The meeting of China's top stars as rivals in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) weekend match in Atlanta was a triumph for a league that recruited the best from every team in the world, including the United States' top rivals.

After sitting on the bench for 78 minutes following a December operation to repair torn right knee ligaments, FIFA Co-Player of the Century Sun entered and made a run at the goal, leaping over her compatriot and having a brief chat.

"Well, I asked her how her leg felt, if I injured her in any way, and she said 'I'm fine'," Gao said through a translator after their teams dueled to a goal-less draw. "We spoke in Chinese, of course. It was very convenient."

"I didn't have the chance to shoot," Sun said. "I hope next time I will." she joked that Gao was just another "antagonist" now that they are wearing different uniforms.

International stars have already grabbed headlines in the eight-team, four-game-old league, having scored all four goals netted thus far.

Scorers were Brazilian Pretinha for Washington, Germans Maren Meinert of Boston and Doris Fitschen of Philadelphia plus England's Kelly Smith, also of Philadelphia.

But landing the Chinese talent was a coup for the league, especially after the China Football Association (CFA) initially refused to allow their players into the initial WUSA draft last October.

A few weeks later, with the rest of the world's top stars committed to the project, the Chinese officials relented and allowed the league to sign 1999 Women's World Cup Most Valuable Player Sun, Gao, defenders Fan Yunjie and Wen Lirong and midfielder Liu Ailing.

Earlier this month, defender Bai Jie was released from her Chinese squad to play for the Washington Freedom.

WUSA chief operating officer Tony DiCicco is excited to have the Chinese talent because it makes the WUSA the global all-star league women footballers have dreamed about for decades.

"I have always felt close to the Chinese team because I have respected their players and staff, and the way they address the game," he said. "More than any other country, they have helped the United States grow the game. It's a delight to have them here."

While great attention was given to the landmark signing of Chinese center Wang Zhizhi by the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks earlier this month, the WUSA has more players performing in much more crucial ways.

"We have six Chinese here in our league, and you can see how long it took the NBA to get just one player," DiCicco said "And we have the Mia Hamm of China here - their own number nine, Sun Wen."

The comparison is apt, for the modest, humble striker is just as much of scoring machine as Hamm, the all-time international caps leader for men or women.

Off the field, however, Sun Wen's life as an international sports star has played far differently than that of Hamm, a college star now making sports drink commercials with Michael Jordan.

Whisked off to sports school at age 13, Sun Wen spent the next 15 years sharing a dorm room with teammates and enduring endless regimentation of nearly every aspect of her life. Fixed times for practice, sleep and naps, arranged meals and travel, a once a week visit with family.

"Sun Wen says it was much more like the army, and she was so tired of being what people needed her to be," WUSA Vice President Lauren Gregg said. "Chinese players have traveled and worked a lot, but they haven't always felt they've enjoyed it."

Here, Sun has an apartment in the trendy section of town, a driving license, the nickname "Sunny" for her fun personality and fast food only minutes away.

"Here there is lots of space, lots of time for me," Sun said. "After training, the time is up to you to determine."

Sun was happy with 14 minutes on the field in her WUSA debut. Atlanta coach Tom Stone pronounced Sun 85 percent recovered.

"Maybe because the weather was hot, or because I was excited about the game, I felt very good about my leg," Sun said. "As I play on, I think I will get even better."

The game reminded Sun and Gao of the 1999 Women's World Cup final, when the US team beat China in a shootout for the title.

"I had a dream-like feeling," Gao said. "I was also moved because the stadium looked like the World Cup venue. Epecially when the US anthem played I felt nostalgic."

"I also had the same sensation, especially in the last 15 minutes," Sun said. "The crowd was so excited, it was fantastic."

(China Daily 04/24/2001)