(August 21, 2002)                                                                                             Hot News Main Page

ALL-WUSA First And Second Teams Announced
22 WUSA Players Recognized as the Elite of 2002 

ATLANTA GA (August 21, 2002) - The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) announced it first and second All-WUSA teams today. The Carolina Courage led all clubs with four players selected to the All-WUSA First Team.

Similar to the National Football League's All-Pro Team, the All-WUSA First Team is a group of individuals who have earned the right to be labeled as the best at their positions in 2002.

FORWARD - Marinette Pichon - Philadelphia Charge - Her sophisticated runs and clinical finishing resulted in 14 goals (2nd in the WUSA). The French international was the only Charge player to finish among the league's top 20 scorers (29 pts.). She is one of three finalists for the WUSA Most Valuable Player award that will be announced on Thursday.

FORWARD - Katia - San Jose CyberRays - She was the WUSA scoring champion with 15 goals and five assists for 35 points and won the WUSA Goal of the Year award. The Brazilian forward was a three-time WUSA Player of the Week.

FORWARD - Birgit Prinz - Carolina Courage - She finished tied for second in WUSA scoring (12g, 8a, 32 pts.) despite playing in just 14 games. The German international was a two-time WUSA Player of the Week in 2002.

MIDFIELDER - Kristine Lilly - Boston Breakers - She finished tied for fourth in WUSA scoring with eight goals and 13 assists for 29 points and set a new WUSA record with a 10-game point streak in 2002. The all-time WUSA leader in assists (25) helped lead Boston to an undefeated record at home this season.

MIDFIELDER - Hege Riise - Carolina Courage - The Norwegian national team star finished tied for ninth in WUSA scoring (6g, 13a, 25 pts.). The creative playmaker's 13 assists tied for second in the WUSA as she led the Courage to the club's first WUSA regular season title.

MIDFIELDER - Sissi - San Jose CyberRays - Known for her crafty midfield moves and precision passes, San Jose's Sissi finished tied for fifth in the WUSA with nine assists. The Brazilian playmaker is fourth all-time in assists (20) in the WUSA.

MIDFIELDER - Homare Sawa - Atlanta Beat - She became a major component of the Beat's offense in 2002. The Japanese national team standout more than doubled her 2001 goal production, finding the back of the net seven times in 2002 after scoring just three goals last year.

DEFENDER - Danielle Slaton - Carolina Courage - The first overall pick in the 2002 WUSA Draft, Slaton stepped into the Courage's starting lineup and was a key reason the club won the WUSA regular season championship. The Carolina defender finished tied for first on the team in game-winning goals (3, tied with Riise) in 2002.

DEFENDER - Jennifer Tietjen - Philadelphia Charge - She was a steady central defender, starting 20 games while anchoring the WUSA's stingiest defense. Tietjen finished the season with a goal and three assists.

DEFENDER - Erica Iverson - Philadelphia Charge - After playing in just four games in 2001, Philadelphia's Iverson took over 2001 Defensive Player of the Year Doris Fitschen's role and started 19 games in 2002. Inverson led a back line, which allowed a league-low 1.05 goals per game.

GOALKEEPER - Kristin Luckenbill - Carolina Courage - She led the WUSA with 114 saves, the league's only goalkeeper to go above the century mark. The Dartmouth graduate played in every minute during the 2002 regular season for the Courage.

The All-WUSA teams (first and second) feature the top players from each position, compiling a lineup of 11 elite players from the league's eight teams based on a 3-4-3 alignment. WUSA coaches, general mangers and players voted in conjunction with members of the media to determine this star-studded lineup in 2002.

ALL-WUSA First Team
F - Marinette Pichon - Philadelphia Charge
F - Katia - San Jose CyberRays
F - Birgit Prinz - Carolina Courage
M - Kristine Lilly - Boston Breakers
M - Hege Riise - Carolina Courage
M -Sissi - San Jose CyberRays
M - Homare Sawa - Atlanta Beat
D - Danielle Slaton - Carolina Courage
D - Jennifer Tietjen - Philadelphia Charge
D - Erica Iverson - Philadelphia Charge
GK - Kristin Luckenbill - Carolina Courage

ALL-WUSA Second Team
F - Tiffeny Milbrett - New York Power
F - Abby Wambach - Washington Freedom
F - Danielle Fotopoulos - Carolina Courage
M - Maren Meinert - Boston Breakers
M - Mia Hamm - Washington Freedom
M - Zhao Lihong - Philadelphia Charge
M - Julie Foudy - San Diego Spirit
D - Jennifer Grubb - Washington Freedom
D - Jenny Benson - Philadelphia Charge
D - Brandi Chastain - San Jose CyberRays
GK - Briana Scurry - Atlanta Beat

WUSA AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE

Wed., Aug. 21- Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, All-WUSA First and Second team, Team Community Service award, Team Fair Play award, Executive of the Year

Thur., Aug. 22 - Most Valuable Player

[Source: Dan Courtemanche, (678) 645-0757, www.WUSA.com, Paul Dodson - (678) 645-0764, WUSA Communications]