left-back for Canada, Sesselmann has the size and grit to fill in in the middle and will most likely be needed there here given the dearth of other center-back options. That lack of cover is probably one of the club’s greater concerns, with the potential for some headaches when the duo are away on international duty. Leigh Ann Robinson, Buczkowski, Katie Kelly, and Nia Williams are all options to fill-in, though all are a clear downgrade at center-back from the likely starting duo.

The questions in defense when the club is at full strength are more likely to be out wide. Robinson can play on either flank and is a capable enough full-back at this level, with that versatility being an added bonus. Her opposite number on the other flank is the club’s most pressing question going into the opener in all likelihood. I give a tentative nod to Mewis to operate on the left, because it’s hard to envision the club not wanting to give their first round pick some serious minutes as early as possible, though she’s not a natural at the spot. Jones and Mathias can play at right-back, though the former played more in the attack in the preseason, and the latter is still a more natural attacker. Williams is still very raw but could be thrown into the fire if necessary. Utility defender Katie Kelly impressed in Europe after graduating from Marquette and might be called upon to fill in depending on the club’s most pressing need in the back four, especially when the center-backs are on international duty.

There shouldn’t be any worries in goal. FCKC has the league’s best one-two punch in between the sticks by a long margin with Nicole Barnhart and Bianca Henninger. Barnhart’s shown she’s more than a capable #1 at international level given Hope Solo’s recent absence, while Henninger already looks to be rounding into her collegiate form after being hampered by injury last season. Keeping both starting calibre keepers happy with a limited number of minutes to go around might be Andonovski’s biggest challenge here. It’s a theme that could be reflected throughout the rest of the team as well.

Outlook

Common logic dictates that seven does not divide into four easily in soccer terms, and it’s this truth that faces Andonovski and co. this season. With seven starting calibre attackers likely vying for just four attacking spots in the starting lineup, egos are bound to be bruised at some point this season in K.C. While Andonovski’s tactical acumen may be more closely examined in the spotlight by many, his man management skills may be the more telling measure as to whether this club lives up to its potential come season’s end.

That potential is nothing short of a title in the club’s maiden season in pro WoSo. The bar’s been set very high given the club’s accruing of talent in the offseason, and some will undoubtedly feel that the pressure will be on for Andonovski to deliver in the club’s debut campaign. He’s certainly been given the keys to a potent machine, with plenty of attacking potential and a strong spine to back up all that attacking talent. Depth could be better in defense, but that’s a much milder concern than those facing many of FCKC’s rivals going into the beginning of the season.

Thorough depth in attack and in goal also means this club has plenty of trade assets to work with down the line this year. A proactive attitude to fill any weaknesses in the waning months of the season could see the club reap the rewards in August. At any rate, FCKC look like bona fide title contenders at the first time of asking in NWSL this year.

Prediction – 2nd, Defeated Finalists

Portland Thorns

Nothing short of a title, or at least getting within touching distance of one, is likely to do for an ambitious Portland side that had those lofty expectations thrust upon them early on in the offseason when they were allocated two of the world’s best forwards in Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan. That allocation has continued to prove to be a point of contention among some, as the howls of protest at the Cascadia club getting the terrific tandem have hardly been abated by time.

Never mind the fact that the rest of their allocation could draw some skepticism from discerning critics. Tobin Heath has shown signs of growing into her massive potential, but she remains under contract in France for the opening months of the season and will need to time to gel with her new club come the Summer. The Mexican allocations turned into a complete boondoggle, with the FMF revoking the funding for Luz Saucedo for mysterious reasons, while Marlene Sandoval was likewise removed due to injury. Defender Rachel Buehler has played well at club level in WPS but has struggled at international level, while Karina LeBlanc hasn’t played consistently at club level since 2010.

At least the last two above will be on the pitch for most of the season for the club. Keeping everyone in the projected starting lineup healthy and on form will likely make or break the club’s season, as the depth is utterly non-existent for the Thorns. The club had an appalling set of drafts after a promising set of allocations and free agent signings. Just one of the club’s four rookie draftees made the squad, first round pick Kathryn Williamson, who did not earn rave reviews for her preseason performance against the University of Portland. Head coach Cindy Cone also could have erred in selecting Amber Brooks with the club’s third round pick, with the UNC alum showing little indication of making it over in the Summer after a stint in Germany.

The club’s supplemental draft was almost as ludicrous, as the club wasted a pick on Tina Ellertson in the first round when the center-back indicated she wasn’t paling in the league this year, while the team’s third round pick, Michelle Weissenhofer also didn’t report to camp. At the very least, Cone may have saved a little face with the brilliant selection of Marian Dougherty in round four, with the talented full-back coming out of retirement to suit up again for the Thorns.

Draft follies aside, it’s hard to not regard the Thorns projected starting XI as one of the league’s best. It all starts up front of course, with Sinclair and Morgan set to renew a partnership that reaped dividends in Rochester in WNY Flash’s 2011 title winning season in WPS. Sinclair was in the form of her life in 2012 and could increase her almost god-like stature in Portland even further if she can bring a league title home this year. Sinclair’s brute force should be a great foil for the smooth running and confident finishing of Morgan up front. After seven games without a goal for the U.S., Morgan scored four in four in the Spring and will be looking to add more club honors to her resume this season.

Beyond them? Good luck. This club probably has some major worries when the U.S. and Canada are having concurrent international commitments. Nikki Washington has plenty of attacking skill but is not a center forward ideally, better operating out on the flanks. Danielle Foxhoven is well regarded by the Portland faithful after a sterling college career on the Bluff, but the former Pilot has tended to run hot and cold in recent years. Jessica Shufelt was a surprise in training camp, with Cone succeeding in taking a flyer on her in the supplemental draft. She didn’t score much in college or the W-League, but the former UConn player showed enough to get her chance at this level. Given the questions above, it’d hardly be surprising to see Nikki Marshall, who has played in the attack at both college and pro level, thrown up top to try and make something happen. Of course, the club isn’t exactly flush with defensive depth either, so that might be a matter of shifting one’s problems from one area of the pitch to another.

