Team USA: The Past & Present of Women’s Soccer

The game of soccer has led the growth of women’s sports in the United States and indeed, all over the world. Since 1972, when Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education was enacted, women have increasingly participated in playing soccer. At this very moment, thousands of young women are found in the soccer fields, which are seemingly everywhere, working on their footwork and perhaps dreaming of becoming a major athlete like Abby Wambach.

I don’t claim to know a lot about women’s soccer. Yet I can jump onboard and follow the latest buzz about the Women’s World Cup, as the USA prepares to play Nigeria in tonight’s match. The American women’s soccer team has been a world leader in the sport, particularly since winning the Cup in 1999. Then, Mia Hamm—whose likeness hangs in the National Portrait Gallery—led the women’s team to victory over China, scoring two goals and connecting a penalty kick in the game’s shootout finale.

Now, we are seeing similarly brilliant play by Team USA: Megan Rapinoe’s golden foot, for example, scoring two goals to help win the game against Australia; and how about Meghan Klingenberg, who during the game against Sweden, saved a goal from being scored by a headed clearance?! The play is eerily reminiscent of Kristine Lilly’s own headed clearance during the USA-China game in 1999. I can’t wait to see what memorable plays are made tonight.

—Kate Lemay, Historian, National Portrait Gallery