With an integral role on the team that set the standard for women’s professional soccer and a record 173 international appearances, Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s best female soccer goalkeepers. Notably one of the first African American professional female soccer player, she has helped significantly to diversify the sport.
Named starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national soccer team in 1994, she helped lead the team to many achievements, including two Olympic gold medals. Captivating the world in the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship game—which represented one of the most important events in the history of American athletics—she made history after an astounding shoot-out save, resulting in the win. Her talent protecting the goal and her team’s unprecedented success led to a huge increase of women’s soccer fans and inspired millions.
In 2001, she became one of the first women to participate in a woman’s paid professional league, pioneering the way for women’s soccer. As captain of the Atlanta Beat, she played in two WUSA championships, playing until 2010 when a debilitating head-injury led to her retirement and subsequent concussion awareness advocacy, testifying before Congress on Traumatic Brain Injuries in sports.
Scurry’s impact on the legacy of the U.S. Women’s National Team program and contributions on the field recently earned her a spot on the U.S. Soccer All-Time Best XI National Team, and as a permanent part of the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Title IX exhibit. In 2017, Briana was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
As one of the first African-American professional female soccer players as well as one of the first out LGBT players, Scurry has faced and triumphed over various challenges during the course of her career. The epitome of a team player with a palpable love of the game, Scurry draws on her ability to overcome obstacles to provide insight on the importance of teamwork, motivation, focus, and strategies for leveraging personal strengths.
In 2022, Scurry released her best-selling memoir, My Greatest Save. Scurry was also the subject of The Only, a CBS feature-length documentary chronicling her life that was released in 2022.
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Briana has been a predominant, permanent exhibit of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, since the museum opened on September 24th in Washington, D.C. She is featured in the museum’s Title IX exhibit for her invaluable contributions to African American women in sports, education, and community.
Briana has donated a plethora of game-worn apparel and equipment, U.S. Women’s National Team memorabilia, and personal treasures to the Smithsonian Institution. The National Museum of African American History and Culture will use these gifts in exhibitions, scholarly programming, and educational sessions for Smithsonian staff and visitors alike. Not only her inclusion in the museum – but the opportunity for her legacy to inspire those that care about the exploration of African American culture – is both a great honor and lifetime achievement.
“Inclusion in the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a lifetime achievement. My personal victories fail in comparison to knowing my career has inspired and motivated others to break down barriers. It is my hope that the stories told through the NMAAHC educate and inspire the next generation of game changers.”
— Briana Scurry
“Soccer had already given me so much more than I could possibly give back. Now, to be inducted alongside the likes of Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, and Kristine Lilly – I am truly humbled. Thank you for letting me play for you, and thank you all for this incredible honor.”
— Briana Scurry
The National Soccer Hall of Fame came to life in 1950 and almost 30 years later in 1979 the National Soccer Museum, as a physical entity, was established in Oneonta, N.Y. It was officially recognized as the National Soccer Hall of Fame by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 1983 and today nearly 300 members have been elected to the Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to American soccer, both on and off the field.
In 2017, Briana was elected as a player inductee, capping off a career that includes winning, or earning, every major honor in the sport.
Briana Scurry is thrilled and humbled to announce that she is now a permanent part of the FIFA World Football Museum! Her gloves and jersey from the 1999 Women’s World Cup Championship have a new permanent home at the FIFA World Football Museum. See below for more information about the Museum and visit the website http://www.fifamuseum.com/
FIFA has created the FIFA World Football Museum to celebrate the rich heritage of football and to show how the game continues to connect and inspire the world.
The FIFA World Football Museum tells the story of how world football’s governing body has developed association football globally and made it the undisputed number one sport in the world, uniting nations and bringing continents together.
Pride of place in the FIFA World Football Museum is the FIFA World Cup™ Gallery. A must-see for all fans, the gallery is dedicated to the history of football’s ultimate prize and will host an incredible collection in a stunning architectural setting where the jewel of the exhibition – the FIFA World Cup Trophy – is on display.
With a multitude of attractions, audiovisual experiences and thought-provoking exhibitions, the FIFA World Football Museum shows the impact football has had on society, and how it is a source of inspiration for fans across the globe.
“I am thrilled and humbled to be a permanent part of the FIFA World Football Museum!”
— Briana Scurry
"Being a part of the first team to ever win a gold medal in women’s soccer at the Olympics is one of the most memorable moments of my career. To be recognized as a team for what we were able to accomplish and to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor.”
— Briana Scurry
In 1996, the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team won the inaugural gold medal in women’s soccer at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Playing in front of 76,481 fans in the gold-medal match, the most spectators ever to attend a female sporting event at the time, the U.S. defeated China 2-1.
As part of the Class of 2004, the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
