Soccer player Briana Scurry inspired others while playing, but her story is far from over.
Brianna Scurry was one of the most talented goalkeepers the United States has ever seen, and she is still influencing girls today. She helped lead the Olympic team to two gold medals. The first was in 1996, which was the first time the U.S. women’s soccer team won gold.
Scurry’s career started by attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While there, she was named an All-American and the National Collegiate Goalkeeper of the Year in 1993. The Atlantic 10 also recognized her as the conference’s Player of the Year. Scurry is the second in all-time shutouts with a total of 37, and her total number of saves throughout her college career is 368. She was later inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame.
After college, she became the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1994. Not only did she help lead the team to win the Olympics, but Scurry led them to a World Cup win in 1999 and another Olympic win in 2004. She made a total of 173 international appearances.
Playing soccer is not all Scurry has accomplished. Scurry has a permanent exhibit in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She is featured in the Title IX exhibit. She has played a huge role for African American women in sports, education and community.
In 2017, Scurry was elected as a player of inductee for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The National Soccer Hall of Fame started in 1950. It wasn’t until 1979 when the National Soccer Museum was built that it became a physical entity. Scurry is also a permanent part of the FIFA World Football Museum
In 2022, Scurry released her memoir, My Greatest Save. She was also a part of a CBS documentary, The Only, following her life chronologically. In 2023, she went back to her alma mater and served as the commencement speaker. While there, she received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service.
For more information on Briana Scurry, you can find information at Briana Scurry — About or on the University of Massachusetts Amherst Briana Scurry at UMass Amherst.