There likely won’t be such concerns in the midfield. If you exclude Heath, returning in mid-season, the club’s four first choice midfielders are likely to be with the club all season, which should bolster the odds of this unit being the league’s best. Unheralded Becky Edwards very quietly was a big factor in the WPS’ last two title winning teams and will be looking to reign in a hat trick this season with the Thorns. Likely flanking her out wide will be Allie Long, versatile enough to play just about anywhere in the midfield, and Nikki Washington, who might be deployed at right forward if the club goes 4-3-3. The chronically underrated Long is one of the best Americans without a senior team cap to her name and will be looking to increase the odds of rectifying that with a stellar 2013. Washington was last seen on these shores creating havoc down the flanks with magicJack in WPS and could be doing much of the same this season. The well traveled Washington may also be depended upon to carry some of the scoring load when Morgan and Sinclair are away, though she’s not the most potent threat in front of goal herself.

The X-Factor could be supplemental draft selection Angie Kerr. Kerr’s professional career looked to be on life support after two greatly underwhelming seasons in Atlanta and New Jersey in WPS, but the former hometown heroine showed signs of a revival during the club’s preseason friendly with the University of Portland. That match likely suggests that Kerr could be an important catalyst to the attack from midfield, supplying the front-runners with some much needed service. Career resurgence or no, it’s highly likely that Kerr will be the player to make way once Heath returns. The tricky Tar Heel alum gives the club a creative outlet either out wide or centrally in midfield, and those qualities will need to be in full display if the team is to contend for a title in all likelihood. Further depth’s not exactly great but may be better than in other positions on the pitch. Meleana Shim’s a player to watch after making the club as an undrafted rookie and can add some potency to the midfield. Contrastingly, crunching midfielder Courtney Wetzel adds steel to the lineup and could also see time in defense.

Inevitably, most of the questions concerning these Thorns (other than ones involving the club’s depth) are likely to come as a result of the club’s backline. While the unit was missing a few likely starters in the club’s only announced friendly against Portland, it nonetheless looked wobbly to say the least against the Pilots. Left-back, the ever problematic position for so many NWSL clubs this year, appears to be an issue for the Thorns as well. Florida alum Jazmyne Avant got the nod in the above friendly but did not have the most assured performance in many’s eyes. The former Gator is well known as a terror going forward but is not the best defender and could be a target for counter attacks down the flank should she lapse in her defensive duties.

Where the club goes exactly for alternative options is the big question. College teammate Williamson looked to have the pace to play out wide in college but also looked shaky in the above friendly and is more comfortable in the middle. Marian Dougherty is needed on the right side, while Nikki Marshall may be needed more in the middle of the park if Williamson can’t live up to her first round billing at center-back. If Williamson does settle at center-back, the attack minded Marshall could be an option at full-back. Of course, the problem is that Marshall’s attacking talents may be needed further upfield when Morgan and Sinclair are away on international duty.

The club can at least rest easy with the knowledge that Marian Dougherty should be on the right flank all season. That looked to be questionable when the team took her in the supplemental draft, but it proved to be a successful gamble. The former Chicago Red Star was one of WPS’ best but sadly unheralded full-backs and will be looking to battle her way back into USWNT contention with a solid season here. Backups if needed are, as is the case on the other flank, sparse.

The Thorns appear to be on a little bit better footing at center-back. Marshall figures to hold down one spot, though she could be thrown up top if the club gets aggressive without Sinclair and Morgan in the lineup. Of course, at the same time, the club will also likely be without likely center-back partner Rachel Buehler, which should only add to Cindy Cone’s stress in building a cohesive backline. Ever a polarizing figure at international level, Buehler’s enjoyed a much less rockier career at club level and will be looking to continue that trend as this group’s veteran leader. Williamson is likely to be needed sooner rather than later given Avant’s patchy form and Marshall’s potential need elsewhere, and the first round pick’s performance could well be a big referendum on Cone’s young talent evaluation after less than promising early returns elsewhere in the rookie draft. Utility player Courtney Wetzel and surprise story Emilee O’Neil also add depth at center-back, though neither figures to be first choice early on in all likelihood.

In goal, Canadian international Karina LeBlanc figures to be in the crosshairs for the Thorns in what is likely her last realistic chance of retaining a starting spot at this level. The former Nebraska keeper is very much at the crossroads of her career having lost her spot in the Canadian starting XI to Erin McLeod while also having not played consistently at club level since 2010’s showings with Philadelphia of WPS. Given the less than airtight back four shielding her, LeBlanc may have to come out of the gates in top form. Portland will be desperately hoping that she can shake the rust off in a hurry, as there’s precious little behind her.

The club axed draftee Roxanne Barker and trialists Aline Reis and Cris Lewis in preseason after individual mistakes in the friendly against Portland, leaving a big gap to be filled. The decision to bring in another rookie, Adelaide Gay, from Cone’s old stomping grounds at UNC could be criticized as overly sentimental, with the national title winning goalkeeper undersized and potentially lacking the kicking game and athleticism for this level. Gay was cut rather early in preseason by Boston, which is a potentially ominous sign for Thorns fans. Then again, Gay’s made a habit of making many pundits look foolish and will be hoping to do so again. If she can’t, the club could be in deep trouble when LeBlanc is away.

Outlook

It’s been impossible to keep the Thorns out of the headlines in the run up to the new season, which might be just fine for owner Merritt Paulson. Whether it was the controversial decision to allocate both Sinclair and Morgan to the Thorns, the FMF’s bizarre decision to pull both of Porltand’s allocated Mexican players, or the club’s amazing season ticket sales, the franchise has been front and center of the NWSL as the clock has ticked closer to the opening kickoff against FC Kansas City.

What ultimately counts is what happens on the pitch though, and there are generally two schools of thought on the Thorns’ chances this season. There’s the group that believes the duo of Morgan and Sinclair are going to be an unstoppable force up front, with the likes of proven winners like Edwards and Buehler further bolstering the club’s odds of bringing home the first title in league history. Judging by past results, the dynamic duo could indeed by indomitable up top, though given the checkered club careers of the likes of Kerr, Washington, and Heath, a consistent flow of service is far from guaranteed. The midfield does look to be one of the league’s best if firing on all cylinders though, especially if the club can drag consistency out of the above mentioned trio.

Lest you think it’s going to be a procession towards a coronation, this club still has very real problems in defense and in goal. The back four wobbled mightily against an above average Portland team in the lone open door exhibition, and though the club wasn’t at full strength defensively, there are still enough questions to raise doubts regarding this group. Cone also has to be banking heavily on LeBlanc’s performance in goal. If the Canadian isn’t at her best, the Thorns’ hopes diminish considerably.

