The National Team

by Caitlin Murray

  In addition, I want to acknowledge those I interviewed off the record or anonymously for this book. I am incredibly grateful for the amount of time and candor people offered to help me tell the national team’s story as truthfully as possible.

  I’m indebted to the editors I’ve had the pleasure of working with over my career—they have all made me a better writer—and I owe a special thanks to Tom Lutz, who gave the opportunity to cover the 2015 Women’s World Cup for the Guardian, which remains one of my most memorable experiences as a reporter.

  I’d like to thank my fellow colleagues who have covered the U.S. women’s national team as journalists over the years. Some offered me support and advice throughout the process of writing my manuscript, and many contributed via their excellent reporting on the team over the years. Among them were Anne M. Peterson, Grant Wahl, Jonathan Tannenwald, Beau Dure, Jamie Goldberg, Matt Pentz, Kevin Baxter, Andrew Das, Ann Killion, and many others.

  Without the top-notch communications team at U.S. Soccer, particularly Aaron Heifetz and Neil Buethe, the coverage of the team would never be what it is today. I am grateful for their professionalism over the years and how they’ve enabled me to tell the players’ stories along the way. Thanks also to the communications officers who helped me arrange interviews, including Jackie Maynard, John Archibald, Quinn Casteel, Chryssa Zizos, Melinda Travis, and Chris Metz.

  My greatest thanks of all go to my mom, Toni, my sister, Colleen, and my brother, Bill. They offered encouragement and motivation throughout the manuscript-writing process, especially when I needed it the most. I’m lucky to have such a supportive family in my life.

  Sources

  Although this book includes many new interviews conducted either specifically for the book or during the writing of the book, contemporaneous news sources were also crucial to capturing the story. I have covered the U.S. women’s national team for a number of years, including throughout their run to winning the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, and I drew upon unused archive material of my own interviews, but the work of many journalists from 1985 through 2018 helped this book come together.

  Every chapter includes new reporting and interviews I conducted exclusively for this book—a list of everyone I interviewed is in the Acknowledgments section—but here are many (not all) of the articles and sources that were part of my additional research.

  Chapter 1

  “Anniversary of First WNT Game.” U.S. Soccer, August 26, 2005.

  Bosley, Catherine. “Women’s Football Has Come a Long Way in Germany.” Reuters, October 15, 2007.

  “FIFA Bans Mexico for Two Years—No Olympics, No World Cup in ’90.” San Diego Tribune, July 1, 1988.

  Griendlin, Bob. “U.S. Soccer: The 17 Women Who Blazed an Amazing Trail.” Soccer America, November 1, 2000.

  “Hard-earned Success.” FIFA Weekly, February 17, 2011.

  “Increase in Participation and Competitions.” FIFA: Women’s Football Symposium, 2011.

  Jones, Grahame L. “Women’s Little Trip to Italy Was Start of Something Big.” Los Angeles Times, July 10, 1999.

  Margolis, Jason. “The Struggle for Female Soccer Equality in Brazil,” Public Radio International, May 27, 2013.

  Olmstead, Maegan. “Acknowledging the Importance of Title IX in the U.S. World Cup Win.” Women’s Sports Foundation, July 7, 2015.

  Simpson, Jake. “How Title IX Sneakily Revolutionized Women’s Sports.” Atlantic, June 21, 2012.

  Wallerson, Ryan. “Why Women’s Soccer Was Banned in Brazil—Until 1979.” Ozy, October 25, 2016.

  “Why Was Women’s Football Banned in 1921?” BBC News, December 12, 2014.

  “Young Athlete Switches to Her Main Sport.” Associated Press, July 30, 1985.

  Chapter 2

  “Akers-Stahl Kicks U.S. to World Title.” Seattle Times, December 1, 1991.

  “Boycott-Lockout Issue Threat to U.S. Women’s Soccer.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 7, 1995.

  Davidson, Gary. “U.S. Women’s Team Takes Shot at First Goal; Play for World Crown Starts in China.” Baltimore Sun, November 16, 1991.

  French, Scott. “U.S. Gold Hopes on Hold?” Long Beach Press-Telegram, December 12, 1995.

  HBO Sports. Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. 2005.

  Jones, Grahame L. “Dispute Involving Top U.S. Players Hinges on Rejection of Contract Offers.” Los Angeles Times, December 6, 1995.

  Knight, Athelia. “Nine Players in Dispute with U.S. Soccer.” Washington Post, December 8, 1995.

  Longman, Jere. The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

  Nance, Roscoe. “Contract Flap Keeps Nine from Camp.” USA Today, December 7, 1995.

  ———. “Determined to Be No. 1, U.S. Women Quietly Build Soccer Power.” USA Today, July 25, 1991.

