ANALYSIS: HOPE & MAKS HIGHLIGHT 'DWTS' PAIRINGS

"DANCING WITH THE STARS"

SEASON 13 CONTESTANTS

Well, some of the worst-kept secrets have been officially confirmed. And as we announced Monday, our boy got his wish.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and United States soccer star Hope Solo are paired for the Season 13 edition of "Dancing with the Stars," announced Wednesday morning on ABC's "Good Morning America." All 12 couples were revealed, creating even more anticipation and excitement leading up to the September 19 two-hour, season premiere.

Chmerkovskiy had pushed for weeks to have Solo as his partner after watching the world's top goalkeeper lead the U.S. to a runner-up finish at this summer's Women's World Cup in Germany.

Here's a look at all 12 pairings for this season:

1-Hope SOLO & Maksim CHMERKOVSKIY: The United States women's soccer star teams with Chmerkovskiy, who is looking for his first Mirror Ball crown on Season 13 of the show. ... Solo, rated the world's top goalkeeper, became a summer sensation during the Women's World Cup when she lead the Americans to a runner-up finish in Germany. ... Chmerkovskiy has two second-place finishes on the show, most recently with actress Kirstie Alley in Season 12. He took second with singer Melanie Brown of the hit, all-girl group the Spice Girls. ... Solo made news recently when she revealed she would be posing nude in ESPN Magazine's "Body Issue," an annual issue featuring athletes from both sexes posing in the buff to show off their physiques. ... Solo and Chmerkovskiy will be one of the favorites to win the title.

2-Ron ARTEST & Peta MURGATROYD: Unique, colorful standout for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers partners with Murgatroyd, a beautiful blonde who leaves the "DWTS" troupe to make her professional debut. ... Artest might well be known for his huge part in the brawl between players and fans during a game against the Detroit Pistons when he was a member of the Indiana Pacers.

3-Chynna PHILLIPS & Tony DOVOLANI: Actress and singer pairs up with Dovolani, who is back for his 12th season and looking to improve off his most recent effort with talk-show host Wendy Williams. ... Dovolani has two third-place finishes to his credit heading into his 12th season, earning them with actress Stacy Keibler in Season 2 and reality-show host/contestant Melissa Rycroft in Season 8.

4-Rob KARDASHIAN & Cheryl BURKE: The reality TV star best known for being the only brother of KIm, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian partners with the two-time champion Burke, who won crowns with NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith and singer Drew Lachey of former hit boy band 98 Degrees. ... Burke has appeared in every season except the series premiere.

5-Nancy GRACE & Tristan MACMANUS: American legal commentator, author, journalist, talk-show host and former prosecutor pairs teams with McManus, who leaves the "DWTS" troupe to make his debut as a professional. ... Grace currently hosts "Nancy Grace," a nightly celebrity news and current affairs show in HLN.

6-Chaz BONO & Lacey SCHWIMMER: The American transgender advocate, writer, actor and musician pairs with Schwimmer, who is back for her sixth season. ... Bono is the only child American entertainers Sonny and Cher had together. ... Bono is a female-to-male transgender man. ... Schwimmer finished second in Season 10 with actor Kyle Massey and third in Season 7 with former boy-band singer Lance Bass of hit group 'N Sync.

7-Elisabetta CANALIS & Val CHMERKOVSKIY: The Italian actress most well-known for her lengthy relationship with actor George Clooney teams with Maksim's younger brother, who makes his "DWTS" debut as a professional after spot appearances on the show during recent seasons. ... Two pretty much unknowns to the viewers, they could be the darkhorse couple of Season 13 to bring home the title.

8-Carson KRESSLEY & Anna TREBUNSKAYA: The colorful talk-show host and TV personality teams with Trebunskaya, who is back for her eighth season on the show. ... Trebunskaya's best finish came in Season 10, when she and partner/Olympic gold-medal winning figure skater Evan Lysacek took second place. ... Expect them to be one of the favorites to win the championship this season.

9-Kristin CAVALLARI & Mark BALLAS: The MTV reality star will join Ballas, who captured titles with Olympic gold medalists Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skating) and Shawn Johnson (gymnastics). ... Ballas is back for his ninth season ... Couple is the early favorite for best chance at an off-screen romance, with Ballas maintaining his "eligible bachelor" status and Cavallari coming off a recent dumping with former fiancee/Chicago Bears starting quartback Jay Cutler. ... Another couple who should be one of the top contenders this season.

10-J.R. MARTINEZ & Karina SMIRNOFF: American actor, motivational speaker and retired United States Army soldier gets paired with Smirnoff, who is back for her ninth season. Martinez, who stars on the ABC soap opera, "All My Children,"suffered burns over 40 percent of his body during a 2003 tour of duty in Iraq. ... Smirnoff's best finish on the show came in Season 3 with actor/TV show host Mario Lopez, when they took home second place. ... Smirnoff is engaged to Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Brad Penny. ... Another pairing among the contenders for the title.

11-Ricki LAKE & Derek HOUGH: Actress and talk-show host teams with the two-time Mirror Ball champion. ... Hough is the only pro to win three Mirror Ball trophies, earning them with model/"DWTS" co-host Brooke Burke (Season 7), singer Nicole Scherzinger (Season 10) and actress Jennifer Grey (Season 11) to hold that distinction. ... Hough will be competing in his eight season after taking a Season 12 hiatus.

