The four-year veteran of the National team, Wagner, was also recently made the number one selection in the WUSA Draft by the San Diego Spirit. Before that she led her Santa Clara team to back-to-back NCAA title games in 2001 and 2002, winning it all in 2001.

Wagner flat out dominates the game with her amazingly accurate passes and steady midfield play. Mia and her pals will be missed, but Aly isn’t about to let the USA’s dynasty end.

Q1: How has being one of youngest players on the Women’s National team affected you, has that come up at all?

ALY WAGNER: It doesn’t really matter much other than I’ve learned so much from them both on and off the field. I can’t speak highly enough about all the veterans. They’re just amazing people, and even though they’re my teammates, they’re still inspiring to me and always push me to work harder and become a better play and person.

Being on the National team has always been a dream of mine. I’ve always had the aspirations to make a World Cup team or an Olympic team. Being set on the right path has been tremendous this past year.

Q2: You’re the person a lot of people are targeting to replace Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy. How do you feel about that and the pressure it creates?

ALY WAGNER: Hopefully that is the case, because obviously you can never predict what’s going to happen with players and their development so I just hope I can continue to improve my game in order to help the team in the years to come and that I’m still able to make an impact. Hopefully I’ll still have enough leadership ability and be an overall quality person and help the team

Q3: Who’s going to join you in the next generation of superstars?

ALY WAGNER: There are a lot of players, Cat Reddick, Danielle Slaton, Jena Klugel, Abby Wambach, Lindsay Tarpley. There are so many young players that are so far along in their development that it’s really hard to predict. I do know that regardless of who is on the National team, the U.S is going to be amazingly strong and going to continue to vie for championships.

Q4: There was a lot of hype recently for the NFL Draft and #1 draft pick Carson Palmer, but earlier this year you were the #1 pick in the WUSA draft how does that feel?

ALY WAGNER: Actually I’m good friends with Carson Palmer! Honestly though it’s a tremendous honor and you take it for what it’s worth. Regardless of where you get picked you get to play in a professional soccer league. It really doesn’t matter where you’re picked; it’s what you do during the season that counts.

Q5: Could you take Carson Palmer on the soccer field then?

ALY WAGNER: Oh yeah no problem!

Q6: What does it mean to have the WUSA here as a professional league for women’s soccer?

ALY WAGNER: I think it speaks really well for women’s soccer and knowing what the players in the league have gone through in terms of bringing soccer to the forefront in America, it’s a tremendous attribute that they were able to pull this league off and get it going. To have a soccer league is amazing for all the younger generations to have and dream for because in all reality only 18-20 people make the National team for the big events. To have some other arena past college to strive for is a great prospect for our kids.

Soccer is always a great outlet for the youth and to keep them dreaming is always an amazing thing.

Q7: Have the veterans treated you to any “special” rookie treatment?

ALY WAGNER: No, not really, but I did just get a pie in my face during a television interview. They decided they would start to implement rookie jokes and I was the first one to “benefit” from it.

Q8: Who’s the player on the National team that keeps everyone laughing?

ALY WAGNER: Julie Foudy always makes me laugh. She’s crazy, and I share her sense of humor so I find everything she does completely humorous.

Q9: How nice has it been for you to stay in California since you played college there at Santa Clara and now you can play professionally at San Diego.

ALY WAGNER: I love California. It’s my favorite state. The weather in Southern California is great, it’s a great stadium, fans are awesome. It’s just the perfect environment.

Q10: NBA All-Star Steve Nash graduated from Santa Clara, but have you overtaken him as the best athlete to come out of Santa Clara and changed it to a soccer school?

ALY WAGNER: Of course, we won the first National Championship, but no I’m not bigger than him (laughing). He actually came to the Final Four the year we won it (2001). He came to practice and played with us though so that was really fun.