Dec. 10, 2000
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Six former Bronco women's soccer players were drafted by the newly-formed Women's United Soccer Association this afternoon in the first session of a two-day draft held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The final seven rounds will be held Monday.
Five of the six Broncos drafted in the first eight rounds today played on the 1996 SCU squad that reached the national semifinals. With the inclusion of three SCU alumna that were founding members of the WUSA, seven of the now nine former Broncos in the WUSA played on the same team four years ago. The two exceptions are current Santa Clara assistant coach Brandi Chastain, who played in the 1989 and `90 seasons, and Heather Aldama, a senior forward on this past year's squad.
Additionally, five of the nine Broncos were members of the Class of 1999, and reached four straight NCAA semifinals during their careers. They are Kylie Bivens, Mandy Clemens, Jacqui Little, Kimberly Pickup and Nikki Serlenga.
The WUSA will launch next April in eight team markets: Atlanta, Bay Area, Carolina, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego and Washington D.C.
Jennifer Lalor, an SCU three-time All-American, was the first Bronco selected today, by the New York Power as the 13th pick overall in the second round. Three picks later, the Atlanta Beat selected Kylie Bivens.
Aldama and Pickup were selected in the fourth round by the Boston Breakers and San Diego Spirit, respectively, while Emmy Barr was picked in the fifth round by the Washington Freedom. Little was selected in the sixth round by the Bay Area CyberRays. Her twin sister Skylar will also play professionally, for the Freedom.
More information on the WUSA can be found on the league's official website at www.wusaleague.com.
Former Santa Clara athletes now in the WUSA
Name Position Years at SCU WUSA Team How selected to WUSA
Nikki Serlenga MF 1996-99 Atlanta Beat Allocated at League Formation
Brandi Chastain D 19889-90 Bay Area CyberRays Founding Player
Mandy Clemens F 1996-99 Philadelphia Charge Allocated at League Formation
Jennifer Lalor MF 1992-94, '96 New York Power Drafted in Round Two, Pick 13
Kylie Bivens D 1996-99 Atlanta Beat Drafted in Round Two, Pick 16
Heather Aldama MF 1997-2000 Boston Breakers Drafted in Round 4, Pick 28
Kimberly Pickup D 1996-99 San Diego Spirit Compensation Pick in Round 4, Pick 32
Emmy Barr F 1994-96 Washington Freedom Drafted in Round 5, Pick 39
Jacqui Little MF/F 1996-99 Bay Area CyberRays Drafted in Round 6, Pick 41
Santa Clara athletes by WUSA Team
Atlanta Beat
Nikki Serlenga, midfielder
Kylie Bivens, defender
Bay Area CyberRays
Brandi Chastain, defender
Jacqui Little, midfielder/forward
Boston Breakers
Heather Aldama, midfielder
Carolina Tempest
none
New York Power
Jennifer Lalor, midfielder
Philadelphia Charge
Mandy Clemens, forward
San Diego Spirit
Kim Pickup, defender
Washington Freedom
Emmy Barr, forward
