Top 5 moments in U.S. women’s soccer history
By Nicole Bosco
1. 1999 World Cup and Brandi Chastain
Even though the U.S was coming off of a winning the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games, soccer was not a very popular sport in America. The 1999 Women’s World Cup was taking place in the United States and the USWNT was set to make their sport a household name.
They traveled all around the country playing games and making appearances. They often traveled on buses through the night to play first thing when they arrived at the next city. A few of the players had children that would travel with the team for periods of time. The 1999 team is the reason the sport is what it is today.
When the U.S made it to the final match on July 10 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California the stadium was buzzing. It was the largest U.S crowd to ever watch a live soccer game in history. The U.S was up against a very tough Chinese team, and was unable to score. At the end of overtime the game remain scoreless, and would go to penalty kicks.
The U.S made all of their kicks when it came down to Brandi Chastain. Japan had missed one of theirs, so Chastain could win the whole thing with a good shot. She sailed her ball past the goalkeeper and won the match. It was her celebration that was the thing most remember from that match.
Following her goal she ripped off her jersey, exposing a black sports bra underneath. That image of Brandi Chastain is one that embodies women athletes to this day. It is one of the most iconic images in U.S women’s soccer history.Will the U.S make history again this year in Rio, we can’t wait to find out.
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