DENVER University of Denver women’s soccer assistant coach Katie Hooker was drafted by the Los Angeles Sol with the 38th overall pick in the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft on Friday.
Hooker, formerly Katie Antongiovanni, played two seasons with the Pioneers after transferring from Iowa State. As a player at DU, she earned numerous awards including All-Sun Belt Conference first team honors during both seasons, SBC Tournament Most Valuable Player, SBC All-Academic honors with a 3.7 GPA, as well as leading the team in scoring and points for two seasons.
In 2003 she was drafted by the Atlanta Beat of the former professional league the WUSA. She was traded to San Jose Cyber Rays where she played the remainder of the season. Since the WUSA folded, Katie received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Statistics from the Daniels College of Business at DU and has been on the coaching staff for her former team.
Hooker has been anticipating the possibility that a new women’s league would form since the WUSA folded.
“Waiting for the draft was nerve racking for sure,” Hooker said. “I had not heard anything since the combine back in December, so I really just had to sit and watch.”
She watched the draft online at home and got text messages on her cell phone. When she saw her name appear, it was a relief as every time that little buzz went with a new message was a tense moment.
“I am grateful for this opportunity,” Hooker said. “There are many players out there who are not in my position today, and I worked extremely hard for this chance. With this new league, the players on the DU team will have something very cool and exciting to look forward to.”
Denver head coach Jeff Hooker and assistant Kris Peat agree with that concept, knowing that women’s soccer around the United States has now been lifted to another level.
“For our current players and those looking to play at DU in the future, they will have a role model and professional player coaching and mentoring them,” Jeff Hooker said. “I’m extremely happy and excited for Katie and the opportunity that lies ahead for her. Katie has worked tireless hours in preparation for the draft, and now for it to be a reality I am very happy for her. She has been a tremendous role model for our current and future players at DU.”
The WPS will begin play this summer with the inaugural match on March 29, featuring Hooker’s Los Angeles Sol against the Washington Freedom at the Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University-Dominguez Hills.
