Chapter Twelve: The Women Win America's First World Cup

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Subscribe to the Founding Football Feed to receive every episode twice weekly. Subscribe Here To Receive Every Episode

In 1991, FIFA staged the first ever Women's World Cup in China. The tournament took place in November, featured 12 teams from six (6)confederations and delivered performances for the ages. When the two weeks of play had ended, The US Women's National Team emerged with not only the first Women's World Cup win ever, but America's first World Cup win of any type. Michelle Akers continued her ascension to super stardom with a tournament-high ten (10) goals en route to Golden Shoe honors.

Akers was one of three American scoring threats that, collectively, were dubbed the "triple-edged sword." The other two were team captain April Heinrichs and our guest, Carin Jennings-Gabarra, who scored six (6) goals of her own went on to win Golden Ball honors as the tournament's most outstanding player. Jennings-Gabarra was kind enough to sit down and spend time with us to share her journey to the USWNT, her memories of the epic 1991 season, and what made that team so special. She talks about her now more than 30 years as head coach at the Naval Academy, and why a career in coaching was so important for players in the late 80s and early 90s.

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Carin Jennings-Gabarra (Former USWNT Player, Head Coach Women's Soccer US Naval Academy)

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