All-WUSA Team Announced

Published on August 20, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release


ATLANTA (Wednesday, August 20 2003) - The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) announced it first and second All-WUSA teams today. The All-WUSA Teams represents the group of players that excelled the most at their respective positions during the 2003 season The Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, and Washington Freedom each placed three players on the All-WUSA First Team. The Boston Breakers led all clubs with six players selected to the first and second All-WUSA teams. Atlanta and San Diego tied with four players each on the first and second All-WUSA teams.

Boston's Kristine Lilly is the only player to land a spot on the All-WUSA First Team in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The 2003 Women's World Cup is expected to showcase 17 of the 22 players, from five different countries, that were selected to the first and second All-WUSA teams.

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 2003.

FORWARD - Maren Meinert - Boston Breakers - The German standout accomplished a rare triple in 2003, winning Hyundai All-Star Game MVP, regular season Most Valuable Player and First Team All-WUSA. She finished sixth in WUSA scoring (9g, 10a, 28pts.) in her final season before retirement.

FORWARD - Dagny Mellgren - Boston Breakers - Along with teammate Meinert, Mellgren forms one of the most lethal offensive attacks in the league. The Norwegian national team star tied for the WUSA lead in goals with 14 in 2003.

FORWARD - Abby Wambach - Washington Freedom - The second-year player out of University of Florida tied for the WUSA Scoring Championship (13g, 7a, 33pts.) with her Freedom teammate Mia Hamm. Wambach also led the WUSA in points per game (1.78), fouls committed (62) and game-winning goals (4-t). She was honored yesterday as the winner of the 2003 WUSA Goal of the Year.

MIDFIELDER - Kristine Lilly - Boston Breakers - The world's all-time caps leader is the only player to appear on the All-WUSA team all three years. The former University of North Carolina star finished with 10 points in 2003, and has started every game of her three-year WUSA career.

MIDFIELDER - Shannon Boxx - New York Power - After an offseason trade from San Diego, Boxx dominated the midfield for the Power from her defensive midfield position. She started all 21 games, while notching 10 points. Boxx was called in to U.S. national team training camp this week, the first time she has received a call-up in 2003.

MIDFIELDER - Mia Hamm - Washington Freedom - Hamm returned from an injury-plagued 2002 season to put up the best numbers of her career. The U.S. national team star tied for the scoring title (11g, 11a, 33pts.) and also captured the WUSA Playmaker of the Year Award for leading the league with 11 assists.

MIDFIELDER - Homare Sawa - Atlanta Beat - The midfielder from Japan earned her second consecutive All-WUSA selection. She is one of the most creative players in the league, and has the ability to beat defenders on-on-one.

DEFENDER - Joy Fawcett - San Diego - The 35-year-old defensive stalwart once again came up big for the Spirit. America's #1 soccer mom had arguably her best WUSA season and captured the Defender of the Year award.

DEFENDER - Jennifer Grubb - Washington Freedom - A Notre Dame teammate of fellow All-WUSA member Shannon Boxx, Grubb has never missed a minute of WUSA action during her three seasons. She also possesses one of the hardest shots in the WUSA.

DEFENDER - Sharolta Nonen - Atlanta Beat - The Canadian national team standout started all 21 regular season games for the Beat, while leading them to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Nonen anchored the best defense in the league as the Beat allowed just 0.90 goals per game in 2003.

GOALKEEPER - Briana Scurry - Atlanta Beat - The WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year in 2003, she held opponents to a WUSA-low 0.95 GAA in 2003. The athletic 'keeper led the league in saves percentage at 79.55 and shutouts with seven.

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 2003.

ALL-WUSA First Team
F - Maren Meinert - Boston Breakers
F - Dagny Mellgren - Boston Breakers
F - Abby Wambach - Washington Freedom
M - Kristine Lilly - Boston Breakers
M - Mia Hamm - Washington Freedom
M - Shannon Boxx - New York Power
M - Homare Sawa - Atlanta Beat
D - Joy Fawcett - San Diego Spirit
D - Jennifer Grubb - Washington Freedom
D - Sharolta Nonen - Atlanta Beat
GK - Briana Scurry - Atlanta Beat

ALL-WUSA Second Team
F - Julie Fleeting - San Diego
F - Charmaine Hooper - Atlanta Beat
F - Birgit Prinz - Carolina Courage
M - Julie Foudy- San Diego Spirit
M - Angela Hucles - Boston Breakers
M - Tiffany Roberts - Carolina Courage
M - Aly Wagner - San Diego Spirit
D - Kylie Bivens - Atlanta Beat
D - Brandi Chastain - San Jose CyberRays
D - Kate Sobrero - Boston Breakers
GK - Karina LeBlanc - Boston Breakers

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 20, 2003


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