Some WPS Players Are Back With the USA

Women's Professional Soccer is experiencing its first week without a significant number of American stars. As the 17 missing U.S. Women’s National Team players adjust to a different climate and a change of pace, the number one priority for many of them is to reconnect with old teammates. The U.S. Women will face Canada Monday at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto.

“At the very beginning, it was a hard transition for all of us,” explained Boston Breakers’ defender Heather Mitts. “It takes a little while to get used to, but I think we’ve all settled into our new roles.”

For Mitts, playing with the national team provides a chance to get back to just playing soccer. “Any chance to be with the national team is a chance for us to be together and to look forward to playing a game together,” Mitts said.

“Seeing each other and being on the team together is exciting,” said Lori Chalupny, captain of the St. Louis Athletica and co-captain of the USWNT. ”It’s kind of fun and refreshing coming back to this environment again.”

There is a very short window for players in this camp to become more acclimated with each other and to play at a higher level.  In fact, after only two training sessions, which were both very heavily focused on defense, Mitts, Chalupny, and even Lindsay Tarpley had positive things to say about the overall speed of play.

“As to be expected, Pia really wants to get the most out of us,” Mitts said. “But, at the same time, we are all excited to be back together again.”

With so many familiar faces and only a few new ones, Red Stars forward Tarpley is looking forward to learning the tendencies of some of the new players. “Every player brings something different and something exciting,” Tarpley said.

Both Tarpley and Mitts play for clubs that each sent four players to this national camp, so the added benefit of playing alongside national teammates in the WPS definitely has its advantages.

“I think that anytime you play with any players year around, it definitely helps,” said Mitts, who is joined by fellow Breakers Angela Hucles, Amy Rodriguez and Amy LePeilbet.  Mitts also believes that playing together in Boston gives the Breakers quartet an advantage. “We are all very comfortable with one another, and that’s what really shows on the field," Mitts said.

Seventeen incredible talents have truly built much success from genuine friendships, undying intensity, and a very competitive nature.

“I play with a Canadian teammate in St. Louis, and I can say that we have probably trash talked a little bit about this game,” Chalupny said.  “One of the good things about the WPS is that it’s nice to get to know foreign players. You can bet this will be a good battle [between us and Canada].”

Rejoining the national team is always a pleasant experience for these players. However, to them the WPS is also just as important because it provides a place to call home.

“When you’re with the national team, you are kind of like a nomad,” Mitts said. “But to be able to go back to a city where your home is, where your friends are, and where your fans are, that’s really something that we all enjoy.”

Christa Mann, Goal.com

For more on the U.S. Women’s National Team and Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer section.