Tomorrow, we finally will play our first game as a team and as a franchise with the name of Philadelphia Independence written on our jerseys. I was going through and reading my entry prior to my first game last year (which was the WPS Inaugural game where LA Sol played Washington Freedom) and it was interesting to read the feelings and thoughts I had leading into that game. This time round it will be a bit different because I know a bit more of what to expect in the level of players but the ‘new-ness’ of my team and what we will produce come game time is still yet to be told. I mean I know my teammates but the truth is we’ve only played together for about a month and in that time we have gotten to know one another on and off the field well but when that whistle blows tomorrow as much as you all will be wondering where we all will stand together, we will as well. I think it is great that we play Atlanta Beat because they are in the same situation. I think their franchise has done well so far in the time they’ve had together but how each team will fair this year, no one truly knows until that whistle blows.

It has been an adjustment and change being in Philly from LA but the best part of it all is that I am playing a sport I truly love and doing a ‘job’ that I am excited to do. I feel so fortunate and blessed to be still playing this sport in front of the fans and kids who enjoy watching me play. WUSA days in Boston brought me some of the best memories of my life, as did playing in LA. Now, this is a new chapter and I know there is so much to look forward to, I truly cannot wait. The girls are great, I get along so well with all of them; the franchise is so supportive and caring of us as players; and this city of brotherly love has showed us enough support that I feel this franchise will be around for a very long time.

With all that said, who knows what tomorrow will bring? I know I will be honored as the national anthem is being played because I am there living that moment in my life. When I look beside me I will see the new faces of my new teammates and I will play my heart out because I know this much from our few weeks together…this group of girls will sweat, bleed and die for me on the field and I can only repay them by committing to do the same. On paper many will argue that there are better teams but at the end of the day, we can only control what we can which is our desire and will to produce every time we step on the field.

2010 WPS season finally begins and I am looking forward to every minute of it….

Stay tuned.

KK