Chastain Inducted into U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame

Chastain Inducted into U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Santa Clara women's soccer star Brandi Chastain was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame on Friday evening at Avaya Stadium, just down the road from the home of Bronco soccer. Chastain entered the Hall in her first year of eligibility on the Player Ballot.

Chastain, best known for her game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, has been on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Newsweek and Time. During her 12-year international career, she won two Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004) and one silver (2000) in addition to playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup three times (1991, 1999, 2003) and bringing home two titles ('91, '99). In 192 matches, Chastain scored 30 goals.

"To be inducted into the Hall of Fame and have my name read in the same sentence with our country's best is truly humbling," Chastain said. "The opportunity to play the game was given to me by my parents; my competitiveness and enthusiasm was fostered by every coach who I was blessed to be taught by, and my passion was shared and heightened by all of my teammates over my career. It is not enough to say how grateful I am with words, and therefore, I continue to share the game with anyone and everyone."



She played club soccer in Japan for Skiroki Serena for one season in 1993 before playing in the U.S. for the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) from 2001-2003 and in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) in 2009. In 2013, U.S. Soccer's Centennial year, she was named to the U.S. WNT's All-Time Best XI.

At Santa Clara, Chastain immediately made an impact when she led the team to the College Cup for the first time in 1989. The Broncos returned in Chastain's senior season in 1990 and have gone on to reach the national semifinals 10 times. She was an All-American in 1990 and also brought home the Honda Award that year after scoring 22 goals and collecting 50 points.

Her impact is still felt with the Broncos, as she is an assistant under head coach Jerry Smith.

About the National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame election process is administered by U.S. Soccer Federation staff under election and eligibility guidelines established by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Established in 1950, the National Soccer Hall of Fame is dedicated to the sport of soccer in America by celebrating its history, preserving its legacy, inspiring its youth and honoring its heroes for generations to come.

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