Sporting Kansas City won Tuesday's weighted lottery for the rights to Soony Saad, the former University of Michigan forward who signed an MLS contract over the weekend.
Chivas USA (45.9 percent) and the Chicago Fire (32.3 percent) had the best chance at winning the lottery, but Sporting KC (21.2 percent chance) wound up with the 18-year-old youth soccer star, who left the NCAA ranks after a 19-goal freshman season with the Wolverines. The expansion Portland Timbers had a miniscule 0.6 percent chance of winning the lottery.
The percentage chances were calculated by taking into account each team’s record over its last 34 regular-season games, dating back to last year. Expansion teams automatically receive the smallest percentages in the process.
The Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake were precluded from participating in the Saad lottery after winning lotteries earlier this year.
The league uses the lottery mechanism for: 1) players who have completed their college eligibility and sign after the SuperDraft; 2) underclassmen who sign Generation Adidas contracts after the SuperDraft; and 3) players who were previously offered MLS contracts and did not sign.
The 18-year-old Detroit-area native has earned several major accolades throughout his young career: 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2009 Gatorade High School Player of the Year, 2008 US Soccer Development Academy Player of the Year and 2007 national champion with the Michigan Wolves.
