Spirit Releases 2003 WUSA Schedule

December 19, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Spirit released its 2003 WUSA schedule today, featuring 11 home matches at Torero Stadium. The Spirit will play a 21-game regular season schedule facing each of their seven opponents three times each. For the third consecutive year, the Spirit will open and close the season at home.

Release Summary

- Mia Hamm and the Freedom are scheduled to visit San Diego twice on July 16 and August 9.

- Each WUSA team will come to San Diego at least once, Boston, New York, San Jose and Washington twice.

- Fans will be able to see the world's best women's soccer players before they participate in the 2003 World Cup in China.

- Individual game tickets go on sale Feb. 15, while mini-plans will be available beginning Jan. 12 at the USWNT game.

San Diego, featuring the debut of the league's #1 overall draft pick, kicks off their third WUSA campaign a week earlier this year at home, as Kristine Lilly, Kate Sobrero and new head coach Pia Sundhage come to town with the Boston Breakers on Saturday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. for the season opener. The Spirit finishes the season on Saturday, August 9, when Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom play at Torero Stadium. The game will mark the second appearance of the season by Hamm, the 2002 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, as the Freedom also visit San Diego on Wednesday, July 16.

Each WUSA team will visit San Diego at least once in 2003. In addition to the Freedom, the Breakers, New York Power and San Jose CyberRays will come to Torero Stadium twice. To accommodate the team's core audience of families, nine of the 11 Spirit home games will be played on weekends, five on Saturdays beginning at 6:00 p.m. and four on Sundays with a 5:00 p.m. kickoff. The remaining two matches will be played on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Fans will be able to see many of the top players in the world at Torero Stadium, as they prepare for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in September. Several matches highlight the slate, including the only visit by the defending WUSA Founders Cup champion Carolina Courage on Sunday, August 3; two heated battles with Brandi Chastain and intra-state rival San Jose on Sunday, April 27 and Sunday, June 29; and the Cox Civil War continues on Saturday, May 31, as Charmaine Hooper and the Atlanta Beat ventures into San Diego.

"The 2003 home schedule is weekend oriented and balanced to accommodate our fans," said Spirit general manager Dave Presher. "In addition to having great home dates, our fans will be able to take advantage of this being a World Cup year and a have a chance to watch world-class players in person before they hit the world's stage in China."

The Spirit plays four of their first seven matches on the road with four trips to the Eastern Time zone. San Diego then hosts four of their next five games at fan-friendly Torero Stadium. The team embarks on a three-game, eight-day road trip to Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Jose to start the month of July. In the stretch run of the season, the Spirit will be home for four of their final six matches.

The complete local and national television, and promotional schedule will be announced at a later date.

SAN DIEGO SPIRIT 2003 WUSA SCHEDULE Day/Date Opponent Time (PT)

Sat., April 5 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.

Sat., April 19 @ New York 4:00 p.m.

Sun., April 27 SAN JOSE 5:00 p.m.

Sun., May 4 @ Boston 1:00 p.m.

Sat., May 10 @ Atlanta 4:00 p.m.

Sun., May 18 BOSTON 5:00 p.m. Sat., May 24 @ Carolina 4:00 p.m.

Sat., May 31 ATLANTA 6:00 p.m. Sat., June 7 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.

Sat., June 14 @ Philadelphia 4:00 p.m.

Sat., June 21 NEW YORK 6:00 p.m. Sun., June 29 SAN JOSE 5:00 p.m.

Sat., July 5 @ Philadelphia 4:00 p.m. Wed., July 9 @ Atlanta 4:00 p.m.

Sun., July 13 @ San Jose 3:00 p.m. Wed., July 16 WASHINGTON 7:00 p.m.

Sat., July 19 @ Carolina 4:00 p.m.

Wed., July 23 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m. Sat., July 26 @ Washington 4:00 p.m.

Sun., Aug 3 CAROLINA 5:00 p.m.

Sat., Aug 9 WASHINGTON 6:00 p.m.

All home matches are played at Univ. of San Diego's Torero Stadium



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from December 19, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central