USA: SOCCER - INAUGURAL WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TEAM NAMES, LOGOS

Record ID: 167354

  • Title: USA: SOCCER - INAUGURAL WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TEAM NAMES, LOGOS
  • Date: 2nd November 2000
  • Summary: USA: SOCCER - INAUGURAL WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TEAM NAMES, LOGOS spaceplay / pause escstop ffullscreen shift + ←→slower / faster (latest Chrome and Safari) ↑↓volume mmute ←→seek . seek to previous 12…6 seek to 10%, 20%, …60% 1 of 1 Items Duration00:02:38 CopyrightREUTERS Clip RestrictionsNONE (NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) (NOVEMBER 2, 2000) (REUTERS MATERIAL) 1. PLAYERS POSING IN FRONT OF CAMERAS 2. REPORTER INTERVIEWING AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER 3. MIA HAMM INTRODUCED ON PODIUM OF PRESS CONFERENCE 4. AMERICAN SOCCER GIRLS WATCHING PRESS CONFERENCE 5. FORMER US NATIONAL COACH TONY DICCIO INTRODUCING FOREIGN PLAYERS 6. KATIA OF BRAZIL INTRODUCED 7. SISSI OF BRAZIL INTRODUCED 8. ANNE KRISTIN AARONES OF NORWAY INTRODUCED 9. MIA HAMM SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS 10. SOUNDBITE (English) HAMM: "For a lot of us, we got into a comfort zone. Certain people are going to carry this team, certain people are going to lead, and now we are being asked, all of us as individuals, to lead our own franchise. We can't wait, a lot of us are competitors on the field and friends off the field, and we have great respect for one another and admiration, we are going to do whatever we can to help our teams in this league succeed." 11. WASHINGTON FREEDOM LOGO 12. SOUNDBITE (English) HAMM: "I want to play through the next World Cup (in 2003), I think this league is going to preserve and lengthen my career. This is a great opportunity for me to give back to a game that has given me so much." 13. AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER JULIE FOWDY TALKING ON PODIUM 14. SOUNDBITE (English) FOWDY: "This will literally be the best league in the entire world. Already you look at some of the players they have brought on - four of the top Brazilians, Sissi, Katia, Roselea, and Petinia who are going to play in Washington DC. You have some of the Norwegian team - Hega Reece, who was the best player in the '95 World Cup. You just have a mix of the best who want to play in this league because they know how good it is going to be. It really will be the world's best in women's soccer." 15. WIDE VIEW OF PRESS CONFERENCE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved Details The inaugural Women's Professional Soccer League, which begins play in April of 2001, announced team names, logos, and stadium for the eight team markets on Thursday (November 2) in New York City, United States. The American professional league, which will showcase players from the USA women's national team and other leading international players, will play a 21-game schedule from mid-April to mid-August. The WUSA hopes to average crowds of 7,000 a game. "We choose to find friendly, intimate, festive stadiums," acting commissioner Tony DiCicco said. Striker Mia Hamm, who starred on the USA's 1999 World Cup winning team, has been assigned to the Washington Freedom and said she was looking forward to the competition. "We can't wait," Hamm said about launching the league. "I want to play through the next World Cup and I think this league will help preserve and lengthen my career." USA national team captain Julie Foudy said: "We have dreamt about this day since we were born. And talked about it and fantasized about it and said, 'How cool it would be not only to start a league in this country where women can play professional soccer, but have the best league in the world.' And we are doing just that." A brief summary of the eight teams' venues, coaches (when applicable) and top players: The Atlanta Beat will play at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech (46,000 capacity). Coach Tom Stone. Key players: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry (USA), forward Charmaine Hooper (Canada) and midfielder Homare Sawa (Japan). The Boston Breakers will perform at either Zinman Field at Tufts University (6,000) or Foxboro Stadium (67,000). Jay Hoffman will coach the team. Key players: Kristine Lilly (USA), midfielder-forward Maren Meinert (Germany) and midfielder Bettina Wiegmann (Germany). The Bay Area CyberRays will play in Spartan Stadium at San Jose State University (26,000). No coach yet. Key players: Defender Brandi Chastain (USA), midfielder Sissi (Brazil) and forward Katia (Brazil). The New York Power will play at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. (10,000). No coach yet. Key players: Forward Tiffeny Milbrett (USA), defender Gro Espeseth (Norway) and forward Ann Kristin Aarones (Norway). The Carolina Tempest will play at Fetzer Field at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. (5,700). No coach yet. Key players: Defender Carla Overbeck (USA), goalkeeper Bente Nordby (Norway) and midfielder Hege Riise (Norway). The Philadelphia Charge will play at Villanova Stadium (12,000), the only artificial turf field in the league. No coach yet. Key players: Midfielder Lorrie Fair (USA), defender Doris Fitschen (Germany) and forward Kelly Smith (England). The San Diego Spirit will play at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego (4,000 expanded to 7,500). No coach yet. Key players: Midfielder Julie Foudy (USA), defender Joy Fawcett (U.S.), goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson (Sweden) and defender Kristin Bengttson (Sweden). The Washington Freedom will play at RFK Stadium (55,000). Jim Gabarra is the coach. Key players: Forward Mia Hamm (USA), forward Pretinha (Brazil) and midfielder-forward Roseli
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