ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Jan. 16, 2009) - Fanta Cooper, an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team was drafted by Sky Blue FC (NY/NJ) of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) in its inaugural draft Friday afternoon at the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis, Mo.

Cooper has been playing professional soccer since her playing career at Milwaukee. Most recently, she played with the Jersey Sky Blue in the W-League. She was selected with the fourth pick of the 10th round of the draft, as the 67th pick overall.

Cooper was a three-time all-region player for the Panthers from 1997-2000. She was twice named the MCC Player of the Year and started every team game over her four years (80 games). During her career, UWM won two league championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1997. Upon graduation, she was invited to training camp with the Carolina Courage of the now defunct WUSA.

Since leaving Milwaukee, Cooper has played with the Chicago Cobras of the W-League (1998-2004), Bälinge IF in Sweden (2005-06) and most recently with the Jersey Sky Blue (2007). She was the W-League Defender of the Year in 2003 and added all-league honors the next season as well. With Bälinge IF, she helped the team to a 19-1-2 record in the second division to promotion into the Damallsvenskan.

Formed in September 2007 as the result of the efforts of the Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc., WPS, which will begin play in April 2009, consists of seven teams across the country. The markets for the 2009 season are Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.