CHICAGO (Thursday, March 7, 2002) - Organizers of the Algarve Cup taking place in Portugal have named U.S. Soccer officials Sandra Hunt and Sharon Wheeler as part of the team of referees set to officiate the 2002 Algarve Cup championship game between Norway and China.

Hunt will call the game from the center circle, while Wheeler will work as an assistant referee running the lines.  The matches other officials are assistant referee Susanne Borg of Sweden (a 1999 Women's World Cup referee veteran) and fourth official Jill Proctor of Canada.

Working as a FIFA official since 1999, Hunt (from Bellingham, Washington) has previously worked the 1999 Women's World Cup and the 2000 Olympic Games, and most recently officiated at the 2001 Asian Women's Championship in China in December.  For Wheeler, who has run the lines in a number of MLS match, the current Algarve Cup is her first major overseas assignment.  Wheeler has been a FIFA official since 2000 and resides in Winterpark, Fla.