Photo: Michael Long

Before I get too far into discussing the decision of WPS to cancel the 2012 season, let me say that my initial reaction when the news first broke was that I was simply gutted. Gutted for every fantastic person I've met covering the Independence and women's soccer in general.

Forget Lionel Messi, it was all about Homare Sawa's kimono (traditional Japanese costume) at the FIFA Ballon D'or awards in Zurich last night! The captain of the Japanese women's team and winner of the FIFA Women's Ballon d'Or lit up the stage with that outfit which should make her countrymen and women extremely proud today.

Sawa potentially begins her Ballon d'Or reign as Messi continues his own, picking up his third in as many years.

If history is anything to go by, expect 2011 Women's World Cup winner Homare Sawa to be collecting her second Ballon d'Or prize this time next year. Marta had won five years running as the top female player in the world, but no more.

Before we even dip a toe into the blame game that is WPS vs Dan Barislow, I have one serious question.

Who represents WPS?

Legally, I mean.

Indulge me for a minute, if you will.

Let's assume that I got a new job. On my first day in the new office, rather than set up my email, read the personnel manual and display a photo of my adorable puppy, I instead chose to smash my computer, spray paint my name on the wall, and subject my coworkers to a vicious series of guerrilla wedgie attacks.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

For Charlie Davies, perhaps not securing a full transfer or loan extension was the best tactic to take this winter after all.

Davies has been included on Sochaux's first-team roster for the club's league game at Stade Rennes on Saturday, marking a major milestone for him and his quest to break back into the club's lineup.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

After turning in a dynamic year for the U.S. men's national team, Clint Dempsey being named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year should come as a surprise to nobody.

Dempsey turned in perhaps his finest year as a professional for both club and country.

The US Women did it again last night, defeating a Mexican squad that actually gave them a run for their money. Don't let the 4-0 score fool you; the USWNT got lucky with two quick goals in the 7th and 8th minutes. That was it for the first half. Despite the strong will of Mexico, it wasn't enough to stop the US who scored two more goals in the second half, winning Group B with all nine points.

The day after U.S. soccer fans celebrated the women's CONCACAF win and their Olympic qualification comes word that the WPS is on ice for the 2012 season.

Word began to filter out via players and bloggers on social networks like Twitter Monday morning, and the league officially made the announcement midday.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Several Union players talk about preseason training at YSC SPorts last week. The team landed in Orlando on Sunday.

Danny Califf, acknowledging that only he and Brian Carroll are the only players remaining on the Union who are older than 27, tells MLSsoccer.

File photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union

On Thursday night, the Union held a town hall meeting with invited season ticket holders among the top 100 loyalty reward accounts. The discussion featured Nick Sakiewicz, Dave Rowan and Bob Rigby. Based on information from season ticket holders who were in attendance, as well as tweets from Union fan extraordinaire BarbCV from the event, here are some of the topics that were discussed:

• The Union is very sound financially with a very healthy coffer for improving existing player contracts and new player acquisition.

The U.S. WNT takes on Japan in its third and final group match at the 2012 Algarve Cup in what will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.
While there will be some extra emotions for sure in this match for the Americans, the focus is looking forward and that means getting a result against Japan that will send the U.

It seems that Pia Sundhage and the US Women's Team are still trying to figure out a magic winning concoction against formidable Japan! Unfortunately, the Americans lost 1-0 to them in the Algarve Cup yesterday- an annual highlight in the Women's football calendar.

A hat-trick from Alex Morgan propelled the USWNT to a 4–0 win over Sweden to claim third place at the 2012 Algarve Cup on Wednesday.

But the thoughts of many US Soccer fans—and the team—surely lingered on the 1–0 loss to Japan on Monday in the first meeting of the two countries since the US lost to Japan in the 2011 Women's World Cup final.

A hat-trick from Alex Morgan propelled the USWNT to a 4–0 win over Sweden to claim third place at the 2012 Algarve Cup on Wednesday.

But the thoughts of many US Soccer fans—and the team—surely lingered on the 1–0 loss to Japan on Monday in the first meeting of the two countries since the US lost to Japan in the 2011 Women's World Cup final.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 23 players that will travel to Japan for two of the biggest non-Olympic, non-World Cup matches the U.S. WNT has played in recent history, taking on Japan on April 1 in Sendai (6:30 a.m. ET) and Brazil on April 3 in Chiba (7 a.m.)
Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Abby Wambach's Q-Rating in Japan is really quite remarkable. We think it has something to do with not only her talent on the soccer field and how hard she competes, but also with the grace in which she handled the immediate post-game interviews after falling in PKs in the World Cup Final, giving much credit to the Japanese and their talented team.

First, let us be among many, but hopefully not the last, to wish all our readers a Happy New Year. We wish you blessings, good fortune and health in 2012. We begin a comprehensive look at the Men's U-23 Olympic Team this week, and we're very excited about those pieces given our background as a [...]

Courtesy of the Evansville Courier Press, January 2, 2012
As we put a close on the Year in Soccer for 2011, here are some lasting impressions for fans at the local, national and international levels.
FIFA Women's World Cup: The American women were defeated in dramatic fashion in the final, but not before topping Brazil on June 12 in a stunning World Cup quarterfinal match.

Twenty-eleven turned out to be an interesting year, to say the least. It was a year that witnessed the long-awaited arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann as U.S. Men's National Team coach, the U.S. Women's National Team falling in agonizing fashion to Japan in the World Cup final, Steve Nicol's departure as Revolution manager, the introduction of Jay Heaps as his successor and.

