Special to the News-Press

United Soccer Leagues has announced the full list of 128 players participating in the upcoming United Soccer League W-League Combine.

The combine gives elite players an opportunity to showcase their abilities for the Women’s Professional Soccer league and other coaches and scouts Sept. 4-7 at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa, Fla.

Among the selected players are Real Colorado Cougar standouts Afton Sauer and Katie Hooker.

“Since the league was founded in 1995, the W-League has been the cornerstone for women’s elite club soccer for 14 years, providing a home for the world’s best players and developing the stars of the future,” said W-League Director of Operations Melanie Fitzgerald. “The players gathering for the combine are among the best in the league over the past few years and include many that may become household names with WPS clubs or beyond in the near future. History has shown USL’s dedication to development of the female player — and the women’s game — to be of the highest caliber, and we are confident the WPS coaches, general managers and scouts on hand will be in agreement in September.”

With many current and former internationals on the list, as well as collegiate standouts, it is expected that numerous players drafted and signed by WPS will hail from the W-League.

Historically, the same occurred with the launch of the Women’s United Soccer Association in 2001.

A total of 92 current and former W-League players were allocated or drafted by the WUSA leading up to the first of its three seasons.

Sauer is a player who came up through the Real system and has had numerous accolades, including a state championship at ThunderRidge High School and with the Real Colorado youth program, U23 National Champion, and third team All-American honors at the University of Kansas.

Hooker was a mid-season addition to the Cougars central midfield and provided creativity and leadership from her attacking midfield spot.

She is a former player in the WUSA with the Atlanta Beat and also is a current assistant coach with the University of Denver Pioneers women’s team. Hooker also a first team all Central Region player at DU in 2002.

For more information, visit the Real Colorado Web site at www.realcolorado.net or call 303-324-1281.