This page is dedicated to the Women’s National Soccer Team and its’ outstanding women athletes. These women gained world fame when they won the 1999 Women’s World Cup, in Pasadena California.
From the seeds of their win over China, the first women’s soccer league, WUSA, was formed. Women players of the US National Team helped bring about changes in the compensation package for women National Team soccer players, as compared to men on the US National Team.
The intense spotlight and accomplishment of winning the 1999 Women’s World Cup put pressure to make changes, allowing women players enhanced standings in the soccer community. A new revolution in women’s soccer was started,1999 was a defining point for women’s soccer in the United States, all due to the squad of the 1999 Women’s National Team.
See the final moments of the game, in a nail biting penalty kick scenario here . Jennifer Lopez helped to inspire the crowd with her performance at the 1999 world cup: here
Hear players making commentary on the game!
Briana Scurry on making the game-winning save
Scurry on the U.S. defense
Brandi Chastain on her penalty kick
Tony Dicicco on the play of the day
Julie Foudy on winning
Tisha Venturini on finishing the game with penalty kicks
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In the 1999 Women’s World Cup, one outstanding player stood out, Michelle Akers. Michelle was playing with a chronic health issue, which caused her to lose playing energy. In the 1999 world cup, she played hard, and crashed hard. It took outstanding will power and courage for Michelle to play in the game, helping the the team to glory.
President Bill Clinton was at the 1999 world cup in Pasadena. His entrance into the stadium caused a total stadium lock down of all entrances to the stadium, while his entourage made their way to his box. He became a ‘First Fan’ of the team and would follow their games for years to come and he put forward a plan for having the world cup in the U.S. in the future. Read what the president had to say about the 1999 team here.
ESPN made a special film on women in sports, of which players from the 1999 world cup were a part. Watch this special film cut of the ’99’ers’ (the term ’99’ers’ refers directly to members of 1999 squad), here (51 min. film). See the players from video/pictures taken directly by the players themselves, with commentaries by the players. This film will give you a very special insight into the lives/play of the 99’ers team.
Dare To Dream – Part 1 (28 min.)
Dare To Dream – Part 2 (34 min.)
Date To Dream – Part 3 (16 min.)
The demonstrated skills of the 1999 Women’s National Team gave a new path for female soccer players, with new respect for their capabilities. The term ‘you go girl’, was never more appropriate.
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World Cup 1999 Pictures
NOTE: For some pictures on this page, clicking on the picture will show a larger picture
2004 Women’s National Team Members win the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal
The continued success of the original members of the 1999 World Cup Team culminated with the winning of the 2004 Olympic gold medal, in Olympic games in Greece. The team took to the road, in a ‘Fan Celebration Tour’, around the country, playing to thousands of cheering fans across the country. The 2004 Olympic game was Mia Hamm’s last game before retiring from soccer. Watch the final moment & celebration here . If you want to watch this entire game, you may view it here .
To See A Larger Picture, Just Click On The Picture
Fan Celebration Tour
Home Depot Center
Carson, CA
December 8, 2004
Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett retire
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The 2004 Fan Celebration Tour, was the farewell tour for three members of the 1999 Squad, who were members of the Olympic gold cup team. Take the time to view the accomplishments of members of this elite squad of women, who transformed the world of soccer for female players, in the following film:
Bay Area CyberRays
The following pictures represent players from the CyberRays. This team was based in San Jose California and was composed of many US and international stars. Brandi Chastain, LaKeysia Beene, Julie Murray, Tisha Venturini, along with Brazilian super stars Sissi & Katia, were members of the team.
The team was a member of WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association). These pictures are from 2001, when the CyberRays won the bragging rights as the top WUSA team.
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PICTURE GALLERY
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All of the above was possible due to the dedication of great women soccer athletes
Former & Current Players Tackle Concussion Concerns
Briana Scurry, the star goal keeper of the 1999 Women’s National Team is spear headed a campaign in 2014, for safety, which she can relate to, due to her past concussion injury, which caused her to retire from soccer. Likewise Brandy Chastain, medical professionals, and other professional players led a 2014 campaign for changes in the age for heading the ball, due to concussion concerns for young children.
In August, 2017, Brianna was named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Brianna earned this honor for being recognized as the best goal keeper in US Woman’s National Team history.
US Women’s National Team Pay Issues
The salary situation of the USWNT was highlighted after their 1999 World Cup victory. US Soccer paid them woefully inadequately, in terms of payments to the men’s national team members. Unfortunately, in 2016, the situation has remained basically the same. This was again highlighted in another World Cup win for the USWNT, in 2015, which showed that the men’s team again was paid in a manner significantly different than that of the WMNT. The women, after drawing the largest TV audience ever for a World Cup series, claimed that they received a paltry sum.
In March, 2016, key members of the USWNT had their fill of the antics of US Soccer and filed a lawsuit against them. Several members of the men’s national team stated their support for the lawsuit, stating that the women should be paid much more.
There was also a counter argument, from different sources, essentially stating that the women were compensated in relation to the income that they brought in to US Soccer.
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