Sept. 3, 2003

NEEDHAM, Mass. - The Boston Breakers acquired midfielder Aly Wagner from San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for Breakers three-year starter Angela Hucles and the club's second round pick in the 2004 WUSA Draft.

"We're excited to be adding a player of Aly's stature to our roster. She is an explosive, dynamic playmaker," said Breakers president and general manager, Joe Cummings. "It is difficult to say goodbye to a player and person like Angela, who has done so much for the Breakers over the past three years, but we feel that this is a move to further improve our team and give us the best chance of reaching the Founders Cup next season."

Wagner, 23, was acquired by San Diego in one of the biggest trades in WUSA history last September. The Spirit traded three players and the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft for New York's No. 1 selection and two Power players.

Wagner is one of the young rising stars with the U.S. Women's National Team and was named to the 2003 Women's World Cup team. A native of San Jose, Calif., Wagner has earned 45 caps and has 10 goals. In the 2003 Algarve Cup, Wagner had two goals in four games. In her one year with the Spirit, Wagner had two goals and four assists. One of Wagner's highlights was a two-assist performance in a 4-2 victory over New York in June.

The 5-foot-5 midfielder joins her former Santa Clara teammates Devvyn Hawkins and Heather Aldama on the Breakers roster. Wagner and Hawkins played on the 2001 NCAA Championship team at Santa Clara. Wagner won the 2002 Hermann Trophy as college soccer's top player.

Hucles, 25, was the Breakers 12th round selection in the WUSA Inaugural Draft. The Virginia native finished the 2003 season with one goal and four assists for six points and was recently named to the Women's National Team roster for the 2003 World Cup.

Hucles earned WUSA Player of the Week honors at mid-season when she had the game-winning goal against New York on July 25 and followed that up three days later with two assists against Philadelphia in a wild 2-2 match against the Charge.

She is the Breakers fourth leading scorer with 20 career points and has played in 57 games and started 53. San Diego will also receive the Breakers second round selection in the 2004 WUSA Draft.