Briana Scurry

Briana Scurry
Name	Briana Scurry
Caption	Scurry in 2010
Birth date	7 September 1971
Birth place	Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in
Position	Goalkeeper
Years1	1994–1995
Clubs1	Minnesota Lightning
Years2	2001–2003
Clubs2	Atlanta Beat
Years3	2009
Clubs3	Washington Freedom
Nationalyears1	1994–2008
Nationalteam1	United States
Medaltemplates	Women's soccer FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 1999 2011 Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta 2004 Athens 2000 Sydney

Briana Scurry is a retired American professional soccer goalkeeper who is widely regarded as a pioneer in women's sports. She was a foundational member of the dominant United States women's national soccer team during the 1990s and 2000s, earning 173 international caps. Scurry is best known for her crucial role in winning the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, where her save in the penalty shootout of the final against China secured the championship and captivated a global audience.

Early life and education

Born in Minneapolis, Scurry grew up in the suburb of Dayton and was a multi-sport athlete at Anoka High School. She initially excelled in basketball and track before focusing on soccer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she played for the Minutewomen. Under coach Jim Rudy, she became an All-American and set numerous program records, leading her team to the 1993 NCAA Tournament.

Club career

Scurry began her professional career with the Minnesota Lightning in the USL W-League. She later became a marquee player in the first professional American women's league, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), as the starting goalkeeper for the Atlanta Beat. With the Beat, she helped the team reach the Founders Cup championship match in both 2001 and 2002. After the WUSA folded, she played briefly for the Washington Freedom in Women's Professional Soccer in 2009.

International career

Scurry made her debut for the United States women's national soccer team in 1994. She was the starting goalkeeper for the gold-medal-winning team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and again at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Her most iconic moment came during the final of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup at the Rose Bowl, where her save on Liu Ying's penalty kick was decisive. She also backed up Hope Solo on the squad that finished second at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

Style of play and legacy

Renowned for her explosive athleticism, commanding presence in the penalty area, and exceptional reflexes on penalty kicks, Scurry revolutionized the goalkeeper position in women's soccer. Her mental fortitude in high-pressure situations, exemplified in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, became legendary. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2022, cementing her status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

Post-playing career and advocacy

Following her retirement, Scurry has been a prominent advocate for brain injury awareness and CTE research, stemming from her own experiences with post-concussion syndrome. She has worked with organizations like the Brain Injury Association of America and served as an analyst for networks such as ESPN and MSNBC. She also held the position of Managing Director for the Atlanta Beat in the Women's Professional Soccer league and has been active with the U.S. Soccer Federation in various advisory roles.

Personal life

Scurry is openly gay and married her longtime partner, Chryssa Zizos, in 2013. She has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and inclusion in sports. In 2020, she published her memoir, *My Greatest Save*, detailing her soccer career, advocacy work, and personal journey. She remains an influential speaker on issues of diversity, equity, and athlete health.

Category:American soccer players Category:United States women's national soccer team players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in soccer Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame inductees