Jose L. Argueta | isiphotos.com - PURCHASE THIS PHOTO

The Washington Freedom's Jim Gabarra is among the WPS coaches who will be scouting the W-League Combine.

TAMPA, FL – A little less than a week away from the second annual W-League Combine being held at the Tampa Bay Hellenic’s Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa, Florida, United Soccer Leagues (USL) has accepted 70 player applications. The event will begin Thursday, September 24 and run through Sunday, September 27.

“The principal function of the W-League Combine is to give the top players in the league an opportunity to impress WPS coaches,” said W-League Director, Melanie Fitzgerald.

The 2008 W-League Combine was successful in moving 35 players who attended the combine into WPS drafts. The expansion of WPS into Philadelphia (Independence) and Atlanta (Beat) for the 2010 season will likely play a role in increasing the number of W-League alumnae in WPS.

“I feel the combine will give us a great look at some of the top players in the W-league,” said Atlanta Beat Head Coach Gareth O’Sullivan via email. “We hope to be able to fill some roster spots from the event.”