Party like its 1999: Happy Birthday to Title IX and the 1999 Women's National Team

It was hot. A humid palpable tension clung to the stadium air. 90,000 plus faces were plastered to the square of grass in front of them. Likewise, the same hypnotic trance had captured thousands of more beady eyes at home, people holding their breath, shielding their face away from the television screen in that nervous anticipation like the bottomless pit the churns and tumbles in your stomach before the top of the roller coaster. One woman, a woman part of 21-strong, took a long walk up to a little white 12-yard line. She turned back and walked several steps away, listening for the whistle and waiting to run. Brandi Chastain calmly struck the ball into the upper right corner of the net and within two seconds all of those sweaty faces erupted in a deafening roar. An on rush of tiny white players ran towards a now shirtless Chastain, jumping her, mugging her, trying to contain her as she jumped for joy around the field. It was July 10, 1999, and the United States Women’s National Team had just defeated China in penalty kicks in front of a packed Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, Calif. It was a moment many would never forget.

Nearly a decade later the legacy of that 1999 United States women’s team lives on. For the next several weeks Women’s Professional Soccer will be celebrating the legacy of that 1999 women’s squad. They’re not only celebrating a win for that women’s team in the World Cup, but also for women’s youth soccer everywhere in the world. The U.S. women may have won the game that day, but the performances of all of the women’s national teams, whether from China or Brazil (who captured third in the tournament), along with the exuberance and dedication of the fans, truly made a name for women’s athletics.

It’s purely coincidental that two days ago marked the 37th anniversary of Title IX, a landmark civil rights law that prohibited the sexual discrimination of women in education programs and activities that received federal funding. With the passing of Title IX in 1972 athletic opportunities were suddenly opened up to women that had never been available before. According to the law, equal opportunity had to be provided for girls and women in all areas of education, including athletics. Women could now participate in sports that had previously been exclusively for men, sports like basketball, baseball and soccer. What better a time for the WPS to celebrate the 1999 United States Women’s World Cup team then during the same time a landmark law in women’s sports passed? It’s a dual celebration of sorts.


Title IX opened doors for female athletes across the U.S. and likewise 27 years later, with a thrilling win in penalty kicks against China at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the greats of women’s soccer at the time, those like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Joy Fawcett along with many others, paved the way for young female soccer players around the world.

“I will always be grateful to the U.S. Women’s National Team that changed the sport forever, played on the biggest stage in women’s sports history, and gave me role models and heroes to grow towards, said Rebecca Moros, a midfielder for the Washington Freedom, in an article posted on the WPS website a few days ago. “ The ’99 World Cup was truly a peak moment in my life and in all sports history.”

Articles like Moros’ are a part of a series that the WPS will be posting to its website for the next several weeks as part of their remembering 99’ celebration. As well, each WPS team will host a special day at home with speakers and autograph signings to honor that memorable day (for a complete schedule).

As the WPS celebrates like its 1999—celebrates a game that not only affected American’s but the world over-- it’s important to keep in mind the international effect that 1999 had on youth soccer players and now a decade later we need to celebrate the affect that international players are having on the WPS.

Making up 38 out of the 153 players in the WPS, the international athletes represent a core part of the WPS teams. These players came from England, France, Scotland, Sweden, Australia, China, Japan, Brazil and Canada to play on foreign soil and to play for the WPS, whose mission it is to be the premier league for women’s soccer in the world. And these international players, ranging from the likes of Marta (LA Brazil) to Sonia Bompastor (WSH France), haven’t just waited in the wings, but taken front stage in the around the league; they have made a significant contribution to the quality of play here.

Just take a look at the stats board.

With a 90th minute penalty kick goal this past weekend against the Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers forward Kristine Lilly was the first American player in the WPS to crack three goals. (Keep in mind that we are 13 weeks into the season). The honor of the most goals scored in the league so far goes to the Frenchwoman Camille Abily (LA) who has earned a sole spot on the leader board with seven; she is followed closely by Marta (LA--from Brazil) who with last nights goal against the Saint Louis Athletica now has six and Christine Sinclair (BAY—from Canada), and Kelly Smith (BOS –from England) who all have 5 goals. Lilly herself is in the company of Englishwoman Eniola Aluko (STL), Australian Lisa De Vanna (WSH), and Frenchwoman Sonia Bompastor (WSH). With American Brittany Bock (LA) and Daniela (STL--From Brazil) rounding out the pack with two goals each, there are only two Americans in the whole group who have reached the leader board for number of goals scored.

In the assists category, Sonia Bompastor leads the league with five. She is followed closely by a three-way tie for second held by two more internationals— and Aya Miyama (LA Japan)—as well as American Tiffany Weimer (BAY) (each have three).

Even on the goalkeeping side, Karina LeBlanc, the keeper for the Canadian National Team, leads the league with nine clean sheets and 51 saves. Caroline Jonsson, the Chicago Red Stars brick wall and native Sweden between the pipes, has a just a save behind her with 50.

Basically, what all these numbers add up to is an international marvel. Those who have travelled from far away and left their homes and their families behind to come play in a premier league are making the most of their time here. It’s only fair that on a day when American women were given the right to participate in athletic activities and during a time when women’s athletics took the world by storm, that we recognize the contributions of these internationals players as well. Soccer is a global sport, but not all countries have the luxury that Title IX provides.

It’s important to acknowledge how far women’s sports have come, but also recognize that struggles that women in some countries still face. Women like Mehboba Ahdyar, who at 19-years-old was to be the only woman representing Afghanistan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Ahdyar, however, fled an Italian training camp only three weeks before the Olympic Games started because she feared a backlash from those in her home country whom did not approve.

Although all of the nine countries represented in the WPS (England, Scotland, Sweden, France, China, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Canada) allow women to participate in sports, countries like Saudi Arabia, and Brunei do not give their women the option. In fact both were the only two countries in the world to send all male teams to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to their respective governments, women are barred from Olympic participation for “cultural and religious reasons.”

Saudi Arabi is perhaps the worst though, where four years ago the Ministry of Education decided not to accept a proposal to introduce.... Women are even banned from cheering on sports teams in stadiums.

The WPS is partying like its 1999, commemorating a 1999 World Cup championship match that may have been a victory for the U.S. on paper, but in perspective was global, effecting internationals and Americans alike. So this month party away, honor Title IX and female icons like Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm, but don’t forget the internationals who effected soccer here in the U.S. and more importantly those international women who as of yet do not have something to celebrate.