Red Stars draft 4; will they sign?

Posted September 24, 2008 11:00 pm

Orrin Schwarz

The Chicago Red Stars didn't get to draft Brazilian soccer star Marta on Wednesday, but they did get her running mate.

In the Women's Professional Soccer draft of international players, coach Emma Hayes picked Cristiane, a skillful forward from the most skilled team in the world.

Also picked were Australian Heather Garriock, English forward Karen Carney and Swedish goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson.

Now comes the hard part. None of the players have signed a contract or even been formally approached to join the league. The league starts its inaugural season next spring, with the Red Stars playing at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, home of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.

The four international players, if they sign, would join American gold medalists Carli Lloyd, whose goal defeated Brazil in the Olympic final, Kate Markgraf and Lindsay Tarpley.

The league will fill out team rosters in two weeks with a draft of the remaining players. Several Chicago-area standouts are expected to be among those chosen at that time.

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