Cone herself may ultimately be the one with the most on the line this year. The UNC alum’s slightly sadistic streak of chopping and changing her preseason roster with a string of fast cuts early and potentially harsh roster decisions late have left the Thorns a club walking a razor’s edge as far as a viable roster is concerned. In that regard, what looks like a string of foolish decisions in the rookie and supplemental drafts could come back to haunt the club down the line. What depth is there is wholly unproven at this level, and the club could be left with as few as fourteen players when the internationals are away. Potential long-term injuries to starters could also spell curtains for the club’s title ambitions, only heightening the tension in Portland going into the season.

Given the talent, there’s plenty that could go right for the title contending Thorns this season. Given the above, there’s also plenty that could go wrong, and those penciling in Portland for glory could yet be surprised.

Prediction – 3rd, Defeated Semi-Finalists

Seattle Reign FC

The omens were probably foreboding before General Manager Amy Carnell’s abrupt resignation the week before the opening of the season, but it was a capstone to what has certainly been a trying run-in to the new campaign for the Reign. While the organization has been profuse in their declarations that Carnell’s departure portends nothing sinister, it remains another sharp body blow nonetheless to a franchise that’s faced it’s fair share of challenges in these opening months.

Those perhaps hoping for either Alex Morgan or Sydney Leroux, who both played with the Seattle Sounders Women last year in the W-League, were likely left crestfallen when both were allocated elsewhere, with Morgan’s landing in Portland an especially bitter pill to swallow. An allocation short on firepower became considerably more strained with the revelation that Amy Rodriguez was pregnant and would miss the entire 2013 season.

The hits would keep coming. The Reign quickly found themselves down to zero allocated U.S. internationals to begin the season with the news that Hope Solo needed surgery on her wrist, with a timetable to return being downgraded from weeks to months in the aftermath. The club’s likely offensive catalyst in Megan Rapinoe also will be absent at the beginning of the campaign as she finishes up a stint at cosmopolitan Lyon in the French League. Teresa Noyola was initially set to stay in Holland for an equal measure of time but got an early release and will be with the Reign to begin 2013.

Noyola should be a part of a midfield that could quietly be among the league’s best. Carnell ensured as much before her departure with an aggressive move in trading for Chicago’s Keelin Winters. Very much looking like a luxury player at defensive midfielder heavy Chicago, Winters should step right in and shield a backline which looks very shaky on paper. On the fringes of the full USWNT for a while now, Winters needs a good season to get back in the mix for a recall and could have her hands full as one of the more proven commodities of a mostly untested Seattle side. Her defensive proclivities will be very much in demand here as the Reign try to balance out an attack heavy midfield in front of her.

Seattle could work with a double dose of playmaking flair in midfield by combining Noyola and first round draft pick Christine Nairn. Noyola’s been eagerly awaiting a chance to strut her stuff at professional level in this country after helping to lead Stanford to a national title in 2011. Firmly entrenched as a member of the full Mexican WNT after failing to breakthrough to the full USWNT, Noyola will be keen to knock back criticisms that she lacks the athleticism to be a star at this level. She should have an equally motivated midfield partner in Nairn, who will herself be eager to prove naysayers wrong after falling deep in the first round of the draft despite a superb season for Penn State as a senior. Nairn’s a more direct threat to score herself, especially at a distance, but it has occasionally come at a price, with the PSU alum sometimes being guilty of poor shot selection. The interplay of Noyola and Nairn with the club’s forwards will be key, especially until the creativity of Rapinoe returns.

The wild card could be Wales international Jess Fishlock, who could be a Swiss army knife in the lineup until the squad settles. Fishlock’s versatile enough to play just about anywhere on the pitch and might have to given some of the club’s needs on paper. The veteran’s top level experience might be her most appealing aspect coming into the new season. The Reign are a club mostly devoid of players with extensive elite experience, and Fishlock’s presence and leadership could be key.

Also key will be the return of Rapinoe to these shores after the end of her stint with Lyon. The flamboyant winger has had a career renaissance through the past two major international tournaments, rounding into one of the USWNT’s most important players through the Women’s World Cup and Olympics. Caution might be needed before automatically assuming Rapinoe will bring similar form to the Reign right out of the gate though. The Portland alum’s club form in WPS was notoriously spotty, and she’ll have it all to prove in NWSL this season. Optimists will point out that Rapinoe is exponentially better as a player since her international success. Pessimists may note that Rapinoe will be counted on for offense much more here than in her previous club spots.

Depth in midfield is there in numbers if not necessarily in quality. Canadian Kaylyn Kyle was a fan favorite in Vancouver at lower levels and is capable of doing the hard running in midfield, making her a likely candidate to step in to run at tired legs late in games. Raw Wake Forest rookie Kristen Meier also figures to be in contention as a reserve off the bench, though considering the strength of the likely starting corps, she might struggle for major minutes. Likely center-back starter Kate Deines is also capable as a defensive midfielder if necessary.

Head coach Laura Harvey will be hoping that the midfield can provide reliable service to her starting frontrunners, neither of whom have appreciable experience at this level. Stanford alum Lindsay Taylor looked to be one of WPS’ most promising rookies going into 2012, but the collapse of the league may have stunted some of her development, as she laid low for the most part last year. Taylor moves like lightning and has a shot like thunder, and much of the clubs hopes offensively this year well rest on her shoulders. Likely partnering her, early on at least, will be Canadian rookie Tiffany Cameron. Having unfathomably gone both unfunded and undrafted, Cameron was a no-brainer for a side desperate for firepower. Having been one of the nation’s top forwards in 2012 for Ohio State at college level, Seattle will be desperate for Cameron to continue that success in NWSL.

The reserves are largely a collection of journeymen and unproven youngsters. Liz Bogus has proven to be useful in the past, especially with Boston, and may be needed to put out metaphorical fires in either the frontline or backline, though she’s not going to be terribly prolific in front of goal. Lyndsey Patterson’s been a local staple and is a fireplug despite a lack of size, though she also has not proven prolific offensively at this level. Kristina Larsen will still be trying to shake off the nightmares of her last experience at this level with the Atlanta Beat but has shown signs of promise at the semi-pro levels and will again be eager to prove she can hack it at this level this year. Additionally, defenders Kiersten Dallstream and Victoria Frederick can put in a shift up front, as they did in college, but both may be more needed on the backline.

