United States women's national soccer team
Most successful women's national soccer team in history.
The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT, known as USA to FIFA) is the country's representative in international women's soccer. It operates under the United States Soccer Federation and belongs to CONCACAF, the FIFA region covering North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The USWNT is the most accomplished team in the history of women's soccer, with four Women's World Cup victories (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019), four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012), nine CONCACAF W Championship titles, and one CONCACAF W Gold Cup title. The team has earned a medal at every Women's World Cup and Olympic women's soccer competition, with two exceptions: the 2016 Olympics and the 2023 World Cup. In both of those tournaments, Sweden eliminated the U.S. via a penalty shootout in the first knockout round.
From 2003 to 2008, the U.S. mostly held the No. 2 spot in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. It then held the No. 1 ranking continuously from March 2008 to November 2014—the longest uninterrupted top ranking by any team. Since FIFA rankings began in 2003, the USWNT has spent a total of 13 years at No. 1; the next-closest team, Germany, has been No. 1 for a combined 4.5 years. The U.S. has never fallen below fifth in the world rankings.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee named the USWNT its Team of the Year in 1997 and 1999. In 1999, *Sports Illustrated* awarded the entire squad its Sportswomen of the Year honor as part of the magazine's traditional Sportsman of the Year recognition. On April 5, 2017, the players and U.S. Soccer reached a new collective bargaining agreement that included pay increases. In February 2022, a group of current and former USWNT players settled a lawsuit with U.S. Soccer for $24 million, along with a requirement that male and female soccer players receive equal pay regardless of differences in prize money—a first-of-its-kind standard globally. However, FIFA continues to distribute significantly larger funds to member associations for the men's tournament.
The United States will co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup, and the USWNT will automatically qualify as a host nation.
**History**
**Origins** Title IX, passed in 1972, banned gender-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. This law spurred the creation of women's college soccer teams across the U.S. at a time when women's soccer was gain
- field
- Women's international soccer
- nationality
- United States
- known_for
- Most successful team in international women's soccer; four Women's World Cup titles; four Olympic gold medals; longest consecutive No. 1 FIFA ranking
- governing_body
- United States Soccer Federation
- confederation
- CONCACAF
Lore & Background
The team's origins trace to the passing of Title IX in 1972, which spurred women's college soccer. In 1985, the U.S. Soccer Federation asked coach Mike Ryan to select collegiate players for the Mundialito tournament in Italy; the team lost its first match 1–0 to Italy and finished fourth. Anson Dorrance was hired as the first full-time head coach in 1986, giving appearances to teenage players including Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Kristine Lilly. The U.S. played in the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament in China, losing in the quarterfinals to eventual champions Norway.
The U.S. won the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, defeating Norway 2–1 in the final. Despite the victory, the team remained in relative obscurity and received little attention from U.S. Soccer. After Dorrance resigned in 1994, assistant Tony DiCicco became head coach. The team won Olympic gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics. At the 1999 World Cup final in Pasadena, California, 90,000 spectators watched the U.S. defeat China on penalty kicks; Brandi Chastain's celebration after scoring the winning kick became an iconic image. The team won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008.
Reader's Guide
The United States women's national soccer team has been the dominant force in international women's soccer since the 1991 World Cup. Its four World Cup titles and five Olympic gold medals are unmatched. The team's sustained excellence is reflected in its FIFA rankings: it was ranked No. 1 continuously from March 2008 to November 2014, the longest consecutive top ranking of any team, and has never been ranked lower than fifth. The 1999 World Cup victory brought significant media attention to women's sports and inspired many girls to play soccer. In 2017, the team reached a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Soccer leading to pay increases. In February 2022, current and former players settled a lawsuit for $24 million, requiring equal pay for male and female soccer players—a first in the world. The team will co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup and earn automatic entry. Its legacy includes pioneering equal pay standards and inspiring generations of athletes.
Did You Know?
- The team has never been ranked lower than fifth in the FIFA Women's World Rankings since rankings were established in 2003.
- The U.S. was eliminated from both the 2016 Olympic tournament and the 2023 Women's World Cup by Sweden after a penalty shootout in the first round of the knockout stage.
- In February 2022, the USWNT settled a lawsuit with U.S. Soccer for $24 million, requiring equal pay for male and female players, the first instance of this standard in the world.
- The team was selected as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Team of the Year in 1997 and 1999.
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