ESPN2 to Broadcast WUSA Games

April 3, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release

ATLANTA (Thursday, April 3, 2003) - The 2003 Women's United Soccer Association season will feature a new television partner, as WUSA President and CEO Lynn Morgan announced today that the ESPN networks will join PAX TV in broadcasting 23 league games in 2003. The WUSA's 2003 national television schedule will kick off with a rematch of Founders Cup II when the Washington Freedom visit the Carolina Courage on ESPN2 April 5 at 2:00 pm (ET). Highlighting Saturday's ESPN2 match will be Washington forward Mia Hamm wearing a wireless microphone, putting viewers on the field with the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year.

"With the Women's World Cup on the horizon, it's a natural fit for the WUSA to partner with the ESPN networks in 2003," said Morgan. "The combination of the PAX Game of the Week and our expanded distribution with ESPN2 provides WUSA fans with a variety of options to watch the top stars who will be competing in the World Cup later this year."

The ESPN networks, which will televise the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in September and October with ABC Sports, will televise four games live during the 2003 WUSA season. In addition to the opening match between Washington and Carolina on April 5, ESPN2 will televise the 2003 WUSA All-Star Game on June 19, a WUSA Playoff Semifinal on August 17 and Founders Cup III, the WUSA's championship match, on August 24.

"This agreement with WUSA expands our commitment to women's sports," said Mark Shapiro, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production. "Our coverage of this league will provide tremendous national exposure for the stars of women's soccer leading into the 2003 Women's World Cup from China."

PAX returns for a second season with its WUSA Game of the Week, broadcasting 19 games on consecutive Saturdays beginning April 12 when the Boston Breakers visit the Atlanta Beat. WUSA on PAX matches will once again be televised at 4:00 pm (ET) each Saturday, providing a consistent destination date and time for soccer fans. For the first time in WUSA history, the league will not decide on the opponents for the final PAX Game of the Week on August 9 in order to provide soccer fans with the best possible matchup with playoff implications. The decision on the two opponents for the August 9 game will be made in early August. PAX will televise 18 regular season games and one WUSA Playoff Semifinal on August 16.

"PAX TV is proud to showcase the best women's soccer players in the world for a second season," said Stephen Appel, President of Sales and Marketing, PAX Television Network. "The WUSA is an important part of PAX's family entertainment."

The WUSA's broadcast team of Beth Mowins and Anson Dorrance return for a second consecutive season. Mowins and Dorrance will handle the call for all WUSA games on ESPN2 and PAX. Veteran sports broadcaster Mowins will serve as lead play-by-play announcer and former U.S. women's national team head coach and current University of North Carolina head coach Dorrance will serve as the analyst. In addition, former U.S. national team star and veteran soccer broadcaster Wendy Gebauer Palladino will serve as the sideline reporter for the April 5 match between Washington and Carolina.

ESPN Inc. is the nation's leading media outlet for domestic and international soccer in the United States. This year, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present 150 hours of live soccer programming featuring the U.S. men's and women's national teams, 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, Major League Soccer, WUSA, UEFA Champions League - the world's top international club championship series, and the NCAA men's and women's final four.

Paxson Communications Corporation owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television distribution system and PAX TV, family television. PAX TV reaches 88% of U.S. television households via nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. PAX TV's original series include, "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye," starring Deanne Bray, "Doc," starring recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus and "Just Cause" starring Richard Thomas and Lisa Lackey. Other original PAX series include "It's A Miracle" and "Candid Camera." For more information, visit PAX TV's website at .

Featuring the best women's soccer players in the world, WUSA athletes include Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Tiffeny Milbrett, Briana Scurry, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy and dozens of international stars. Approximately 50 WUSA players will compete in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in China in September and October. The eight WUSA teams are the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit, San Jose CyberRays and the Washington Freedom. The league will kick off its third season April 5, 2003.

- WUSA NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE FOLLOWS -

WUSA 2003 NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Date Opponents Network Time (ET)
Sat. April 5 Washington at Carolina ESPN2 2:00 p.m.
Sat. April 12 Boston at Atlanta PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. April 19 San Diego at New York PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. April 26 Atlanta at Washington PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. May 3 New York at Philadelphia PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. May 10 Philadelphia at Washington PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. May 17 Philadelphia at New York PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. May 24 San Diego at Carolina PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat . May 31 San Jose at Boston PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. June 7 Carolina at Atlanta PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. June 14 San Diego at Philadelphia PAX 4:00 p.m.
Thur. June 19 WUSA All-Star Game ESPN2 7:30 p.m.
Sat. June 21 New York at San Diego PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. June 28 Boston at Philadelphia PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. July 5 San Jose at New York PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. July 12 Washington at Atlanta PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. July 19 Atlanta at Boston PAX 4:00 p.m.
* Sat. July 26 New York at San Diego PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 2 San Jose at Washington PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 9 Opponents TBD (pending playoff race) PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 16 WUSA Playoff Semifinal PAX 4:00 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 17 WUSA Playoff Semifinal ESPN2 6:00 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 24 WUSA Founders Cup III ESPN2 4:00 p.m.

* Tape delayed from Wednesday, July 23

WUSA on National TV Breakdown
Total Games 23 games
PAX TV 19 games
ESPN2 4 games

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 3, 2003

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• ESPN2 to Broadcast WUSA Games - WUSA

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