  Chapter 3

  “FIFA Women’s World Cups Support $493.6m in Economic Activity for Canada.” Canada Soccer, November 5, 2015.

  “How FIFA Shares Out Its Revenues.” FIFA, May 22, 2002.

  Longman, Jere. “1999 Women’s World Cup: Beautiful Game Takes Flight.” New York Times, May 20, 1999.

  ———. The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

  “Sepp Blatter Loses His Appeal Against Six-Year Ban from Football.” Associated Press, December 5, 2016.

  U.S. Soccer Communications Department. “Women’s National Team Media Guide.” U.S. Soccer, 2018.

  Chapter 4

  HBO Sports. Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. 2005.

  Longman, Jere. “U.S. National Team Has Redefined ‘Soccer Mom.’” New York Times, May 9, 1999.

  ———. The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

  Wahl, Grant. “How the U.S. Women Won the 1999 World Cup.” Sports Illustrated, July 2, 2015.

  Chapter 5

  “And Strong TV Ratings, Too.” New York Times, July 12, 1999.

  Bennett, Roger. “Episode 10.” June 11, 2018, in American Fiasco, produced by WNYC.

  Erbe, Bonnie. “The Babe Factor in Soccer Team’s Success.” Scripps Howard News Service, July 12, 1999.

  Gilligan, Amy. “Stripping Down to Sports Bra No Big Deal.” Dubuque Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1999.

  Haight, Abby. “U.S. Team Is Ready, Restless.” Oregonian, June 18, 1999.

  Harris, Elliott. “Uncover Story: Soccer Has Sex Appeal.” Chicago Sun-Times, July 13, 1999.

  Kimball, George. “U.S. Women’s Team Looking Good: Sex Appeal Part of the Story.” Boston Herald, July 9, 1999.

  Kingsley, Barbara. “Men More Than Women Tune in to World Cup.” Orange County Register, July 9, 1999.

  Knott, Tom. “Get Real: Sex Appeal Does Count.” Washington Times, July 6, 1999.

  Longman, Jere. The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

  ———. “The Sports Bra Seen Round the World.” New York Times, July 5, 2003.

  “Now, It’s the World at Their Feet.” San Diego Union-Tribune, July 12, 1999.

  Penner, Mike. “Success of the ’99 Womens’ World Cup Is . . . Looking Good.” Los Angeles Times, July 8, 1999.

  Powell, Shaun. “Momentum Won’t Last for Women.” Newsday, July 13, 1999.

  Shipley, Amy. “Medals, Celebrity and Windfall for U.S. Women.” Washington Post, July 12, 1999.

  Vandecar, Annette. “U.S. Women Win World Cup and Promptly Tarnish It.” Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune, July 13, 1999.

  Chapter 6

  Caparaz, Dean. “Women’s Boycott: Behind the Pay Dispute.” Soccer America, January 10, 2000.

  Dure, Beau. “When Women Walked Out on Soccer.” Ozy, May 9, 2016.

  Fatsis, Stefan. “Nike Kicks in $120 Million to Sponsor Soccer in the U.S.” Wall Street Journal, October 22, 1997.
/>
  Longman, Jere. The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

  Shipley, Amy. “A Golden Moment Touched by Sorrow.” Washington Post, June 8, 1997.

  “Soccer Star Raising Goals in Women’s Sports.” CNN, 2001.

  Ward, Bill. “Cup Champs’ Tour May Face Legal Scrutiny.” Tampa Tribune, July 27, 1999.

  Chapter 7

  Chapin, Dwight. “Fasten Your Seat Belts, It’s Going to Be a Bumpy Ride.” San Francisco Chronicle, June 18, 1999.

  “Conference Call Quote Sheet from Announcement of April Heinrichs as U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach.” U.S. Soccer, January 18, 2000.

  HBO Sports. Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. 2005.

  Longman, Jere. “Scurry Returns to World Cup in Peak Form. New York Times, September 21, 2003.

  “Michelle Akers Bows Out of Olympics Due to Injury.” U.S. Soccer, August 24, 2000.

  Montville, Leigh. “Soccer Screwballs.” Sports Illustrated, January 10, 2000.

  Shipley, Amy. “After U.S. Storm, an April Shower of Change.” Washington Post, March 12, 2000.

  Ziegler, Mark. “Women’s Soccer Coach Rose Despite Dysfunctional Upbringing.” San Diego Union-Tribune, September 25, 2003.

  ———. “Women’s World Cup Coach Could Lose Job.” San Diego Union-Tribune, September 24, 1999.

  Chapter 8

  Almond, Elliot. “Pro Women’s League to Begin in 1998?” Seattle Times, February 14, 1997.