That backline will need to find an identity, and quick, because on paper, it looks like one of the league’s weaker units. The elder stateswoman of the bunch is Canadian international Emily Zurrer, and she’s just twenty-five years of age herself. The center-back’s bounced in and out of the Canadian WNT in recent months and will be looking for a strong campaign to fortify her spot at international level. Her likely partner in central defense is Kate Deines, who should be familiar to locals, having played her collegiate ball at the University of Washington. Gritty, confident, and big, Deines can also double as a defensive midfielder, though she’s much more likely to make her presence known in the rearguard with Winters in midfield.

Out wide, the preferred pairing will likely be Lauren Barnes on the left and Elli Reed on the right. Barnes will be aiming to pull off an unlikely career resurrection after being a flop in WPS for Philadelphia, not getting onto the pitch for the Independence after a highly regarded college career with UCLA. Her versatility in being able to play on the left or in the middle should be a big help for the Reign, as could be her set piece service considering this club could struggle to score in the run of play. Reed is likely this club’s best defender and has come a long way since being cut in preseason camp by Western New York a few years ago. A stint in Germany will have certainly helped her development, and the ability to play at either full-back spot should further help her cause as this unit’s leader.

The defensive reserves are mostly unproven as well. Kiersten Dallstream gets another chance to live up to advance billing after being a first round pick in WPS. It has not worked out thus far to say the least, with injuries and ineffectiveness blighting her professional career so far and likely meaning this could be her last chance to shine at this level. Mexican international Jenny Ruiz and former Seattle Sounders Women player Victoria Frederick are less known commodities at this level. Given the club’s lack of proven standout defenders though, both could easily work their way into significant minutes if they seize opportunities in the lineup that come there way.

The club might also be sweating a bit in goal given the absence of Solo for the opening months of the season. Solo’s proven she’s still the world’s best goalkeeper with her displays in the Women’s World Cup and in the Olympics, but at the same time, she hasn’t played with any great consistency at club level since 2010 with Saint Louis and Atlanta. Regardless, the Reign know they need Solo back sooner rather than later if they’re to make a run at the playoffs, and any complications with her recovery from wrist surgery could short circuit hopes for a run up the table.

As is, the club will be dependent on the well traveled Michelle Betos and rookie Haley Kopmeyer in goal until Solo’s return. Betos figured to be one of the league’s better backups before Solo’s injury, having previously won the W-League’s Goalkeeper of the Year award with the Atlanta Silverbacks while also featuring for the New York Fury in WPSL Elite action last season. Kopmeyer saw her draft stock soar after an inspired senior season for Michigan in the collegiate ranks last season. The Wolverines’ sometimes leaky defense ensured she got plenty of opportunities to make saves, and it might be the same again this season for the Reign. There’s probably little on paper separating the duo on the depth chart, but Betos’ experience at this level will probably see her begin the season in between the pipes for Seattle.

Outlook

If anyone doubted the ambition of Seattle this offseason, the Winters trade all but underlined the “win now” ethos going into the new season, injuries and absences be damned. The problem is, even with that trade, there might not be enough to win now, at least at any consistent clip. The bulk of the defense and frontline are throughly unproven at this level, and the early season absences of Rapinoe and Solo have left the Reign seriously deficient in star power to begin the campaign.

The belief of many Seattle supporters is likely that the club will be fine if they can just stay afloat until the return of Rapinoe and Solo. It’s a theory that might look better on paper than in execution though given the duo’s checkered club history in WPS. Both have everything to prove at club level, but there’s only so much the two can do despite their talents. Solo is coming off another serious injury, while Rapinoe could be drained by a lengthy domestic season in France. There’s no doubt that both will help the Reign’s chances, but their presence might not be the instant salve supporters are seeking.

The Reign have a midfield that will certainly hold their own against the league’s best if all goes according to plan, but the backline and frontline and rife with questions that aren’t going to be answered upon Rapinoe and Solo’s return. The schedule makers certainly didn’t do the club any favors either. The Reign start with three games away and play title contenders Portland and Kansas City in three of the team’s first four games. It gets a little friendlier after that on paper, but a slow start is very possible.

The Reign figure to be better late than early, but they could also be in a hole too deep to dig out of by the time they’re at full strength. They might throw up a surprise or two if some of the youngsters impress, but a season out of the playoff places looks most likely.

Prediction – 7th

Sky Blue FC

It may in the end go down as a meaningless result in a meaningless friendly, but at the very least, Sky Blue FC’s exhibition win over Boston in the preseason may have offered a glimmer of hope that the New Jersey club may in fact not revert to type this season. While SBFC supporters will always have their magical run to the inaugural WPS title to cherish, since, it’s often been a slog offensively, with late season heartbreak becoming the norm in the final two WPS seasons, the club missing out on the playoffs by one spot both years. Kelley O’Hara’s strong showing in that win over Boston showed signs of the club finally having a potential superstar in attack, but Yurcak Field’s been the Bermuda Triangle for talented forwards in past seasons. Given what looks like a dearth of consistent options elsewhere in attack, O’Hara will have to break the trend and break through here if SBFC are to challenge for the playoff places.

At the very least, the franchise’s once tragicomic situation on the touchline seems to now be a thing of the past, with Jim Gabarra settled as the club’s boss since 2011. The former Washington Freedom manager has astutely built a side brimming with young talent from both domestic and international shores. In particular, the club looks to have acquired four of the world’s best young defenders through the rookie and supplemental drafts and free agency. All that youth could cause some growing pains, but you could hardly ask for a better mentor than Christie Rampone, still going strong at thirty-seven.

While the kids in defense portend well for the future, it’s O’Hara’s presence and performances this season in attack that will likely decide SBFC’s fate in the present. The former Hermann Trophy winner has gelled into a left-back of real talent for the USWNT but finds herself back in attack at club level, a switch made much easier by the club’s wealth of talent in defense. Even though she’s back in the frontline, O’Hara will still be in a relatively unfamiliar role at pro level: lead gun. With both FC Gold Pride and Boston, O’Hara was just another cog in a potent offense. Here, the Stanford alum is indisputably the top scoring option. How she handles the pressure and expectation will be key.

All the more so given the club’s other likely options in attack. In many ways, Lisa De Vanna is still trying to live up to her remarkable season with AIK in Sweden a half decade ago, where she netted fifteen goals. She hasn’t netted more than six at subsequent stops and has been a footballing vagabond, with no fewer than seven different clubs in the past half decade. Her lightning pace down the flank makes her dangerous, but consistency has often eluded the Australian international. Much could be said of the club’s likely third starter up front, Danesha Adams. The former UCLA forward frustrated and inspired in equal measure in Chicago and Philadelphia and scored a big goal or two, but her strike rate of four goals in thirty-nine WPS games is not encouraging. Adams was much more efficient in recent stints in Scandinavia, so Gabarra will surely be hoping this season is her big breakthrough in the U.S.

