Nov. 30, 2000

WACO, Texas - Baylor assistant soccer coach Rebecca Hornbacher and former Baylor star Courtney Saunders are among the 170-plus players invited to the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) combine, to be held December 4-11 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Hornbacher, an all-America selection during her time at Nebraska, and Saunders, a 1998 all-American for the Bears, will participate in five days of competition. The league's general managers and coaches will commence the first WUSA Combine Draft on December 10 and will conclude the draft the next day.

"We want to develop a pipeline from Baylor to the pros," Baylor head coach Nick Cowell said. "When recruits look at Baylor as a school, we want them to know that our training, schedule and facilities will enable them to fulfill their dream of becoming a professional athlete."

The combine is for college graduates only, a college draft will take place in the spring, with draftees receiving invitation to preseason workouts. All-Big 12 selections Dawn Greathouse and Molly Cameron are likely draftees from the 2000 Baylor team.

The WUSA will launch in April with eight teams: the Atlanta Beat, Bay Area CyberRays, Carolina Tempest, Boston Breakers, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spiritand Washington (D.C) Freedom. The WUSA will feature practically all of the members of the 1999 World Cup Champion and 2000 silver medal winning-team. For more information on the league, check out their website at www.wusaleague.com.