Last week Brian Straus made it known that the USWNT got off too light. He said that if the women didn't choke in the World Cup final, well, then they "folded":

In the aftermath of the U.S. women's national team's heartbreaking penalty kick shootout loss to Japan in the Women's World Cup final, usage of the word "choke" was frowned upon.

The U.S. WNT has started its training camp in Los Angeles, a final week of practice and fine-tuning before head coach Pia Sundhage names the 20 players that will travel to Vancouver, B.C. for the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Sundhage called up 29 players for the camp, but just 27 are currently training as Abby Wambach and Hope Solo are in Zurich, Switzerland, for the year-end FIFA Gala Awards.

As if Lionel Messi needed any more evidence to prove that he is greatest player in the world.

Messi captured the Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive year, beating out Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi to add yet another item to his trophy case. The 24-year-old Barcelona maestro received 47.

Lionel Messi was voted World Player of the Year for the third year in a row with Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi a distant second and third respectively. Barcelona's Pep Guardiola won the manager of the year awrd having guided Barcelona to a unique double of La Liga and Champions League titles, Sir Alex ferguson who received an award for services to football was second and Jose Mourinho third in the Manager's list.

The Philadelphia Independence have been busy this offseason despite the fact that up until only a few weeks ago, they weren't even sure they would have a season at all. Women's Professional Soccer had a rough go of things after the 2011 season came to an end, almost folding after a lack of both ratings and teams.

Japanese World Cup winner Homare Sawa beat out a strong field that included Brazilian Marta and Abby Wambach to win the FIFA Women's World Player of the year 2011.

Marta who was looking to win the award for a 6th consecutive time had to contend with a second place finish while Abby Wambach of the USA came in in third place.

By "The Other 87 Minutes" / Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents
With Clarence...sorry, Clay Goodson appearing on House Hunters International late last year and Kyle Martino doing a stint this past Sunday on Cupcake Wars, soccer would seem to be having its moment in the sun.

As with all things WPS, there is a degree of uncertainty regarding its two biggest stars. Abby Wambach told the Associated Press that she's still undecided as to whether or not she'll be playing stateside next season. Marta, the mercurial Brazilian forward, noted her European options as well.For what it's worth, Wambach stated that American qualification for the 2012 Olympics was her top priority

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, forward Abby Wambach and goalkeeper Hope Solo have arrived in training camp after attending the annual FIFA Awards Gala in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday night.
Sundhage finished second in the voting for FIFA Women's World Cup of the Year and Wambach finished third in the voting for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year behind Marta of Brazil and winner Homare Sawa.

The U.S. WNT had some special guests at training today -- the U.S. Under-18 WNT. The U.S. U-18s are currently in camp in San Diego and drove up the coast to take in the USA's evening training. Not only did they witness an intense practice, getting an up-close look at training at the highest levels of women's soccer, but they also got brief talks from Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone.

Pia Sundhage, head coach of the United States Women's National Team, announced earlier today the 20-player roster that she will be bringing with her to Vancouver, B.C. for the CONCACAF Women's Qualifying Tournament. The two teams that make it to the final of the tournament, set to begin on January 19th, will qualify for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Image: Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images.

FIFA Women's Player of the Year award finalist, Abby Wambach, walked into the FIFA Gala in Zurich last Monday virtually unnoticed by fans, cameramen, paparazzi and most other bystanders.

How come, you ask?

"Unfortunately I strolled in right after Shakira.

The U.S. team has proved quite popular with the Canadian media so far (and thanks also to the several American journalists in town!). Of course, the U.S. playes obliged with many interviews which of course serve to promote the game, the team and the tournament. Above, Becky Sauerbrunn gives her thoughts on various soccer topics.

Philadelphia Union

Sky Sports reports that Bolton manager Owen Coyle "claims no decision has been taken as yet regarding a permanent deal" for Sebastien Le Toux.

Jonathan Tannenwald tweets, "A Union source says the team 'would not use Tim Ream as a benchmark' in any negotiations over Le Toux regarding transfer fee.

On Friday, the United States National Team announced their Athlete of the Year award winners. On the men's side, Clint Dempsey won the Athlete of the Year award with Brek Shea winning the Young Player award. Abby Wambach and Syndey LeRoux won the women's awards. Dempsey also won the Futbol De Primera award, the other player of the year award associated with the United States National Team.

*UCLA product Sydney LeRoux and Hermosa Beach resident Abby Wambach were named by U.S. Soccer as the Young Female Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year respectively. Brek Shea and Clint Dempsey won the corresponding awards for male players. All the award winners were picked by fans

They scored, they scored again...and they scored again. In the opening game of the 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament, the United States women showed no mercy, completely showing up the Dominican Republic. The star of the night was Amy Rodriguez who despite not coming into the game until the second half, managed to score five goals, tying the tournament record.

U.S. Soccer Communications
VANCOUVER, Canada – The U.S. Women's National Team rolled past a young and over-matched Dominican Republic side to open the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament with a dominating 14-0 victory in a match played indoors at BC Place.
The 14 goals set a U.

The United States Soccer Federation announced on Friday its end of year awards, with the highest honors of Male Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year going to US nationals Clint Dempsey and Abby Wambach. Young Male Athlete of the Year and Young Female Athlete of the Year, which can only be [.

The United States Soccer Federation announced on Friday its end of year awards, with the highest honors of Male Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year going to US nationals Clint Dempsey and Abby Wambach. Young Male Athlete of the Year and Young Female Athlete of the Year, which can only be [.

Here are the highlights of the USA vs Dominican Republic CONCACAF Olympics match played in Vancouver, BC. Abby Wambach and Co., made mincemeat of 88th seeded Dominican Republic. Amy Rodriguez scored five, Heather O' Reilly poured in another three as the US Women scored a record 14 goals to nil.