If the above three are misfiring, SBFC is in trouble, because there’s very little in reserve. The only out and out striker on the bench is Mexican international Monica Ocampo, who was very hit or miss to say the least in a stint with the Atlanta Beat in WPS. Ocampo generally was a sure finisher, but she also isn’t going to beat too many defenders in a footrace in this league. Otherwise, Caitlin Foord and CoCo Goodson have experience as attackers but probably aren’t going to be reliable scoring options in this league.

Attacking concerns aside, SBFC has the potential to dominate the middle of the park, thanks to a fantastic looking midfield on paper. Crunching defensive midfielder Brittany Bock certainly knows about terrific midfield trios, having been part of one of the most devastatingly effective trinities in recent memory in American pro WoSo with Caroline Seger and Becky Edwards with the all-conquering WNY Flash side in 2011. She figures to again be the fulcrum in midfield here, and her offensive proclivities could come in handy too on the end of set pieces or as a target forward if the club is chasing a game late.

The other two midfield spots figure to be occupied by Canadian international Sophie Schmidt and rising star Katy Freels (nee Frierson). Schmidt’s been a fixture at international level for some time now for Canada and showed signs of turning into a special player in a chaotic rookie season with magicJack in 2011. Schmidt can do a little bit of everything in the middle of the park, being both tough in the tackle and a threat to go directly at goal. Freels not being re-signed by the WNY Flash was a surprise considering her impact for the club in the WPSL Elite playoffs as they brought home another title. A little playmaker with immaculate vision and a deft touch on set pieces, Freels’ ability to pull the strings successfully will be key to a playoff run for this team.

There’s impressive depth here as well. Free agent signing Taylor Lytle could be a real steal for SBFC. Lytle looked to be on the road to stardom with Texas Tech in college under Tom Stone but saw the back end of her career affected by injury. If healthy, Lytle brings both a direct threat to goal and some playmaking ability to the fore. In the same vein, Mexican prodigy Nayeli Rangel is also a player to watch. Already one of her country’s brightest hopes for the future, Rangel adds more offensive depth to the midfield and could round into a star eventually. The likes of Kendall Johnson, Foord, and Manya Makoski could also fill wide roles in midfield depending on how the club lines up, while Goodson, Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, and Madeleine Thompson all could take a step up from center-back and play as defensive midfield cover.

Rampone might have her hands full in helping to organize a precariously young defense, but there’s no denying the raw potential the group brings to the table. The ever-present Rampone has shown few signs of slowing down in recent years, and her leadership will be key from center-back in trying to turn this group into a cohesive unit right from the fore. The likely starter beside her figures to be either CoCo Goodson or rookie Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall or perhaps even both, if the club goes 3-5-2, a very real possibility given the club’s personnel. Goodson has a slight edge in experience after a star turn in Holland last year and is a brute in the middle of defense in addition to possessing a howitzer for a shot. Lisonbee Cutshall was one of last season’s starring figures in college soccer for BYU and also possesses a potent shot from range. She also is more than capable of mazy dribbles with the ball at her feet and might just have what it takes to play full-back at this level. Bock can also play center-back in a pinch, while surprising undrafted rookie Madeleine Thompson provides further depth.

It’s going to be bombs away from the full-back spot for SBFC, with two very attack minded wide defenders likely to start the season. Kendall Johnson was a first-round talent that somehow slipped into the second round, and Gabarra and co. are hardly likely to complain given the Portland alum’s potential. Looking recovered from an ACL injury that cost her the 2011 season, Johnson could be a rival for O’Hara at international level at left-back and could battle her way into USWNT contention with a strong rookie season. If possible, Australian Foord is even more attack minded on the right flank and wouldn’t look out of place further up the pitch. She’s still likely to be one of league’s youngest players though, and keeping her youthful exuberance in check could be necessary for the club’s defensive solidity this season.

There’s plenty of depth at full-back too. As stated above, Lisonbee Cutshall could step out wide if necessary, while O’Hara is, of course, a more than capable left-back. Veterans Melanie Booth and Manya Makoski could be starting at many other clubs and may yet receive their fair share of starting minutes here. In a league that’s plaintively short on full-back quality, SBFC easily has the league’s most complete set and exploiting that advantage will be key for a playoff run.

The club will be hoping that perennial backup Brittany Cameron makes the most of her first chance at being a full-time starter at this level. Always the proverbial bridesmaid in goal, so-to-speak, Cameron has been consistently one of the league’s best understudies and finally gets a chance to prove her ability at the top level. Backing her up to begin the season will be rookie and England U23 international Ashley Baker, a player with plenty of upside and shot stopping ability but who was not the most consistent player in college.

USWNT’er Jill Loyden will be hoping for a quick return from injury, especially seeing as how she had seemingly risen to #2 on the depth chart behind Hope Solo before her injury. She’ll be eager to regain some of that lost momentum, but automatically regaining her spot at the top of this depth chart may not be written in stone. If Cameron excels, Gabarra could be left with an enviable dilemma, but a dilemma nonetheless.

Outlook

There’s much to envy in New Jersey this season. SBFC has a midfield that’s bound to enter the season underrated and overlooked but that could easily end the season as top dogs. Gabarra has also assembled a defense packed with some of the world’s best young defenders, a seemingly perfect combination of tenacious tackles and fearless forays forward. In O’Hara, the club also has a player who might just be on the brink of stardom with a great season at club level. Compared to some of the club’s rivals, Gabarra’s also done a great job of assembling a team with impressive depth from top-to-bottom.

A playoff berth isn’t quite fait accompli though. O’Hara’s going to have to carry the bulk of the scoring burden on her shoulders, and there’s no guarantee she’ll make a seamless transition back to forward after spending much of her international days at left-back in recent months. Her supporting cast up top has had consistency issues in the past, and if they can’t put together strong performances week in and week out, O’Hara may find herself a marked woman up front.

That backline may be packed with tremendous potential, but all that youth is probably going to be wedded to some inexperienced mistakes at times this year. Gabarra is largely depending on Rampone to be able to help control all that young chaos, and there could be some serious teething issues when she’s away on international duty. Just how steep the learning curve is for that young and exciting backline may determine if it’s going to be another chance to shock the world or more mid-table obscurity in August.