  Bondy, Filip. “Sporting Women Find Cup’s Empty.” New York Daily News, September 16, 2003.

  Bradley, Jeff. “MLS Considering Weight-Loss Program.” ESPN, September 14, 2001.

  Eligon, John. “For M.L.S., the Sport’s Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder.” New York Times, November 11, 2005.

  Kuhns, Will. “WUSA: Mutual Admiration.” Soccer America, April 24, 2001.

  Langdon, Jerry. “Women’s League Gets $12M Pledge.” USA Today, September 12, 1997.

  ———. “Women’s Pro Soccer by ’98.” USA Today, February 13, 1997.

  Murphy, Jarrett. “Women’s Soccer League Kicks Bucket.” Associated Press, September 16, 2003.

  Reid, Scott M. “The U.S. Women’s National Team Came Through on and off the Pitch, Attracting $64 Million to Get the WUSA Rolling.” Orange County Register, April 14, 2001.

  Shipley, Amy. “Women’s League Falls Short of Goal.” Washington Post, April 17, 1998.

  Trecker, Jamie. “WMLS? No Way, Say U.S. Women.” ESPN, September 14, 2001.

  Trecker, Jerry. “No Net Profit with 2 Leagues of Their Own.” Hartford Courant, April 13, 2000.

  “U.S. Women’s Soccer League Is Taking Its Best Shot, and It Just Might Score.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 14, 2001.

  “WUSA Debuts with Pageantry and Symbolism.” Erie Times-News, April 14, 2001.

  “WUSA—Founding Players Take Pay Cuts.” Soccer America, March 25, 2003.

  Chapter 9

  Jones, Grahame L. “Missing in Action,” Los Angeles Times, August 20, 2004.

  Lebreton, Gil. “Sequel May Be a Big Flop.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, September 21, 2003.

  Robledo, Fred J. “U.S. Must Focus on Survivor Series.” Pasadena Star-News, September 17, 2003.

  Scripps Howard. “Winning the Cup Is More Vital Than Ever to U.S. Team.” Jackson Citizen Patriot, September 17, 2003.

  Voepe, Mechelle. “U.S. Women Putting Aside WUSA’s Demise.” Kansas City Star, September 17, 2003.

  Wahl, Grant. “A New, Take-charge Mia Hamm Led the U.S. into the Cup Quarterfinals.” Sports Illustrated, October 6, 2003.

  ———. “Kicked Out.” Sports Illustrated, October 13, 2003.

  ———. “Going Out with a Bang.” Sports Illustrated, August 30, 2004.

  ———. “Weathering the Storm.” Sports Illustrated, September 29, 2003.

  “Where’s Tiffeny?” Associated Press, June 20, 2004.

  Wilner, Barry. “Chastain, Hamm, Scurry Among 20 on U.S. World Cup Team.” Associated Press, August 26, 2003.

  Wyatt, Kristen. “Women’s Soccer League Suspends Operations.” Associated Press, September 16, 2003.

  Chapter 10

  Borzilleri, Meri-Jo. “Coach Has Team Looking Ahead.” Colorado Springs Gazette, June 5, 2005.

  Solo, Hope, and Ann Killion. Solo: A Memoir of Hope. New York: Harper-Collins, 2013.

  Ziegler, Mark. “U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Steps Down Amid Pressure from Some Unhappy Players.” San Diego Union-Tribune, February 16, 2005.

  Chapter 11

  Goff, Steven. “Solo Apologizes, but Won’t Play for U.S. vs. Norway.” Washington Post, September 30, 2007.

  Lloyd, Carli, and Wayne Coffey. When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.

  Paul, Erin. “Ryan’s Goalkeeper Switch Backfires in a Big Way.” CBC, September 27, 2007.

  Ruibal, Sal. “USA Changes Goalkeeper in Surprise Move.” USA Today, September 27, 2007.

  “Ryan Breaks Silence Over Solo.” Washington Times, January 12, 2008.

  Solo, Hope, and Ann Killion. Solo: A Memoir of Hope. New York: Harper-Collins, 2013.

  Wade, Stephen. “U.S. Switches Goalie for Cup Semifinals.” Associated Press, September 26, 2007.

  ———. “Marta’s Two Goals Help Defeat U.S. 4–0.” Associated Press, September 27, 2007.

  Wahl, Grant. “Hard Return.” Sports Illustrated, June 30, 2008.

  Wambach, Abby. Forward: A Memoir. New York: Dey Street Books, 2016.

  Whitehead, Johnnie. “New Coach Lets Players Follow Instincts.” USA Today, June 27, 2005.

  Ziegler, Mark. “U.S. Soccer’s Decision May Be Signal to Players.” San Diego Union-Tribune, April 9, 2005.

