United States women's national soccer team
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| Nickname(s) | The Yanks The Stars and Stripes |
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| Association | United States Soccer Federation | |||||||||||||||
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) |
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| Head coach | Pia Sundhage | |||||||||||||||
| Asst coach | Erica Walsh | |||||||||||||||
| Captain | Christie Rampone | |||||||||||||||
| Most caps | Kristine Lilly (352) | |||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Mia Hamm (158) | |||||||||||||||
| FIFA code | USA | |||||||||||||||
| FIFA ranking | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Highest FIFA ranking | 1 (July 2003) | |||||||||||||||
| Lowest FIFA ranking | 2 (October 2003) | |||||||||||||||
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| First international | ||||||||||||||||
 Italy 1–0 United States  (Jesolo, Italy; August 18, 1985) |
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| Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||
United States 14–0 Dominican Rep.  (Vancouver, Canada; January 20, 2012) |
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| Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||
 Brazil 4–0 United States (Hangzhou, China; September 27, 2007) |
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| World Cup | ||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 6 (First in 1991) | |||||||||||||||
| Best result | Winners, 1991, 1999 | |||||||||||||||
| CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup |
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| Appearances | 7 (First in 1991) | |||||||||||||||
| Best result | Winners; 1991, 1993, 1994 2000, 2002, 2006 | |||||||||||||||
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Honours
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The United States women's national soccer team (sometimes referred to as USWNT) represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world by the FIFA Women's World Rankings.[1] The team has also won the 1999 Women's World Cup, three Olympic Women's Gold Medals (1996, 2004 and 2008) and eight Algarve Cups (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011).
Among its many other honors, the team was selected the U.S. Olympic Committee's Team of the Year in 1997 and 1999. Sports Illustrated chose the entire team as its 1999 Sportspeople of the Year.
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[edit] History
The team played its first match on August 18, 1985, coached by Mike Ryan (not related to 2005–2007 coach Greg Ryan). In March 2004, two of its stars, Mia Hamm (who retired later that year after a post-Olympic team tour of the USA) and Michelle Akers (who had already retired), were the only two women and the only two Americans named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living soccer players chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.
Arguably their most influential and memorable victory came in the 1999 World Cup when they beat China 5–4 in a penalty shootout. With this win they emerged onto the world stage and brought significant media attention to women's soccer and athletics. On July 10, 1999, over 90,000 people (the largest ever for a women’s sporting event and one of the largest attendances in the world for a tournament game final) filled the Rose Bowl to watch the United States play China in the Final. After a back and forth game, the score was tied 0–0 at full time, and remained so after extra time, leading to a penalty kick shootout. With Briana Scurry's save of China's third kick, the score was 4–4 with only Brandi Chastain left to shoot. She scored and won the game for the United States. Chastain famously dropped to her knees and whipped off her shirt, celebrating in her sports bra, which later made the cover of Sports Illustrated and the front pages of newspapers around the country and world.
Perhaps the second most influential victory came on July 10, 2011, in the quarterfinal of the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany, where the US beat Brazil 5–3 on penalty kicks. Abby Wambach tied the game 2–2 in the 2nd minute of extra time in the 2nd period of overtime (the 122nd minute of the match overall) with a left-footed cross by Megan Rapinoe. Earlier in the game, Brazil had evened the score 1–1 on a controversial penalty kick. Interestingly, the game was played on the 12th anniversary of the memorable 1999 World Cup Final (described above), which the US also won on penalty kicks.
[edit] Kit
Traditionally since the team started, the kit has been an all white kit. Occasionally blue shorts have been used. As of May 2011, the away kit is all black. Like the men's team, Nike is the team's kit manufacturer. The team also wears two stars above the US Soccer crest, to signify their two world championships.
[edit] Schedule and Results
The following is a list of matches from the past six months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Key
Win Draw Loss
- Key
- IF = International Friendly
- OQT = 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
- GP = Group Play
- SF = Semifinals
- F = Final
- AC = 2012 Algarve Cup
- GP = Group Play
- KC = 2012 Women's Kirin Challenge Cup
[edit] Current squad
[edit] Roster for Olympic qualifying
The following players were called up for the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament being held at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
Caps and goals are current as of January 29, 2012.
