Heather Mitts winds up to send a ball downfield. (Credit: Robyn McNeill)
VILLANOVA, PA (Tuesday, June 10) - Philadelphia Charge defender Heather Mitts has been named to the 2003 Hyundai WUSA All-Star Team as a reserve player for the American Stars. Mitts joins teammate Marinette Pichon as the only representatives from the Charge on either of the all-star squads. Pichon was named as a starter for the World Team last week.

The WUSA All-Star Game will take place on Thursday, June 19 in Cary, North Carolina at SAS Stadium and will feature the league’s World Stars against the American Stars. The game will air live at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and will provide a World Cup preview as all of the top players who are expected to compete in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be in Cary for the three-day event.

This season Mitts has recorded two assists and continues to be considered one of the best defenders in the league. She was called up to the U.S. national team for its May 17 match against England. Mitts played the second half of that game, as the U.S. ran away with a 6-0 win.

This is the second WUSA All-Star appearance for Mitts, who was also on the squad last year.

In conjunction with WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco, the reserves for each team were selected by WUSA American Stars Head Coach Jim Gabarra and WUSA World Stars manager Tom Stone.

The additional World Stars that were selected include Atlanta’s Charmaine Hooper (Canada), Boston’s Dagny Mellgren (Norway), San Jose’s Dianne Alagich (Australia), San Diego’s Julie Fleeting (Scotland), Washington’s Kelly Golebiowski (Australia) and San Jose’s Lakeysia Beene (United States) to the World Stars. Beene was named to the World Stars due to the limited number of international goalkeepers in the WUSA.

In addition to Mitts, Altanta’s Cinday Parlow, Carolina’s Danielle Slaton, Washington’s Siri Mullinix and New York’s Shannon Boxx were named to the American Stars.