CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

THE 2015 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

in 2015, the US Women’s National Team embarked on a mission to bring home its third star. Fortunately, the team didn’t have to travel far, with the tournament being hosted in Canada. While the physical travel wasn’t taxing, the pressure to continue evolving the sport in America, with momentum from the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics, was palpable. So too was the desire to win a a World Cup championship for legends like Abby Wambach and Heather O’Reilly as they approached the late stages of their international careers.

Becky Sauerbrunn joined the show to talk about the journey to that competition. The legendary center back shared her memories leading up that run in Canada. She talks about the program’s evolution, the new coaching regime that led the team to the 2015 World Cup, the impact of that win and more. Sauerbrunn discussed why that win was so important and how it continued to change the perception of women’s soccer in America.