Founded in 1985, the US Women's National Team made its international debut at the Mundialito tournament in Italy. Although the team did not taste victory on that trip, the program was on its way.

Six years later an underdog team featuring youth and a blue-collar work ethic stunned favorite Norway and the world by winning the inaugural FIFA Women's World Championship in China. The triple edge sword of Michelle Akers, Carin (Jennings) Gabarra and April Heinrichs paved the way for the U.S. supplying 20 of its 25 goals.

Norway got its revenge at the 1995 World Cup defeating the U.S., 1-0, in the semifinals on its way to the championship. The Americans finished third. The next summer at the Atlanta Olympics the two teams met again in the semifinals. Shannon MacMillan's overtime strike gave the U.S. the victory. Four days later, the first Olympic gold medals awarded in women's soccer were draped around the Americans' necks following a 2-1 win over China with Tiffeny Milbrett providing the game-winner.

In the summer of 1999, sport and culture collided as the National Team played in front of record-breaking crowds while criss-crossing the country during the World Cup. A sellout crowd, 90,125 strong, packed the Rose Bowl to witness the Final against China. Akers' gutsy performance, Kristine Lilly's header off the line and Brandi Chastain's championship-clinching penalty kick helped the U.S. claim its second World Cup trophy.

Sydney, Australia hosted another U.S.-Norway classic at the 2000 Olympics. Trailing 2-1 in the dying moments of the Final, 5'2" Milbrett somehow got her head on a Mia Hamm cross to send the match into overtime. But the Norwegians regrouped and Dagny Mellgren scored the golden goal handing the Americans the silver medal.

More disappointment came at the 2003 World Cup. Hosting the tournament again after a SARS outbreak in China, the U.S. advanced to a semifinal showdown against Germany. After allowing a 15th minute goal, the American attack produced chance after chance but could not find the equalizer and fell, 3-0. The U.S. settled for the bronze.

The 2004 Olympics served as a farewell for several of the National Team's legends: Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and Hamm. In a semifinal rematch against Germany, the U.S. scored early, courtesy of Lilly, only to allow the Germans the equalizer late in the match. But in the 99th minute of overtime, Heather O'Reilly, the youngest member of the team at just 19, converted a cross from Hamm lifting the U.S. to victory. Overtime would again be called for in the Final. After Lindsay Tarpley staked the U.S. to a 1-0 lead just before halftime, the Americans again gave up another second half equalizer this time to Brazil. With eight minutes remaining before the match would go to penalty kicks, Abby Wambach headed home a Lilly corner kick. The U.S. was back on top of the victory podium.

In 2007, the U.S. advanced to the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals, where the National Team suffered its worst loss in the program's history, a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil. The U.S. rebounded to earn third place by defeating Norway, 4-1, three days later.

A return trip to China in 2008 for the Olympics, to be hosted by Beijing, is on the horizon.

The U.S. has also enjoyed success at the youth level. Tarpley tallied the golden goal winner for the U-19s at the 2002 World Championship in Canada. The U-19s finished third at the 2004 World Championship, held in Thailand. Now contested at the U-20 age group, the U.S. finished fourth at the 2006 World Championship in Russia. The 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship will be played Nov. 19 - Dec. 7 in Chile. The 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Championship is set to debut in New Zealand Oct. 28 - Nov. 16.

At the U-21 level, the U.S. has dominated winning nine Nordic Cup titles including seven straight from 1999-2005. The U-21s won the most recent Nordic Cup in 2007. The Nordic Cup is held each summer in Northern Europe.

During an interview in the summer of 2005, Stacey Enos, one of the ‘85ers, lamented over the loss of the National Team’s history, particularly its early years. The idea for this site sprung from that conversation as a means to preserve some of the National Team’s history.

The National Team’s history is the backbone of this site. It can be viewed on a game-by-game basis through a yearly archive or on a player-by-player basis from the player register. As much statistical detail as possible is provided about each game or player. The National Team’s all-time stats are also available and a section detailing the Youth National Teams is in the works. As they are available, links to stories regarding the National Team and women's soccer in general are posted on the homepage.

Karyn Lush.

I travel for work and when I do so, I have little, if any, time to update this site. My work travel schedule is heaviest during the summer/early fall, which is when the National Team is most often in the thick of its schedule. I’ll update the site as soon as I can.