  Chapter 12

  U.S. Soccer Communications Department. “Women’s National Team Media Guide.” U.S. Soccer, 2018.

  Wahl, Grant. “Hucles a Pleasant Surprise for U.S.” Sports Illustrated, August 18, 2008.

  Wambach, Abby. Forward: A Memoir. New York: Dey Street Books, 2016.

  Chapter 13

  “Alex Morgan Fires Late US Goal to Beat Italy 10 in World Cup Playoff.” Associated Press, November 21, 2010.

  Assael, Shaun, and Peter Keating. “MagicTrick.” ESPN The Magazine, September 13, 2012.

  Bell, Jack. “For American Women, It’s Win or Stay Home.” New York Times, November 19, 2010.

  “Company Behind MagicJack to Banish Calling Costs.” Associated Press, August 13, 2010.

  Dunbar, Graham. “Marta to Join LA Sol in New Women’s Soccer League.” Associated Press, January 12, 2009.

  “Feeling Pinch, N.F.L. Will Cut About 150 Jobs.” New York Times, December 9, 2008.

  FitzGerald, Tom. “New League Opens with High Hopes.” San Francisco Chronicle, March 27, 2009.

  Goodman, Mark. “WPS: The New Game in Town.” Bolton (MA) Common, July 29, 2009.

  Jones, Grahame L. “New Women’s Soccer League Takes World View.” Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2009.

  Kennedy, Paul. “Pro Sports’ Worst-Run Franchise.” Soccer America, May 12, 2011.

  Ziegler, Mark. “Blame Federation for U.S. Performance in Women’s World Cup.” San Diego Union-Tribune, October 3, 2007.

  Chapter 14

  “Alex Morgan Fires Late US Goal to Beat Italy 10 in World Cup Playoff.” Associated Press, November 21, 2010.

  Boehm, Charles. “WPS Owners Decide to Cancel 2012 Season.” National Soccer Wire, January 30, 2012.

  Hirshey, David. “Hope and Glory for the U.S.” ESPN, July 11, 2011.

  Jones, Grahame L. “U.S. Names Roster for 2011 Women’s World Cup.” Los Angeles Times, May 9, 2011.

  “USWNT Head Coach Sundhage Picks 21 Players for 2011 World Cup in Germany.” Goal, May 9, 2011.

  Wahl, Grant. “One Heady Moment.” Sports Illustrated, 2014.

  Ziegler, Mark. “Buehler and Her Wild Day in Ger
many.” San Diego Union-Tribune, July 11, 2011.

  Chapter 15

  Baxter, Kevin. “U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Annoys Some Foes with Goal Celebrations.” Los Angeles Times, August 5, 2012.

  Borden, Sam. “U.S. Women Unveil Victory Dance After Win Over North Korea.” New York Times, July 31, 2012.

  Bucholtz, Andrew. “Does Something Need to Be Done About the Epidemic of Olympic Qualifying Blowouts?” Yahoo News, January 21, 2012.

  ———. “Sydney Leroux Scores Five Goals in Memorable Homecoming, but Still Hears ‘Judas’ Taunts.” Yahoo News, January 22, 2012.

  “Canadian-Born U.S. Soccer Player Says She Was Racially Abused in Vancouver.” Canadian Press, June 3, 2013.

  Fitz-Gerald, Sean. “Christine Sinclair Still Seething Over Referee in Olympic Soccer Semifinal Loss to U.S.” Vancouver Sun, August 10, 2012.

  Kelly, Cathal. “The Greatest Game of Women’s Soccer Ever Played.” Globe and Mail, June 12, 2015.

  Lloyd, Carli, and Wayne Coffey. When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.

  Memmott, Jim. “Singing Her Way Toward Exit, Sundhage Steps Down as U.S. Coach.” New York Times, September 1, 2012.

  Stevenson, Chris. “Yanks Whining About Tancredi ‘Stomp.’” Toronto Sun, August 8, 2012.

  “U.S., Canada Women’s Soccer Teams Set to Play with Bragging Rights on the Line.” Associated Press, January 28, 2012.

  “U.S. Trounce Canada Women’s Soccer Team in Olympic Qualifying Tourney.” CityNews (Toronto), January 30, 2012.

  Wetzel, Dan. “Abby Wambach’s Brains Provided Crucial Assist to U.S. Comeback Against Canada.” Yahoo News, August 7, 2012.

  Chapter 16

  Arnold, Geoffrey C. “Fan Energy Awes Thorns.” Oregonian, April 23, 2013.

  Borden, Sam. “A U.S. Soccer Star’s Declaration of Independence.” New York Times, April 10, 2013.