Katia wins ESPY for Best Female Soccer Player
July 17, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release
HOLLYWOOD (July 16, 2003) â Katia, the CyberRays forward who set a WUSA scoring record last season, tonight won the ESPY Award as the Best Female Soccer Player in a nationally televised presentation at the Kodak Theater.
With Ronaldo being named Best Male Soccer Player, Brazil swept both soccer awards.
Katia won out in balloting by more than 5 million fans online over three other WUSA stars: Marinette Pichon of the Philadelphia Charge and Birgit Prinz and Kristin Luckenbill of the Carolina Courage.
Katia, also a member of the Brazilian national team, captured the WUSA scoring title with 15 goals and six assists in 2002. The 36 points were the best output in the league's first two seasons. Katia, known for her exciting play, was also honored with the 2002 Goal of the Year.
Pichon, who was named the WUSA'S MVP in 2002, finished fourth in scoring to lead the Philadelphia Charge to the playoffs. The 27-year-old French national team standout won Player of the Week honors twice and was Player of the Month for June last season.
After a last place finish during their inaugural season, the Carolina Courage hoisted the Founders Cup last August. The tandem of Luckenbill and Prinz spearheaded the turnaround. Luckenbill became the first goalkeeper to record more than 100 saves, and Prinz, a German national team member, scored 32 points in only 14 games last season as well as the game-winning goal in Founders Cup II.
All the WUSA nominees except Pichon, whose team played the Atlanta Beat on Wednesday, attended the ceremonies.
In another soccer related award, the hit movie ``Bend It Like Beckham,'' which features scenes from WUSA games, was voted the ESPY for Best Sports Movie.
Tennis star Serena Williams won the ESPY for Best Female Athlete, and cyclist Lance Armstrong, currently bidding to win his fifth consecutive Tour de France, won the male award.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 17, 2003
- Katia wins ESPY for Best Female Soccer Player - San Jose CyberRays
- Spirit Defeats Freedom, 2-1, in Front of Record Crowd - San Diego Spirit
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