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[edit] Recent call-ups
The following players were named to a squad in the last six months, but were not called up for the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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[edit] Records
The women's national team boasts the first six players in the history of the game to have earned 200 or more caps. (These players have since been joined in the 200-cap club by Pu Wei and Li Jie of China and Birgit Prinz of Germany, as well as by a seventh American, Kate Markgraf.) Kristine Lilly is the only player of either sex with over 300 caps.
[edit] Most capped players
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[edit] Top scorers
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[edit] Most goals scored in a match
The record for most goals scored in a match by a member of the USWNT is five. This has been accomplished six times, most recently by Sydney Leroux on January 22, 2012 in a 13-0 victory over Guatemala.
Brandi Chastain - April 18, 1991 vs. Mexico - FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier (goals were consecutive) (player came off the bench)
Julie Foudy
Tiffeny Milbrett
Abby Wambach - October 23, 2004 vs. Ireland (Houston, Texas)
Amy Rodriguez - January 20, 2012 vs. Dominican Republic (Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA) - CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (player came off the bench)
Sydney Leroux - January 22, 2012 vs. Guatemala (Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA) - CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (player came off the bench)
[edit] Head coaches
| Name | Years | Played | Won | Tied | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Ryan |
1985 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .125 |
| Anson Dorrance |
1986–1994 | 93 | 66 | 5 | 22 | .737 |
| Tony DiCicco |
1994–1999 | 119 | 103 | 8 | 8 | .899 |
| Lauren Gregg |
1997, 2000 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .833 |
| April Heinrichs |
2000–2004 | 124 | 87 | 20 | 17 | .782 |
| Greg Ryan |
2005–2007 | 55 | 45 | 9 | 1 | .900 |
 Pia Sundhage |
2007–present | 87 | 72 | 10 | 5 | .885 |
| Totals | 485 | 375 | 54 | 56 | .829 | |
- Statistics as of January 29, 2012
[edit] World Cup record
- Host year in red
| Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1991 |
Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| 1995 |
Third place | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| 1999 |
Champions | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| 2003 |
Third place | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| 2007 |
Third place | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 |
 2011 |
Runners-Up | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 |
 2015 |
To Be Determined | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 6/6 | 36 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 98 | 32 |
[edit] Olympics record
| Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 |
Gold Medal | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
 2000 |
Silver Medal | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
 2004 |
Gold Medal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| 2008 |
Gold Medal | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
 2012 |
Qualified | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5/5 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 17 |
[edit] CONCACAF Gold Cup record
| Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1991 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| 1993 |
Champions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 1994 |
Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| 1998 |
Did not participate1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2000 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2002 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2006 |
Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
 2010 |
Third Place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 2 |
| Total | 7/8 | 29 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 152 | 6 |
1 The US team directly qualified for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup as hosts of the event. Because of this, they did not participate in the 1998 CONCACAF Championship, which was the qualification tournament for the World Cup.
[edit] Other honors
[edit] International
- Champions (8): 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
- Runners-Up (4): 1994, 1999, 2006, 2009
- Third Place (2): 1997, 1998
- Champions (7): 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011
- Third Place (1): 2002
- Champions (2): 2006, 2008
[edit] Regional
- Champions (5): 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
[edit] Media coverage
ESPN and ESPN2 bring most coverage, with occasional coverage from Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol, and Galavisión.
[edit] See also
- United States at the team sports international competitions
- Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team – 2005 HBO documentary
- List of women's national football teams
- Women's association football around the world
- Lists of association football players
- United States U-17 women's national soccer team
- United States U-20 women's national soccer team
- United States U-23 women's national soccer team
- Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
- W-League (includes some partially salaried players)
- WUSA (defunct)
- Women's Professional Soccer
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Inaugural Champions |
FIFA Women's World Cup Champions 1991 (First title) |
Succeeded by 1995 Norway  |
| Preceded by 1995 Norway |
FIFA Women's World Cup Champions 1999 (Second title) |
Succeeded by 2003 Germany |
| Preceded by Inaugural Champions |
Olympic Champions 1996 (First title) |
Succeeded by 2000 Norway |
| Preceded by 2000 Norway |
Olympic Champions 2004 (Second title) 2008 (Third title) |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Inaugural Champions |
CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Champions 1991 (First title) 1993 (Second title) 1994 (Third title) |
Succeeded by 1998 Canada |
| Preceded by 1998 Canada As CONCACAF Champions |
CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Champions 2000 (Fourth title) 2002 (Fifth title) 2006 (Sixth title) |
Succeeded by 2010 Canada |
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