Prediction – 5th

Washington Spirit

The credo “support your local team” figures to be most evident in the nation’s capital this season, as the newly repurposed D.C. United Women side that thrived in the W-League last season begins life at the top level of women’s soccer in this country. No fewer than eleven of the players have ties to the area via prior professional connections or college experience. While the presence of all those local legends should help build a sense of community within the squad, what exactly it adds up to on the pitch is a bigger question.

Not many questions were answered in the preseason. While it’s true that the club did opt for a more ambitious slate than many of their brethren, ambition counted for little in humbling defeats to Maryland and Virginia. The latter was particularly alarming, given the nature of the loss, in which a ramshackle Spirit defense conceded six goals. It’s true that the Spirit were missing the bulk of their likely backline due to international duty and injuries, but it doesn’t exactly speak well of this club’s depth, which will be key given a grueling schedule and small roster limits this year.

If Washington are to make a run at the playoffs though, the youth of the attack likely means that the defense is going to have to keep it tight at the back. The clear leader of the rearguard is Ali Krieger, finally back on these shores after domestic success in Germany. Despite an ACL tear that ruled her out for the USWNT’s Olympic triumph, Krieger has made a fairly swift return to health and will be eager to carve out a greater foothold on a spot at international level with the U.S. ahead of the 2015 World Cup in the face of challenges from young rivals at full-back. The marauding right-back will have her hands full in helping to stabilize a backline with some serious questions going into the season.

The center-back pairing at the beginning of the season could have a decided Canadian feeling to it, with Candace Chapman and Robyn Gayle looking likeliest to begin the season in the middle of defense for the Spirit. The duo are not without their questions though. Chapman has been recovering from injuries since the Olympics and did not feature in the club’s preseason friendlies, a potentially foreboding sign considering the former WNY Flash player turned thirty just over a week ago. Gayle has been an increasingly marginalized figure at international level but will have to be at her best here if the Spirit are to contend. The former Tar Heel can play in the middle or out wide and will probably move to left-back when Alina Garciamendez arrives after finishing up at Stanford. Garciamendez was a pillar of strength for the Card for four seasons and is already a key for the Mexican WNT, but her absence early on will put pressure on her to acclimate quickly to her new surroundings in D.C.

It gets dodgier from there. Left-back could be the club’s biggest worry in defense, as is the case in so many other cities in this inaugural NWSL season. Kika Toulouse looks likeliest to fill in there early this season but was hobbled for a chunk of the preseason through injury and hasn’t been tested at this level before, meaning she’ll have to be a quick learner as she gets thrown to the wolves. Cover? What cover? The club opens up the season with just the four natural defenders on the roster, five when Garciamendez hits town. Holly King has the size to play center-back, and Tori Huster and Domenica Hodak dabbled on the backline in preseason, but neither seems to be a viable option there full-time. What the club does in defense if injuries hit or when Gayle and Krieger are away on international duty is the $64,000 question.

With the above in mind, Washington must be happy with what looks like one of the better goalkeeping situations in the league. Ashlyn Harris took home the WPS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2011 with title winning WNY and will need to be equally impressive in D.C. if the Spirit are to challenge for the playoffs. Harris will also be jockeying for position in the USWNT hierarchy and will need a strong season to stand a chance of usurping Jill Loyden and Nicole Barnhart on the ladder while also working to fend off hard charging AD Franch. Her backup is another local product, Virginia alum Chantel Jones. Jones has made dramatic strides since her college days and is a player to watch for the future.

Going forward, there’s experience in midfield and youth in the frontline. The exception to the rule in the middle of the park is defensive midfielder Holly King. The rookie out of Florida may have to make up for a little lost time though, as she’s missed most of preseason while getting her academic life in order in Gainesville. She’s expected to be in D.C. for the beginning of the regular season though, and gives this club some important strength and size in the middle of the park. King’s great in the air as well, which could be vital considering the club’s relative short stature and potential difficulty from scoring from the run of play. Backing up King at defensive midfielder are likely to be Hodak, a bulldog who has been grossly miscast in defense in the past, and potentially Jordan Angeli. Angeli is still recovering from a serious knee injury, but she could be a real find for the club if she returns healthy and true to previous form.

The engine room trying to create chances for the club’s attackers will likely be the duo of Lori Lindsey and Diana Matheson. Lindsey in all likelihood needs a tremendous season in midfield to get back in the discussion internationally after falling down the pecking order in recent months. The heady midfielder has the potential to run the show in midfield on her day, but those days have never been a guaranteed proposition in the past, with the Spirit desperately needing consistent performances from her to contend this year. Matheson’s been a sparkplug for Canada at international level and is a player who just plain makes things happen in the attack for her side. It should hardly be surprising given her size, but Matheson has had struggles with injuries in the past. Keeping the Canadian healthy could be paramount given the lack of proven options in reserve.

Former Georgetown star Ingrid Wells has all the potential in the world and seemingly has eyes in the back of her head given some of the slide rule passes that come off her feet, but she’s also struggled at times to get a foothold at this level and is still very much a work in progress. Julia Roberts is used to playing deeper with Virginia’s very proactive midfield at college level but will be deployed further forward here and is as inevitable as death and taxes from short range on free kicks. Another player with semi-pro experience in the area, Tori Huster, buzzes around the pitch with energy and figures to be a frequently used sub to run at weary defenses late in games. Mexican international Teresa Worbis is still on the club’s roster and is expected to join the team later in the year. How much later is still up in the air, and any production the club gets from her this season would have to be considered a bonus.

The Spirit’s young trinity up top has no end of potential, but how much of that potential they can cash in on this season will likely dictate Washington’s fortunes. The likely bellwether this season is second-year player Stephanie Ochs, fresh off a title winning season in WPSL Elite with WNY Flash. Ochs’ rise has been nothing short of meteoric since her senior season in college with San Diego, where she turned into a one-woman wrecking crew to lead the Toreros to a WCC title. The MVP at the recent U23 La Manga Tournament, Ochs could rise even higher in the future and has the special ability to make a discernible impact on the game, even when she’s not knocking them in.

She figures to be joined on the frontline by rookies Caroline Miller and Tiffany McCarty, the club’s first two picks in the league’s inaugural rookie draft. Miller’s not a physical marvel, but she spearheaded Virginia’s explosive attack last season and has the always appreciated penchant of scoring big goals in big games. McCarty gives the Spirit a double shot of rookie forwards from the ACC, and like Miller, the FSU alum made a habit of terrorizing defenses during her tenure with the Noles. All three of the likely forward starters could conceivably operate in any of the three forward spots in a 4-3-3, and movement and rotation within games could be a potential staple for the club. More than anything though, this group needs to develop some chemistry. Quickly.

