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WUSA Team-by-Team Capsules
Updated: Wednesday April 11, 2001 4:48 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- A team-by-team look at the Women's United Soccer Association, which begins play Saturday with the Bay Area CyberRays at the Washington Freedom (home sites in parentheses): Atlanta Beat (Georgia Tech) Led by China's top scorer, Sun Wen, the first choice in the league's draft of foreign players, the Beat should have a strong offense. Sun, FIFA's co-player of the century; U.S. team star Cindy Parlow; Canada's Charmaine Hooper; and Japan's Homare Sawe will be the prime scorers in what should be an exciting attack. Briana Scurry is the career leader in wins among U.S. goalies. Bay Area CyberRays (San Jose State) With eight World Cup veterans, the CyberRays should have an edge in experience. World Cup heroine Brandi Chastain anchors the defense and can be expected to join an attack that features two Brazilian standouts, midfielder Sissi and forward-midfielder Katia. Boston Breakers (Boston University) A balanced roster features Kristine Lilly in midfield and Kate Sobrero on defense. Both were key performers for the U.S. team in 1999 and 2000, and Lilly has played more games for her country than anyone. Goalie Tracy Ducar also has national team experience, as do Germany's Bettina Wiegmann and Maren Meinert and Norway's Dagny Mellgren. Leadership should be no problem. Carolina Courage (University of North Carolina) The Courage have Marcia McDermott, the only female head coach in the league. They also feature veterans in U.S. co-captain Carla Overbeck; Wen Lirong, the career leader in international appearances for China; and Norwegian Olympic champions Hege Riise and Bente Nordby. The top youngsters are Danielle Fotopoulos and Staci Wilson. New York Power (Mitchell Field, Long Island) Tiffeny Milbrett, one of America's prime scoring threats, is joined by Norwegian Ann Kristin Aarones to form a dangerous combination up front. Norwegian defender Gro Espeseth and American Christie Pearce will pace the back line in front of one of the world's top keepers, Gao Hong of China. The rising star could be midfielder-defender Sara Whalen, who played for the national team the last two seasons. Philadelphia Charge (Villanova University) One of the league's youngest teams, the Charge feature midfielder Lorrie Fair, who has become a mainstay with the U.S. squad after leading North Carolina to three national championships being named 1999 Youth Female Athlete of the Year. She will be complemented by Mandy Clemens and Kelly Smith, both also 22. Smith, on England's national team since the age of 16, led the nation in scoring twice at Seton Hall. Clemens won the Hermann Trophy as top college player at Santa Clara. San Diego Spirit (University of San Diego) U.S. co-captain Julie Foudy, one of the leaders in organizing the league, heads the midfield and should be the driving force for a team that also features China's Fan Yunjie on defense and Nigerian striker Mercy Akide. The Spirit will be without top defender Joy Fawcett, who is pregnant. But the team appears set in goal with Sweden's Ulrika Karlsson and American Jaime Pagliarulo. Washington Freedom (RFK Stadium) What could be the WUSA's flagship franchise, the Freedom have Mia Hamm, recently voted the most popular female athlete in America. The career goals leader for the sport, Hamm will have plenty of help in attack from Brazilians Roseli and Pretinha. The club is somewhat inexperienced on defense but has the top keeper for the United States, Siri Mullinix.
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