Brandi Chastain: Women’s soccer 17 years later

Published 8:25 am Monday, July 25, 2016

Brandi Chastain likes U.S. soccer’s prospects for defending gold in Rio, is advocating for fewer headers in youth games and tackling her son’s diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.

It’s been 17 years since Chastain’s game-winning penalty shootout kick against China at the Women’s World Cup at the Rose Bowl in July 1999, and the celebratory photo of her overhead jersey twirl landed on magazine covers.

These days, she’s coaching youth, high school and college soccer in California. Chastain is keeping an eye on the current women’s national team — without retired star Abby Wambach — after helping the U.S. win two golds and a silver in the Olympics during her career.

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“We have a very deep roster, a nice balance of young players and veterans,” she said. “Those two components have always proved successful.”

Chastain, who transitioned from forward to defense on the U.S. national team, calls it “humbling” to be selected for induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame later this year at its new location at FC Dallas stadium.