Saturday, April 21 — New York at Atlanta, 12:00 p.m. (TNT). Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular-season series: First Meeting. Did you know? Atlanta D Dayna Smith has played in Sweden (Hammarby), Japan (Yomiuri Beleza) and Denmark (Fredericksburg). In college, she started out at N.C. State before transferring to Santa Clara. Key players out: New York: F Ann Kristin Aarones (lower back), M Jen Lalor (sprained ankle-L); Atlanta: M Marci Miller (broken jaw), M Sara Reading (knee-R). Notes: This match will feature arguably the three best forwards in the world in Atlanta’s Sun Wen and Charmaine Hooper and New York’s Tiffeny Milbrett … Sun Wen is expected to start the match on the bench and may sit out entirely to protect her knee, for which she underwent surgery last winter … The absence of Aarones means Tammy Pearman will start up top with Milbrett. New York has speed aplenty, especially in Pearman, but the former George Mason star isn’t the force in the air that Aarones is … Smith is expected to start on the Beat’s four-player backline, replacing Nancy Augustyniak, who sprained her medial collateral ligament in her knee in Spring Training. The Clemson product is available as a reserve … The Beat has sold more than 20,000 tickets for its home opener at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium. KEY MATCHUP: Atlanta F Charmaine Hooper vs. New York D Christie Pearce: The Canadian striker is a handful for anyone, including U.S. Olympian Pearce. New York D Gro Espeseth has the experience and toughness to deal with the physical Hooper but not the wheels, so the speedy Pearce may see much of the former N.C. State star. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Rachel Woo. Assistant Referees: Sharon Wheeler and Brian D’Amato. Fourth Official: Griff B. Sims. Saturday, April 21 — Boston at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular-season series: First Meeting. Did you know? Boston F Robin Confer scored 77 goals and had 55 assists in four years (1994-1997) at the University of North Carolina, the home of the Carolina Courage. Key players out: Carolina: M Michelle Akers (shoulder-R), D Staci Wilson (hip flexor), M Nicole Roberts (fractured tibia and fibula in leg-R). Notes: Boston M Kristine Lilly, M Maren Meinert and M Bettina Wiegmann should control the middle despite the presence of Carolina M Hege Riise and M/D Tiffany Roberts … Can a shaky Courage frontline of Danielle Fotopoulos and Meredith Florance do anything to bother a determined Breakers defense marshaled by Kate Sobrero? … The two teams tied, 1-1, in Spring Training. KEY MATCHUP: Boston F Dagny Mellgren vs. Carolina D Carla Overbeck: The aging former U.S. captain, who didn’t play against Norway in the 2000 Olympic gold-medal game, gets her chance against the young hot shot who scored the golden goal to beat the United States in Sydney. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Sandra Hunt. Assistant Referees: John Wilson and Sandra Serafini. Fourth Official: Dongho Kim. Sunday, April 22 — Philadelphia at San Diego, 7:00 p.m. Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular-season series: First Meeting. Did you know? Kristi DeVert, the wife of San Diego coach Carlos Juarez, appeared four times and scored one goal for the U.S. national team in 1997. Key players out: None. Notes: San Diego D Kim Pickup needs to avoid the mistakes (own goal and red card) that plagued her in preseason against a lethal finisher in Philadelphia F Kelly Smith … Philadelphia G Saskia Webber, D Doris Fitschen, D Jenny Benson and D Heather Mitts will have their hands full against the dangerous tandem of San Diego F Shannon MacMillan and F Mercy Akide … USD’s Torero Stadium underwent recent renovation to expand the site to 7,000 seats. But the Spirit was unable to erect the West bleachers due to easement issues. This last-minute adjustment caused the Spirit to lose 867 seats, dropping the capacity down to around 6,200 … The match could be a sell out. Less than 1,000 tickets remained as of Wednesday, April 18. KEY MATCHUP: San Diego M Julie Foudy vs. Philadelphia M Lorrie Fair: It’s not “Mia vs. Brandi,” but whichever teams wins the duel in central midfield should control the game. Foudy and Fair played alongside each other last year in Australia. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kari Seitz. Assistant Referees: Emiliano Monje and Dallas Malhiwsky. Fourth Official: Mark Arblaster.