Another talented youngster, Colleen Williams, should be in position to be a top option off the bench or spot starter in attack. Williams is plenty capable of playing in an attacking midfield role, though she was most often used as a main outlet at forward at Dayton in college. Her voracious production with the Flyers isn’t a guarantee of success at this level, but Williams is a tenacious competitor with plenty of potential, though she was nursing an injury for much of the preseason. The club made a late addition in Jasmyne Spencer, who was in Breakers camp before impressing the Spirit enough in a brief audition to warrant a spot on the full roster. Spencer has lightning pace but a spotty scoring record, though the former makes her a dangerous late game option against tired legs. Spirit fans may be wary of the club’s lack of a Plan B up top though. Everyone besides Ochs is 5’5″ or under, and the team as a whole lacks size, meaning winning aerial battles could be tough for the club.

Outlook

Upside seems to be the watchword in the nation’s capital this season. Upside has also been known to get coaches fired, and head coach Mike Jorden has a lot of work to do with a club that will likely begin the season odds on to prop up the league come August. Results early could well dictate momentum going forward, as the effect on morale of the demoralizing preseason defeats could become evident in the club’s early matches this year. The absent internationals of much of the preseason, and the club’s early injury victims need to hit the ground running for this club to have a prayer of a challenge for a playoff spot.

That clutch of players can only do so much though. There are severe problems in depth in defense, even at this stage of the season, and it’s a problem that really needs to be fixed by the first major disruption in the schedule for international fixtures in June. Needless to say, injuries to any of the starting defenders would be catastrophic for this club’s hopes, which has to be worrying considering the preseason knocks suffered by Toulouse and Chapman.

Further forward, the attacking tridente of Ochs, Miller, and McCarty have each showed a glimpse of their talent in preseason, but getting all three on the same page could be a work in progress throughout the season. A consistent supply line from midfield should help in that regard, though the options there aren’t necessarily the most consistent in the world.

Jorden and the Spirit brass have hinted at additions coming later in the season once some of the domestic seasons in Europe wrap up. They need them. There are questions everywhere but in goal, and a long, hard season looks likely unless some of those questions get quick and definitive answers.

Prediction – 8th

Western New York Flash

Are these WNY Flash the least ballyhooed three-time champions in recent sporting memory? While, admittedly, two of those titles came at semi-pro level, the Flash have been a bastion of consistency in a sport and at a level where inconsistency has been the norm. Yet this offseason, the Rochester club has, to a certain extent, been left in the shadows as Portland and FC Kansas City have enveloped much of the headlines coming into the inaugural NWSL campaign. Many have been willing to give the Flash credence as a playoff team, but few have tabbed the club as a top contender for the title.

Despite those three consecutive triumphs, complacency should be in short order for the Flash, with plenty of the principals having much to prove. Head coach Aaran Lines likely bristled at the notion that the club used its financial muscle to in effect “buy” the club’s first two titles, but there was nothing of the sort last season, as a youthful Flash club came good late to bring home the WPSL Elite title. Despite nothing but success over the past few years, Lines was never seriously linked with the vacant USWNT job after the Olympics. Another title here could make his name increasingly harder to ignore come the next time there’s a vacancy at the top.

There’s plenty of motivation at the player level as well. The club’s figurehead, Abby Wambach, has torn it up at international level and is running down Mia Hamm’s career USWNT scoring record, but the former Florida Gator has been unable to lead most of her club teams above mid-table in recent campaigns. Another USWNT’er will be looking to break what has become the “Curse of Carli”, as Carli Lloyd played for three teams in WPS in three seasons, none of whom made the postseason. Add in ambitious youngsters like McCall Zerboni, Brittany Taylor, and AD Franch, all of whom harbor hopes of getting capped by the USWNT, and some international starlets like Adriana, Veronica Perez, and Sam Kerr, and you’ve got a tantalizing mix of players that might just be capable of going all the way again.

It goes without saying that Wambach will be focal point for the club both on and off the pitch. With her Rochester roots, the towering American striker is being counted on as a box office draw, but the club will likely be happiest with consistent production on the pitch. She tabled a fantastic strike rate in WPS, with thirty goals in fifty games, and a similar ratio in NWSL will likely have the Flash contending for honors come the end of the season. The biggest threat to those hopes might be if Wambach’s body breaks down during a long, grueling season. The star forward turns thirty-three in June and has been afflicted with niggling injuries in the past. She’s been reliable at international level though, so it seems unlikely her production will slip too much this season.

Fortunately for the Flash, they aren’t just a one-note team offensively. Given all the hoopla surrounding the likes of Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair, Sydney Leroux, and Kelley O’Hara, the presence of Spanish international Adriana has gone a bit under the radar thus far. Life stateside began a bit difficultly for the Spaniard, who was more miss than hit in an injury interrupted WPS campaign in 2011. The Flash took a flyer on her last season though, and she exploded in WPSL Elite action to help fire the team to a title. She’ll be key when Wambach is away on international duty, though she herself will miss time in Summer for the UEFA EUROs with Spain. When she and Wambach are together though, they offer up a nightmare combination for opposing center-backs.

There are multiple auxiliary options for goals as well. McCall Zerboni’s turned from scrappy fan favorite with Los Angeles and Atlanta of WPS into a true leader and player of no small talent with the Flash. She was legitimately one of WPSL Elite’s best last season and continued growth could have her knocking on the door of the USWNT, especially given her versatility. That versatility may well be a key to WNY’s season, as the UCLA alum can play as a winger, a central midfielder, or even a full-back to great effect. Lines indicated earlier that he envisioned teaming Zerboni up with Carli Lloyd in central midfield, but the emergence of Veronica Perez might tempt him to operate with Zerboni in a more advanced position.

Crunch time late in games could be prime time for a couple of precocious rookies to make their mark. Victoria DiMartino began her college career a house afire with Boston College before fading later but has reportedly looked impressive in preseason. If she can channel some of her early collegiate form, she could be the steal of this past rookie draft. DiMartino can also play left-back or center forward and is another versatile option in a squad full of them. Jet-heeled right-winger Samantha Kerr is one of Australia’s brightest prospects in a generation full of them. She was another who showed well in preseason and could be another astute signing from Lines and co. In addition to the above, Veronica Perez could also see time up front when not in a midfield role, giving this squad a great amount of depth in the attack.

