|
October 16, 2000
Eight
top international players sign with WUSA for League play next April
WUSA,
has signed the first eight international players who will compete
in the WUSA. Norway leads the way with Hege Riise, Bente
Nordby, Gro Espeseth and Ann Kristin Aarones..
Two players from Sweden Ulrika Karlsson and Kristin Bengttson,
Charmaine Hooper of Canada, and Kelly Smith of England.
"In order
for the WUSA to have the premier women's soccer league in the world,
we needed to include some of the top international players," said
Lauren Gregg, VP of Player Relations for the WUSA. "I think this
group, in particular, represents some of the finest foreign players
available. Much like the U.S. players, these athletes represent
the foundation of women's soccer in their particular country."
Hege Riise
because it was her corner kick that led to Norway's first goal versus
the U.S. Women in the 2000 Olympic gold medal game. Riise, a central
midfielder, won the Golden Boot (MVP of the World Cup) for her performance
in Norway's World Cup title victory in 1995. Riise was also part
of the 1996 Bronze winning Norwegian Olympic squad and played in
the first Women's World Cup game. Riise is one of the best players
in the women's game today.
Gro Espeseth has been with the Norwegian soccer team for
nearly ten years. She was on Norway's 1991 World Cup silver-medal
team and 1995 World Cup championship team, as well as this year's
gold medal squad. A defender who can play the midfield, Espeseth
was a big contributor to Norway's 1996 Olympic bronze medal team
and played a large role in Norway's win in Sydney. She missed the
1999 World Cup because of injury.
Bente Nordby
has been Norway's top keeper for the past four years. She helped
Norway to its 1996 Olympic bronze medal and to this year's gold
medal. In this year Olympic final versus the U.S., Nordby was credited
with stopping at least four second half shots that could have easily
been goals. "She is considered one of the top three goal keepers
in the world," said Gregg. "We are thrilled to have her talent in
the WUSA."
Ann Kristin
Aarones scored the game-winning goal in the 1995 World Cup,
which denied the U.S. a chance to defend its title. She was part
of the 1995 World Cup championship team, and was a central figure
on the 1996 Olympic bronze medal squad. In the 1995 World Cup she
won the Golden Shoe (top scorer) and the Bronze Ball and the Bronze
Shoe (third leading scorer) in the 1999 World Cup. Aarones has played
111 games for the national team and scored 60 goals.
Sweden's Ulrika Karlsson is rated by WSW as one of the top
five goalkeepers in the world. In 1999, she was chosen by FIFA as
the best goalkeeper in the world. Karlsson has been a member of
the Swedish national team for the past six years, playing in the
1996 and 2000 Olympics, as well as the 1999 World Cup. She was selected
as Sweden's Player of the Year in 1997, the best goalkeeper in Europe
that same year, and competed in the 1999 FIFA World All Star Match.
2000 will mark Karlsson's second year as a member of the indoor
tour's
international team.
Kristin
Bengttson was a member of Sweden's 1996 and 2000 Olympic squads,
as well as its 1999 World Cup team. In 1995, she helped lead Sweden
to a silver medal in the 1995 European championship game and to
the quarterfinals of the 1999 World Cup. Bengttson has 98 caps and
first played for the Swedish national team in 1991 (vs. Finland).
A left-sided player, Bengttson is one of the better defenders in
the world.
Charmaine Hooper, who is both a forward and midfielder, is Canada's
top player. For the past seven years, she has been a member of the
Canadian national team, which competed in both the 1995 and 1999
World Cups. Hooper was selected for the FIFA World All Star Team
in 1999 and is a past (1999) and current member of the Indoor Tour.
She scored a goal in each of the five World Cup games she played
in and has twice been selected for the World All-Stars. She is Canada's
all-time leading scorer (43 goals) and second-most capped player
(67). She played her collegiate soccer at N.C. State and played
professionally for several years in Japan.
Forward Kelly Smith has played five years for the English
National Team but most U.S. fans will recognize her for her standout
collegiate career at Seton Hall University. Smith tallied 76 goals
and netted 174 points in just 51 games for the Pirates. She was
Big East Player of the Year all three years she competed and led
the NCAA in scoring during her last two seasons. An All-American
in 1999, Smith is only the third female to have her jersey number
retired by Seton Hall, where she is currently an assistant coach.
She has been a member of the English National Team since she was
16 and owns 21 caps for appearances in international play.
WUSA will add another eight international players shortly and will
have a foreign player draft later this fall.
|
