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Julie Foudy

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Julie Foudy
NameJulie Foudy
Birth date23 January 1971
Birth placeSan Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materStanford University
OccupationSoccer player, sportscaster
SpouseIan Sawyers (m. 1995)

Julie Foudy is an American former professional soccer player, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and prominent sportscaster. A dominant midfielder, she served as captain for both the United States women's national soccer team and her professional club, the San Diego Spirit, during a storied career spanning over a decade. Following her retirement, she transitioned to a successful broadcasting career with ESPN and ABC News while becoming a leading advocate for gender equity in sports and children's health.

Early life and education

Born in San Diego, California, she grew up in Mission Viejo where she began playing youth soccer. She was a multi-sport standout at Mission Viejo High School, earning Parade All-America honors in soccer. She chose to attend Stanford University, where she played for the Stanford Cardinal from 1989 to 1992. At Stanford, she was a three-time All-American and helped lead the team to its first NCAA championship game appearance in 1992, also earning Academic All-American honors while majoring in biology.

Playing career

Her international career began in 1988, and she earned 271 caps for the United States women's national soccer team, a record at her retirement. A creative and tenacious central midfielder, she was a cornerstone of the team that won the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup on home soil, and Olympic gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She also won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She served as team captain from 2000 to 2004, following Carla Overbeck. Professionally, she played for the San Diego Spirit in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), serving as the team's captain until the league's suspension in 2003.

Broadcasting career

Following her retirement in 2004, she joined ESPN and ABC News as a soccer analyst and reporter. She has provided coverage for major events including the FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and Olympic Games. She has been a lead analyst for National Women's Soccer League matches on ESPN2 and contributed to programs like SportsCenter and Outside the Lines. Her role expanded to include hosting and contributing to broader sports journalism and feature programming for the network.

Advocacy and philanthropy

She has been a powerful advocate for social change, particularly in sports. She served as president of the Women's Sports Foundation and was a founding member of the Women's United Soccer Association players union. She is a board member for the Megan Meier Foundation and has worked extensively with UNICEF, serving as an ambassador to promote children's health and education initiatives. She also co-founded the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, which empowers young women through sports and leadership training.

Personal life

She married former professional soccer player and coach Ian Sawyers in 1995. The couple has two children and resides in Orange County, California. She remains actively involved in the soccer community through her broadcasting, advocacy work, and various business ventures related to sports media and leadership development.

Legacy and honors

She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2023, she was honored with the National Soccer Hall of Fame's prestigious Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award. Her number 11 jersey was retired by U.S. Soccer in a 2022 ceremony. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in the history of women's soccer, remembered for her visionary playmaking, relentless leadership, and enduring impact as a pioneer for gender equity in athletics and broadcasting.

Category:1971 births Category:American women's soccer players Category:Stanford Cardinal women's soccer players Category:United States women's national soccer team players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in soccer Category:FIFA Women's World Cup winners Category:American sportscasters Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame inductees