Perez will be one of the players attempting to hold down the fort in midfield while Lloyd recovers from a shoulder injury suffered on international duty. The former Washington Husky has been a rising star at both club and international level since her dramatic goal against the USWNT in 2011 Women’s World Cup qualifying for Mexico and, by most accounts, was an impressive figure for Seattle Sounders Women in the W-League last year. She’s got a nose for goal and a creative streak, and Perez could be a key figure early for the club if some impressive preseason displays are any indication.

Who partners Perez early in midfield is one of the club’s bigger questions going into the new season. That’s if she starts in midfield, as there’s a real possibility Lines may prefer her on the left wing, with Zerboni’s energy back in the center of the park. In any event, getting the balance right in central midfield will be key, especially when the overtly attack minded Lloyd returns. Lloyd certainly has her critics and her champions, but the Rutgers alum has the capability to score some blockbuster goals, especially from range. She’s also probably sick of hearing about how she was never on a playoff team in WPS, so the motivation will certainly be there to excel this year.

Until her return, the club might work scrappy Angela Salem in the center of the park. Salem’s defied the odds to both get a shot at this level and then make it as a pro and will continue to look to grow as a player here as a potential starter this year. Another option for an attack-minded midfielder is Canadian Jodi-Ann Robinson, the one-time phenom at international level whose career has stalled a bit as of late. She’ll likely be more of a super sub option early but still has plenty of potential to grow into at both club and international level.

The club’s most important question to be answered this year might be who plays the role that both Becky Edwards and Brittany Bock played so effectively in 2011 in the midfield. The Flash are seemingly lacking a true destroyer in midfield, which could be costly against teams with creative dynamos in midfield like FC Kansas City and Sky Blue FC. An option might be moving Sarah Huffman back there after a star turn on the wing for magicJack in 2011. With plenty of attacking talent and questions at defensive midfield, Huffman’s experience there could be too valuable to overlook, though she did struggle with injury in the preseason. Other options are veteran journeywoman Kim Yokers and rookie Amy Barczuk, who figures to see time at center-back as well but who is very comfortable in possession.

The pundits have collectively raised question about the club’s defense, which looks short of star power on paper. Then again, it’s a backline featuring three likely starters who racked up multiple seasons of experience in WPS, so some of the defensive worries could be overstated in the end. The group also looks to be one of the league’s most versatile, with plenty of players able to play in central defense or at full-back. The likely leader is Brittany Taylor, likely eager to make one more push to get back in the USWNT discussion at full-back after a cup of coffee with them back in 2010. Taylor’s smooth as silk on the ball and going forward, but her ultimate role may be as a calming presence and lockdown defender in the middle of the park, aiming to stymie some of the league’s best center forwards.

Who might partner her at center-back is a little more up in the air. Katherine Reynolds returns to Rochester after a stint in Germany with Freiburg. She’s no stranger to the club after playing for the Flash in last season’s WPSL Elite title winning team. Lines hinted that Reynolds could reprise a role at full-back this season, but the club is seemingly a little deeper and experienced there than in the middle, meaning Reynolds might hold down the fort at center-back, at least until some of the promising youngsters get comfortable. Melinda Mercado was one of the college game’s best center-backs for Oklahoma State but saw a season washed away by WPS’ demise last year. Bringing her in could end up being a canny piece of business if Mercado can shake any rust off early. Another youngster, Amy Barczuk flew under the radar at a woeful Colorado team for many years but has a great blend of size and speed to go along with an assuredness on the ball that also makes her an option further up the field. If either can develop into a strong center-back, the Flash could be in good stead at the heart of the defense.

Zerboni, Taylor, and Reynolds can also play out wide in defense, giving Lines no shortage of options to plug in at full-back. Estelle Johnson entered WPS as a raw, unfinished project as a rookie and emerged as a solid full-back capable of operating on either flank or perhaps even in the middle given her size. She looks likelier to start on the left given the club’s options on the right, though her versatility could see her bounced around the backline this season. You’d probably give a tentative nod on the right side of defense to Canadian Bry McCarthy. Though she’s not the biggest player, McCarthy more than makes up for it with lightning pace and a penchant for getting the ball into the box for assists. With two big targets in Wambach and Adriana, McCarthy could again profit in the box score with a plethora of assists. Further options out wide in defense include DiMartino and Alex Sahlen, who has proven to be respectable at the very least when thrust into action in the past.

That backline that’s so full of interchangeable parts will be backstopped by rookie netminder Adrianna “AD” Franch. One of the best goalkeeping prospects of the last decade to come out of college and a potential #1 for the USWNT down the line, Franch’s collegiate highlight reel was full of stunning saves for Oklahoma State. With otherworldly reflexes, confident command of her area, and an innate ability to stop penalties, Franch is likely one of the early betting favorites for Rookie of the Year, and her progression will be key for the Flash’s title hopes in 2013. Backing her up to start the season will be Mexican international Pamela Tajonar, who has experience with the club from their W-League days but is clearly second choice here. The Flash took Val Henderson in the supplemental draft, but the UCLA alum has been dealing with concussion issues. WNY still likely holds her rights though, and Henderson would be a great backup and potentially even better trade asset later in the season if she can get healthy.

Outlook

The Flash fed on doubts from the pundits and other bulletin board material (including undoubtedly some from yours truly) last season and overcame some wobbles in the regular season to come up trumps in the WPSL Elite playoffs. It could be more of that scenario this year than in 2011, where they steamrolled the rest of WPS with a deadly combination of spending power and wise talent acquisition and utilization. In the eyes of many, WNY will be among the playoff teams but not at the top of the heap in lieu of the likes of Portland and FC Kansas City.

There are doubts about whether Wambach can hold up a whole season, but even in limited stretches, she’s proven deadly in front of goal at club level. She’s not going to have to do it alone either, with a handful of scoring options that will be bolstered by the return of Carli Lloyd. Doubts about the defense may scare some off as well, but the club has put together an experienced and versatile group for the most part with a fair share of top level experience. They’ll be backed up by a potentially great goalkeeper in Franch.

There shouldn’t be doubts about Lines and his ability to get his team over the line (no pun intended) come the end of the season. Coaches Cindy Cone and Vlatko Andonovski of Portland and FC Kansas City respectively haven’t felt the pressure to perform from the hot seat at this level, whereas Lines has and has triumphed. Come August, that might make all the difference.

Prediction – 1st, Champions