(February 4, 2004)                                                                                          Hot News Main Page

More WUSA Players Head to the California Storm
Women Professionals Keep Up On Their Game in the Women’s Premier Soccer League

SACRAMENTO, CA (February 4, 2004) Jerry Zanelli, owner of the California Storm Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Team in Sacramento announced the addition of 7 more women professional soccer players from the recently suspended Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA).

Signing to play for the Storm are LaKeysia Beene and Betsy Barr from local area high schools and the San Jose CyberRays. Also from the CyberRays are Christina Bell and Kim Patrick; from the Mexican National Team and the Boston Breakers is Monica Gonzales; from the 2003 WUSA Champion Washington Freedom is Laura Schott; and from the United States Women’s National Team and the Philadelphia Charge is Lorrie Fair.

“The California Storm lost 15 players from our 2000 roster who left to play in the WUSA,” said Jerry Zanelli. “Hopefully our league can be a holding pattern for theses players to return to a future professional league.”

These players will join with other former WUSA players Brandi Chastain, Sissi and Keri Sanchez and 11 returning Storm players, including 4 WPSL All-Stars. The Storm’s upcoming games will be a tournament in Las Vegas February 14-16 and a game against the Japanese Women’s National Team on March 20th.

The California Storm is one of the over 20 teams in the National Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Their season runs from February to August. Based in Sacramento for 14 years, the Storm has won 3 National Championships and was undefeated last year in league play. The 7-year old WPSL is the only national stand alone women’s league and has made a commitment to advance women’s soccer to the highest level. 

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[Source: Jerry Zanelli (916) 487-3512, February 4, 2004 Wendy Hill, General Manager, astormgm@earthlink.net, (916) 202-9700, www.wpsl.info]

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