12-David ARQUETTE & Kym JOHNSON: Actor from "Scream thriller series paired with the defending champion. ... Johnson, who won Season 12 with Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Hines Ward and Season 9 with entertainer Donny Osmond, returns for her 10th season. ... She also has two runner-up efforts under belt, taking second with singer/actor/entertainer Joey Fatone of boy band 'N Sync (Season 4) and former NFL star Warren Sapp in Season 7 of the show. ... Clearly, one of the Season 13 favorites.


- Jeremy Pond, Publisher
- Photo courtesy of E! Online

HOPE SOLO: BY THE NUMBERS

HOPE SOLO

Here is some fun "by the numbers" information about Hope Solo, the United States soccer standout, paired with professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy in Season 13 of "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.

Take a look:

1 - Number of Olympic gold medals won as a member of the United States women's soccer team

2 - Number of World Cup appearances (2007, 2011)

3 - Number of times Solo was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American in college while attending the University of Washington

101 - Number of appearances (caps) with the United States Women's National Soccer Team

109 - Number of goals Solo scored during her high-school career at Richland (Wash.) High School

1981 - The year Solo was born, on July 30 to be exact

- Jeremy Pond, Publisher

- Photo courtesy of Getty Images

FULL CAST FOR SEASON 13 OF 'DWTS' SET

KRISTIN CAVALLARI

What do a soccer star, Italian actress, talk-show host and NBA world champion all have in common? They're all part of the Season 13 cast for ABC's hit TV show, "Dancing with the Stars," which was announced Monday.
                                                                                                
Here's a look at the entire list of the 12 celebrity contestants:

1-Kristin CAVALLARI: Reality TV figure most recognized for her role in hit MTV shows, "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills." ... Cavallari recently suffered a well-publicized breakup with Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

2-Hope SOLO: United States women's soccer star and ranked the No. 1 goalkeeper in the world. ... Became an overnight sensation at this summer's Women's World Cup in Germany.

3-Carson KRESSLEY: Former fashion expert on hit show, "Queer Eye," where he was one of the show's "Fab Five" members. ... Host of the TV show, "How To Look Good Naked.

4-Ricki LAKE: American actress and talk-show host ... known for her roles in the hits, "Hairspray" and "Mrs. Winterbourne."

5-David ARQUETTE: American actor best known for his role in the hit thriller "Scream" series, as well as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." ... Estranged husband of actress Courtney Cox.

6-Nancy GRACE: American legal commentator, author, journalist, talk-show host and former prosecutor. ... Current host of "Nancy Grace," a nightly celebrity news and current affairs show on HLN.

7-Chaz BONO: American transgender advocate, writer, actor and musician. ... Only child American entertainers Sonny and Cher had together. ... Bono is a female-to-male transgender man.

8-Elisabetta CANALIS: Italian actress known most for her lengthy relationship with actor George Clooney.

9-Ron ARTEST: NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Known for being a unique, colorful individual. ... Was a huge part of the brawl between players and fans during a game against the Detroit Pistons when he played for the Indiana Pacers.

10-Rob KARDASHIAN: Reality TV star and brother of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.

11-J.R. MARTINEZ: American actor, motivational speaker and retired United States Army solider. ... Suffered burns over 40 percent of his body during a tour of duty in Iraq in 2003. ... Has starred on ABC soap opera, "All My Children," since 2008.

12-Chynna PHILLIPS: American singer and actress, who was part of the music group, Wilson Phillips. ... Daughter of The Mamas and the Papas' band members John and Michelle Phillips.


- Jeremy Pond, Publisher
- Photo courtesy of Getty Images

IN HOPE, WE TRUST ... MAKS, SOCCER STAR PAIRED FOR LATEST SEASON OF "DANCING WITH THE STARS"

HOPE SOLO

Put the weeks of rumors to rest, folks.

Hope Solo, one of the stars of this summer's United States women's soccer team, will be Maksim Chmerkovskiy's partner for Season 13 of "Dancing with the Stars." Confirmation of Solo signing on for the show backed up rabid speculation the American goalkeeper would trade her cleats for stilettos and participate on the immensely popular ABC television hit.

For Chmerkovskiy, linking up with Solo was precisely what the Ukranian-born dancing professional wanted. Chmerkovskiy, the best "DWTS" pro yet to raise the covered Mirror Ball trophy, made it well known earlier this summer his desire to be paired with the soccer icon.

According to a People magazine report, when Chmerkovskiy was asked whom his dream partner would be at the 2011 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, the fan favorite needed two words to sum up his thoughts.

"Hope Solo!" Chmerkovskiy reportedly shouted.

Chmerkovskiy proceeded to go on about Solo, saying: "Let's do it! I want somebody hot, I want somebody exciting, somebody passionate, and I'll do the rest."

Solo recently made news when she revealed she would be posing nude in ESPN Magazine's "Body Issue," an annual issue featuring athletes from both sexes posing in the buff to show off their physiques.

Chmerkovskiy and Solo should be one of the favorites in this season's competition, which starts September 19 on ABC. We will be releasing our personal odds for all contestants, as well as the odds posted by Johnny Aviello at the Wynn Las Vegas sports book.


- Jeremy Pond, Publisher