MEMORY LANE
MIA HAMM
There are so many special memories I have experienced throughout this tournament that it would be hard to choose just one. I will start with my first memory. Driving up to the Meadowlands amid the thousands of cars that clogged the Jersey Turnpike, we made our way with the help of a police escort to the stadium filled to capacity with the vision of families draped in red, white and blue. They were here for soccer, they were here for the Cup, they were here for us. It gives me chills just thinking about it.
BRANDI CHASTAIN
I can see the ball rolling, ever so slowly into the back of the net. Usually this is a time of excitement and exhilaration. Not then. Unfortunately for me, I placed the perfect ball in the corner of my own goal. This is not my defining moment, but the next split second is. Carla Overbeck looked me in the eye, not with disappointment but with understanding. She clapped her hands and told me to let it go. There’s a lot of soccer to be played, and the game was far from over. It was this compassion, in a moment of despair, when my teammates gave me the courage to go forward. In that moment my life changed forever.
KRISTINE LILLY
This World Cup has been full of moments to remember. From the large crowds, young fans and my family following me around, to the competition--it has been amazing. However, the moment when we are walking out on the field in our lines and the FIFA anthem starts and I look back . . . I get chills, knowing I’m representing my country.
JULIE FOUDY
One of my lasting memories of this World Cup will be the passion and patriotism our fans have shown. My favorite moment of every game has been the national anthem and the whole stadium singing in unison with us. Especially when the anthem gets to, “O say does that Star-Spangled Banner . . . “ the stadium erupts and more than once I’ve had to fight back tears. Thank you to all our wonderful fans.
TIFFENY MILBRETT
My favorite memory was when our team was together that first five days before the opening game. . . . We were acting like we had just been injected with a 12-year-old’s “mojo.” We were singing, dancing, playing, laughing like this team had never. It was all because we felt the fever and excitement of this amazing and huge World Cup. Thank you, America, for making it special. I am forever grateful.
JOY FAWCETT
My best memories are the fun and mischievous things my teammates and I have been doing to keep busy. I will also always remember my goal against Germany from the corner kick by Shannon Mac. I will never forget the tremendous support of our fun and crazy fans!
TRACY DUCAR
One of my favorite moments of this World Cup is the drive to the stadium for each game. It is so much fun to see how genuinely excited our fans get when they realize it is us on the bus. We have seen painted faces, flags, #1 signs, been cheered and applauded, chased after by die-hard fans and we even had a lady break down and dance for us. The support we have received from our fans during the Cup has been awesome and energizing. Thank you, America, for the great memory!
SASKIA WEBBER
The halftime whistle sounded and both teams sprinted from the field. The mood surrounding the reserves was serious and focused as we ran onto the field to keep ourselves loose during the break. It was 2-1 Germany, and each of us knew that we could be called up to help with the game. As the break came to an end I slowly walked to the goal that Germany would be defending in the second half. Bending over I reached around my neck and removed my lucky charm. Knowing that as the backup keeper I would probably not play, I tried to find my own way to help the team. Kissing the charm once, I tied it around the net. Forty-five minutes later after two victory laps, I stopped at the goal once again to untie it.
TISHA VENTURINI
Colleen Hacker (team psychologist) did an exercise where everyone on the team had a blank piece of paper taped on their back and we all went around and wrote what we love and appreciate about each other. It was awesome and really made me realize how much my teammates mean to me and how my life is so much richer because of each and every one of them.
TIFFANY ROBERTS
When I look back, I think my favorite part about being in this tournament is when our bus drives into the stadium on game day. Our whole bus stands up and we like to look out the windows and just see the crowds of fans out there and how crazy each fan is. They have their faces painted and their chests painted and they have signs for different players. We just crack up on the way to our locker room. Each game the fans have gotten crazier. I can’t wait to get to the stadium and get out because I love watching the fans.
MICHELLE AKERS
The biggest thing I take home from this WC is the overwhelming sense of camaraderie, purpose and personal endowment. The message the world has received is more than just about soccer and the ability of women to rock on the field, sell out stadiums and be the headline story on every newspaper or ESPN broadcast in the country. It is much more personal and empowering than that. For 14 years now, the central driving force and character of this team has been more than just soccer. Our greatness and vibrancy is born out of having a dream and going for it alone if necessary. It is about ceaselessly striving for excellence and achieving it. It’s about guts and heart and the willingness to grind it out to the 60th second in the 90th minute every single game.
KATE SOBRERO
It would have to be the fans. After every game no matter how close or how big the blowout, the fans stayed for our victory lap. I don’t know what gave me bigger chills, the national anthem or the victory lap. Thank you to all who supported us.
DANIELLE FOTOPOULOS
My favorite memories are many. First off, the Nigeria game. As a whole right off the bat, we were a little shaky, but then coming back and kicking their butts was great. The crowd in Chicago was electrifying and uplifting. Also, getting to play in the semifinal game against Brazil. However, when we were doing team building, the whole team was interlocked with hands, arms, hugs and together we sang the national anthem. We sang with pride and with our hearts. I will never forget the warmth, tears and love I felt for my team. The are all my best friends and I know we all play for each other!
SHANNON MacMILLAN
One of my best memories on the field was connecting with Joy for the game-winner against Germany. Off the field, it’s how much fun we’ve been having from watching movies, dying hair, playing games, doing our nails and just hanging out and growing closer. I think our fans and their enthusiasm will help to leave this as a highlight in my career.
CARLA OVERBECK
To the most committed team I have ever been a part of, thank you for all the great memories during the last six months. I will cherish your friendships for a lifetime. I love you all! The summer of 1999 is one for the history books; everyone involved should be extremely proud.
CHRISTIE PEARCE
For me, the biggest memory I have from this whole thing is basically the team bond that we’ve made throughout this whole six months. Especially our team-building activities. It’s just getting together and sharing everything. We just did one last night that was amazing. We did our whole little march, we all had American flags in our hands, and Gerry, our security guy, he was doing this little [cadence] chant and we had to repeat it after him, like being in the army. It was just such a great moment, playing for this team, being in this great tournament. Being on such a close-knit team is amazing. We’re like sisters, we share so much.
LORRIE FLAIR
I haven’t seen my dad’s side of the family together in eight years. Along with my mom and my brother, Greg, my aunts, uncles and cousins came from all over the U.S. to see our World Cup opener in Giants Stadium. I’ll never forget my elation when I saw everyone at the postgame reception.
SARA WHALEN
Throughout this Cup, there have been a few moments that I know will last forever in my mind. The most incredible one occurred during the Brazil game. The crowd was getting rowdy and began chanting “USA.” First one side of the packed stadium, then the other. As the cheer grew louder, the chills on my body grew stronger. It was like the entire stadium, over 73,000 people, was totally in sync. The feeling was indescribable.
BRIANA SCURRY
My best memory? Yesterday it was different than today. My best memory is probably the bus driving up to the stadium and seeing all the people, the outpouring of support, painted faces, painted bodies. Dancing and yelling and screaming and running after the bus and things like that.
CINDY PARLOW
Probably the most memorable moment for me was my first World Cup goal. It came against Nigeria. I think Tiffeny Milbrett crossed it [the ball] over to Brandi Chastain, who did a diving header back to me at the top of the six [-yard box] and I did a diving header into the top of the goal. I mean, it was an exciting game and the crowd was amazing and I was just so pumped up after that goal, I ran over and jumped up into Brandi’s arms and luckily she was able to hold me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, to score your first World Cup goal.
