Nice article about Brandi Chastain in the Sports Illustrated that arrived today. It was part of the annual “Where Are They Now?” edition in which the magazine looks up newsmakers from the world of sports from 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago and reports on what they’re doing today.
Chastain was featured for her penalty kick that won the 1999 Women’s World Cup in front of a sellout crowd at the Rose Bowl. Of course to many Chastain is remembered as much for the aftermath of that shot, when she yanked off her jersey in celebration. But the victory put the U.S. Women on then cover of SI and generated publicity for the sport that led to a professional league. The Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) began play in 2001 and included the Philadelphia Charge playing at Villanova Stadium. But the league went through money faster than a gambler at the slots in Atlantic City and after three years it went the way of the NASL, the WFL, WHA and WLAF to the sports graveyard of failed leagues.
Now there is a new try at women’s soccer: Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and Chastain is still playing – this time for FC Gold Pride in Santa Clara. Almost 41, she’s the second oldest player in the league.
Speaking of the ’99 Women’s World Cup, here’s one of my favorite cartoons from that year is posted at the top of this article.
And a trivia question since we're talking about Sports Illustrated: who was the first soccer player to appear on the magazine's cover?
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