WUSA Freedom Adds Chinese Bai Jie to Roster

WUSA Freedom Adds Chinese Bai Jie to Roster

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The Washington Freedom, a charter team of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), announced today the addition of Chinese national team defender Bai Jie to its 20-member roster.

Defender Bai has appeared more than 50 times for China's national team and was a key player in China's second place finish in the last Women's World Cup in 1999.

"We couldn't be more excited. Bai Jie will be a wonderful addition to the roster," said Katy Button, general manager of the Freedom, "I think it is a great statement about the league that we continue to attract such high level international players."

Bai will add even more depth to an internationally experienced Freedom roster which most notably includes soccer great Mia Hamm and 2000 US Olympic team members Siri Mullinix and Michelle French.

The roster also features Brazilian national team members Pretinha and Roseli, and Anne Makinen of the Finnish national team was the Freedom's first draft pick. She has participated in a week of preseason training and plans to join the Freedom full time after she graduates from Notre Dame this May.

The Freedom has been holding a final spot on the player roster for a "discovery" player, defined as a player not previously identified by the league during the draft process.

To date, Bai Jie, who was born on March 28, 1972 in Hebei, China, has signed a one-year contract with the WUSA and her club team Guangzhou Army signed a release agreement.