WSW USA National Team News

June 7, 2001

China, Germany, and Japan to play in 2001 Nike U.S. Cup

All three of the USA's matches in the tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2. The United States has won seven consecutive NIKE U.S. Cup tournaments while compiling a dominating record of 20-0-0.

This is the first tournament competition for the United States since the kickoff of the WUSA. It will help U.S. Head Coach April Heinrichs planning for next year's CONCACAF qualifying round for the 2003 Women's World Cup to be held in China.

"This will be the first time our players will come together after playing in a pro league for six months," said Heinrichs. "The most exciting aspect is that they will enter the tournament in peak physical and technical condition after having trained daily, and competed in games weekly, while having their competitive edge sharpened. We will come together as a team at a higher level than ever before. We certainly have to get used to playing together again and playing at that speed, but we will the hit the ground running faster than we ever have for a world class event."

Germany and Japan will open the tournament on Friday, Sept. 7th, at a venue to be determined in Chicago. The first of three doubleheaders involving the U.S. squad will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9, at Soldier Field. The USA will face Germany (Noon CT) in a match broadcast live on ESPN, followed by long time Asian rivals China and Japan (2:30 p.m. CT). The tournament will then move to Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. China and Germany will play at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, followed by the USA playing Japan at 9 p.m. in a match broadcast live on ESPN2.

The tournament concludes on Sunday, September 16th as the USA faces China at Noon CT in a game broadcast live on ESPN. That match will be followed by an MLS contest featuring the defending champion Kansas City Wizards vs. the Colorado Rapids in Kansas City's regular season finale.

Tickets

Tickets for the 2001 NIKE U.S. Cup go on sale online and at Ticketmaster on Friday, June 8.
Ticket prices for the USA-Germany and China-Japan doubleheader at Soldier Field range from $18-45 and can be purchased at all Chicago area Ticketmaster outlets or fans can order by phone by calling 312/559-1212.

Tickets for the doubleheader in Columbus featuring China vs. Germany and the USA vs. Japan range from $18-40 and can be purchased at all Ohio Ticketmaster outlets (614/431-3600) and the Columbus Crew Stadium ticket office. Fans can also call 877/CREWFAN for more ticket information.
Tickets for the doubleheader in Kansas City, Mo. range from $13-28 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets in the Mid-America region and at the Arrowhead Stadium ticket office. Fans can charge by phone by calling 816/931-3330. Group discounts are also available for the tournament doubleheaders.