With one swing of her leg, Brandi Chastain sealed the 1999 World Cup for the US women’s national team. And with one iconic celebration, she changed the world’s perception of female athletes forever. Unapologetically bold – and undeniably jacked – Chastain’s heroics and subsequent flex showed the world just how powerful and inspiring female athletes could be. But Chastain’s legacy goes far beyond the sports bra seen around the world. A two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Chastain scored 30 goals in 192 appearances for the USWNT, primarily playing as a defender and midfielder. Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Chastain was also named to the USWNT’s All-Time Best XI. Her iconic celebration may be one of the most famous sports moments ever, but it was Chastain’s sustained dedication to her team and her sport that brought women’s soccer from the fringe into the mainstream.
