WASHINGTON, D.C. - (Thursday, April 15, 2004) - The matchups are set for the WUSA Soccer Festivals in June, as all eight teams will be competing in the exhibition events.  The world's best female soccer players will display their skills at the National Sports Center the weekend of June 17-20 and at The Home Depot Center June 24-27.  The matchups for the two venues follow:

National Sports Center - Blaine, Minnesota
Game 1 - Atlanta Beat vs. New York Power
Game 2 - Boston Breakers vs. Washington Freedom

The Home Depot Center - Carson, California
Game 1 - San Diego Spirit vs. Carolina Courage
Game 2 - Philadelphia Charge vs. San Jose CyberRays

 Minnesota native Briana Scurry and the Atlanta Beat will battle FIFA World All-Star Shannon Boxx and the New York Power in the first matchup at the National Sports Center.  These two clubs are known for some high-scoring affairs when they meet, but the Beat owns the Power with a 5-0-4 all-time record against Boxx, Tiffeny Millbrett and the rest of the Long Island squad.  

 The second match in Minnesota will feature two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom against U.S. national team veteran Kristine Lilly and the Boston Breakers.  Led by Hamm, Washington's powerful offense also will include FIFA World All-Star Abby Wambach and guest player Shannon MacMillan of the San Diego Spirit.  Boston will counter with acrobatic Canadian national team goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and U.S. national team defender Kate Markgraf (formerly Sobrero).  Also, former San Diego midfielder and U.S. national team regular Aly Wagner will make her Breakers debut after being traded for Angela Hucles in September, 2003.

 WUSA action at The Home Depot Center will highlight the league's two California teams, the San Diego Spirit and the San Jose CyberRays.  Game one will feature Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett and the rest of the San Diego Spirit against fellow U.S. national team veterans Danielle Slaton, Tiffany Roberts and the Carolina Courage.   With high-scoring Danielle Fotopoulos unable to play due to pregnancy and Birgit Prinz out due to German Olympic team training, Carolina's offense will be bolstered by guest player and Mexican national team standout Maribel Dominguez of the Atlanta Beat.

 Brandi Chastain, LaKeysia Beene and the rest of the San Jose CyberRays defense will try and contain the likes of Marinette Pichon, Kelly Smith and the Philadelphia Charge attack in game two.  The CyberRays Brazilian offensive trio of Katia, Sissi and Pretinha are all scheduled to compete for Ian Sawyers' club, providing a wide variety of options for the San Jose attack.  Former University of North Carolina star and U.S. national team defender Cat Reddick is scheduled to make her WUSA debut, joining Heather Mitts, Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo and the rest of the Charge defense in trying to contain San Jose's Brazilian triangle.

 Complete team rosters, including guest players, will be announced in May.  All of the U.S. national team players currently in residency and select international stars will compete in the WUSA Soccer Festivals.

 Washington's Jim Gabarra, Atlanta's Tom Stone, San Jose's Ian Sawyers and Philadelphia's Mark Krikorian (now the head coach of the U.S. Under-19 women's team) are confirmed to manage their respective clubs.  Announcements regarding other coaches will occur in May.

 Due to challenges with player schedules during the month of June, WUSA officials decided to hold two festivals this summer.  Serious discussions for a third festival took place with various communities earlier this year, but league officials and the WUSA Players Association elected to focus on preparation for the Athens Summer Olympic Games rather than squeezing a third festival into a hectic summer schedule for many of the players.  WUSA players will be competing for multiple countries in Greece.

 \"We all believe it is in the everyone's best interests to allow additional time off for our players who are training for the Athens Summer Olympics,\" said Tony DiCicco, Chairman of the WUSA Reorganization Committee.  \"A successful performance by WUSA athletes in Greece will have a significant impact on our efforts to re-launch the WUSA.\"

 The WUSA Soccer Festival Weekends will feature a series of soccer-themed events during the Thursday to Sunday timeframe.  Each weekend is scheduled to feature soccer clinics, player appearances and autograph signing sessions, WUSA Fan Zones, a Friday luncheon and many other festivities.  Complete details regarding the weekend schedule, including the times of the matches, will be unveiled in May.

 Ticket information for the WUSA Soccer Festivals will be announced in May.  Soccer fans are encouraged to check www.WUSA.com, www.nscsports.org, www.homedepotcenter.com for ticket information updates.

 Featuring the best women's soccer players in the world, WUSA athletes include U.S. stars Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy and dozens of international stars such as Germany's Birgit Prinz and France's Marinette Pichon.  The eight WUSA teams that competed during the 2003 season were the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit, San Jose CyberRays and the Washington Freedom.

WUSA SOCCER FESTIVALS AT A GLANCE

WHAT:   Weekend soccer festivals featuring two WUSA matches and various soccer-themed events.

WHEN/WHERE: June 17-20 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN
   June 24-27 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA

MATCHUPS:  National Sports Center - Blaine, Minnesota
   Game 1 - Atlanta Beat vs. New York Power
   Game 2 - Boston Breakers vs. Washington Freedom

   The Home Depot Center - Carson, California
   Game 1 - San Diego Spirit vs. Carolina Courage
   Game 2 - Philadelphia Charge vs. San Jose CyberRays

WHO: The world's greatest female soccer players will participate in these festivals, including many veterans of the 2003 Women's World Cup.  These world-class athletes will feature players from the U.S. national team and WUSA All-Star squads.  In addition, a select group of international stars are expected to participate.  Nearly 100 WUSA players are expected to participate in the WUSA Soccer Festivals.

TICKETS: Ticket information will be available at WUSA.com in May. 

- WUSA -