ATLANTA, GA. -- The Women's United Soccer Association second season will kick off April 13 as dates and matchups for the league's 2002 campaign were announced today by WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco. The WUSA's schedule will feature 83 percent of the league's matches on weekends or holidays, including 63 percent of WUSA games on Saturdays.

All eight teams will kick off their season on April 13 as the Atlanta Beat hosts the Philadelphia Charge, the New York Power travels to RFK Stadium to take on the Washington Freedom, and the San Diego Spirit hosts the Carolina Courage. The highlight of the weekend takes place at 4 p.m. ET when the defending WUSA Champion San Jose CyberRays battle the Boston Breakers at Spartan Stadium in a nationally televised match on PAX TV. The entire WUSA on PAX national television schedule will be announced in the near future.

All games during the first nine weeks of the 2002 season will be played on Saturdays or Sundays. The first weekday match will be Wednesday June 12 when Washington hosts Boston. The WUSA will play 70 of 84 games on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, meaning 83 percent of all matches will be on a weekend or a holiday. During the league's inaugural season in 2001, only 71 percent of all matches were played on a weekend or holiday. Saturday was the most popular day among fans in 2001, drawing 39 percent more fans than the league's season average of 8,104.

Each team will play a 21-game schedule, with New York, Philadelphia, San Jose and Washington playing 11 home matches and 10 road games. Atlanta, Boston, Carolina and San Diego will play 10 home games and 11 road contests. Each club that has 11 home games in 2002 had only 10 home matches in 2001.

The highly popular WUSA doubleheaders with Major League Soccer will continue in 2002 with at least two twinbills on the schedule. The Washington Freedom and D.C. United will play doubleheaders on May 18 and July 27 at RFK Stadium. The WUSA-MLS doubleheaders in 2001 drew more than 66,000 fans for two dates at RFK Stadium. More 2002 doubleheaders may be added to the schedule in the near future.

A rematch of WUSA Founder's Cup I takes place on Sunday, May 19, when Sun Wen and the Atlanta Beat travel to Spartan Stadium to meet Brandi Chastain and the San Jose CyberRays. San Jose defeated Atlanta in a penalty kick shootout on August 25, 2001 after the club's had played to a 3-3 draw following regulation and overtime play.

The following is a look at additional noteworthy items detailing the 2002 WUSA schedule:

The 2002 league and team schedules are available online at http://www.wusa.com. The master schedule for the 2002 WUSA regular season follows.

Featuring the best women's soccer players in the world with athletes such as Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Tiffany Milbrett, Briana Scurry and many international stars from 18 countries, 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 2002 WUSA season is scheduled to kick off April 13.