Women'Sports Wire

(January 30, 2001)

Kappa Selected as Official Team Uniform Supplier of the
Carolina Courage of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)

NEW YORK, NY (January 30, 2001) Kappa USA and the Carolina Courage of the Women's United Soccer Association/WUSA have reached a multi-year agreement for the Italy-based company to become the Official Team Uniform Supplier when the Courage kicks off its inaugural season in April, 2001. Brian Cawley, Kappa's Director of Marketing and Sara Delgado, WUSA's Vice President of Sponsorship Sales, made the joint announcement today.

The Kappa brand is a leading supplier of athletic apparel and footwear throughout the world. Kappa is the official supplier to six national teams including the Italian Football Federation as well as 72 professional clubs including AS Roma, AS Monaco, Vasco de Gama and the WUSA's Christie Pearce. Kappa USA is a subsidiary of BasicNet in Turin, Italy. Kappa USA supports the sport of soccer at the grassroots level through partnerships with over 120 clubs including sponsorships of the prestigious WAGS Tournament and Sun Bowl Tournament.

"Our brand is a natural soccer partner for the premier women's soccer league in the world. The timing for our brand to partner with the WUSA is ideal from a product and marketing perspective. Most importantly, we look forward to supporting the grassroots soccer market with the Carolina franchise and Time-Warner ownership group," said Brian Cawley, Director of Marketing for Kappa, USA.

"Kappa is one of the top soccer apparel firms in the world with an outstanding reputation for quality and they are a welcome addition to our league," said Delgado. "Their choice to outfit the Carolina Courage and their commitment to support the surrounding grassroots soccer market is a further endorsement of the
WUSA's appeal and of the league's pending success."

The WUSA will launch next April with the following eight teams: Atlanta Beat, Bay Area CyberRays, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit and Washington Freedom. The WUSA will feature all of the members of the 1999 World Cup Champion and 2000 silver medal winning-team. WUSA's founding players are: Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, Tracy Ducar, Lorrie Fair, Joy Fawcett, Danielle Fotopoulos, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Shannon MacMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett, Carla Overbeck, Cindy Parlow, Christie Pearce, Tiffany Roberts, Briana Scurry, Kate Sobrero, Tisha Venturini, Saskia Webber, and Sara Whalen. The league will also feature over 20 of the top international stars from Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Norway and Sweden.

WUSA investors include John S. Hendricks, chairman and CEO of Discovery Communications, Inc., the parent company of Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and other cable network services; Amos B. Hostetter, Jr., former chairman and CEO, Continental Cablevision, Inc., Comcast Corporation, which has majority ownership of QVC, Comcast-Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, and The Golf Channel, and a controlling interest in E! Networks; Cox Enterprises; Cox Communications; and Time Warner Cable.

Information on the WUSA can be found on the league's official website at www.wusaleague.com. [For immediate release contact Shaun May (212) 548-5868/ or Tom Cosentino, OCC (732) 970-0399]