KENNESAW, GA (June 1, 2010) – The Atlanta Beat Women’s Professional Soccer team has agreed to terms with US National Team starting goalkeeper Hope Solo, defender Tina Ellertson, and current WPS leading scorer Eniola Aluko. The Beat acquire these three players from the recently dissolved Saint Louis Athletica after placing No.1 draft pick, Tobin Heath on season ending injury reserve and releasing both Lauren Sesselmann and Marisha Schumacher Hodge.

“We’re very excited to bring in three players of their class,” said Beat head coach O’Sullivan. “We know they will make an immediate impact on our team.”

Building from the back, goalkeeper Hope Solo joins the Beat with an impressive resume both on the professional and international levels. In 2009, she was named WPS Goalkeeper of the Year and was a member of the WPS All-Star team. She led all votes in fan balloting for the All-Star game and started 17 of 17 games that she was available to play in the league’s inaugural season. Not only did she record back-to-back shutouts on three different occasions in 2009, but she also recorded the first ever assist by a goalkeeper in WPS history.

As the starting keeper for the U.S. Women’s National Team, Solo is an Olympic Gold Medalist who was named 2009 U.S. Female Athlete of the Year. She was named MVP of the prestigious Algarve Cup after a spectacular performance in the championship game, and according to O’Sullivan, “She is the best goalkeeper in the world.”

Defender Tina Ellertson joins the Beat as one of only seven players league-wide who started every game of the 2009 season. She has so far logged more minutes than any Athletica player in 2010 and will rejoin Kia McNeill at the centerback position. “We feel Tina and Kia will make a great partnership at the back,” said the Coach O’Sullivan. In 2009, the duo (along with Solo) allowed the second fewest goals WPS (15) earning the second lowest goals against average(0.75) and the second most shutouts (10).

Also joining the Beat is Aluko, a forward from England’s National team who currently leads WPS in scoring with four goals in six games after tallying six goals and four assists in 2009. “Eni brings a lot of pace and a goal scoring threat to our attack,” said O’Sullivan. “She is constantly improving her game, and we look forward to seeing her continue at the top of the WPS scoring charts.”

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About the Atlanta Beat
The Atlanta Beat joins Women’s Professional Soccer as one of two expansion teams in the 2010 season. Atlanta entrepreneur Fitz Johnson secured the rights to the Atlanta team in September 2008 before naming Shawn McGee as General Manager and Gareth O’Sullivan as Head Coach in the summer of the following year. On June 18, 2009, the Atlanta Beat officially became the ninth franchise in WPS as Johnson, McGee, WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin unveiled the team name, logo and colors. The Beat acquired its first official players through the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft and 2009 International Draft in mid-September before completing its roster with the 2010 WPS Draft in January. Atlanta’s new team takes on the same name as the market’s former Women’s United Soccer Association club which was the only WUSA team to reach the playoffs in every season. The Beat's colors are Ferrari Red, Championship Gold, and Black.

About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)
Headquartered in San Francisco, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world’s premier soccer league for women with seven teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, seven teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including five original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom – and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for September 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.

About Well Star
WellStar Health System is the official jersey sponsor and Healthcare provider for the Atlanta Beat’s inaugural season. WellStar, a not-for-profit health system, includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Physicians Group; Urgent Care Centers; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit www.wellstar.org.