Historic Meeting of Twins to Take Place Saturday

Published on April 23, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (April 23, 2002) - The possibility for an historic first in North American professional sports exists when the Atlanta Beat hosts the Washington Freedom on Saturday, April 27 at 4 p.m. at Herndon Stadium.

Twin sisters Nancy and Julie Augustyniak could take the field for the Beat against Jacqui and Skylar Little, twin sisters who play for the Freedom. There has never been such a matchup in the history of any of the major professional sports leagues in North America--MLB, NFL or AFL, NBA or ABA, NHL, WNBA, MLS, or WUSA.*

There were several pairs of prominent twins who were teammates in those leagues, but none ever faced each other on the field of play. Among them: Rich and Ron Sutter on the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers (1983-1986) and St. Louis Blues (1991-1993); Tom and Dick Van Arsdale on the NBA's Phoenix Suns (1976-1977); and Eddie and Johnny O'Brien on MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates (1953, 1955-1958). Jose Canseco's twin brother Ozzie joined him briefly on the Oakland A's in 1989 and 1990. The Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, are currently teammates on the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

Last season, the Augustyniaks nearly became the first twin siblings ever to win a pro sports title as teammates in North America. But the Beat lost to the Bay Area (now San Jose) CyberRays in a shootout in the WUSA Championship Game.

The WUSA boasts four sets of identical twins playing in the Division I women's professional soccer league. In addition to the Augustyniak and Little twins, the Fair sisters (Lorrie of the Philadelphia Charge and Ronnie of the New York Power) and the Tietjen twins (Jennifer of the Philadelphia Charge and Margaret of the San Diego Spirit) compete in the WUSA.

This Saturday's match versus the Freedom will be broadcast live nationally on PAX-TV. Tickets for Atlanta Beat home games range in price from $8-$20 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the TicketMaster number in your area. In Atlanta, call (404) 249-6400 and from outside Atlanta call 1-800-326-4000. Fans can also find a link to TicketMaster on the Beat's web site at www.theatlantabeat.com.

The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. In the inaugural 2001 WUSA season, the Beat finished as champions of the regular season and runner-up in the league's championship game, Founders Cup. For more information about the Atlanta Beat visit www.theatlantabeat.com.

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