VANCOUVER, British Columbia – For the first time since 1999, not only has the United States won the Women's World Cup, but a Stanford player has lifted the championship trophy.
In 1999, it was Julie Foudy, a four-time first-team All-America. On Sunday, it was Kelley O'Hara and Christen Press, Stanford teammates who fell just short of NCAA titles, but now have captured soccer's ultimate prize – a World Cup title.
Stanford alumnae have been part of every major U.S. championship, with at least one player on teams that won World Cup titles in 1991, 1999, and 2015, and Olympic titles in 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012.
Foudy is regarded among the U.S. national team's all-time greats. She captained the team during the 1999 World Cup, which was won on penalty kicks over China in front of a huge crowd at the Rose Bowl. Though the team had great success in the Olympics, World Cup glory eluded the Americans until Sunday's 5-2 victory over Japan.
O'Hara entered as a substitute for Megan Rapinoe in the 61st minute and helped the U.S. finish out the victory. O'Hara and Press, who played four matches, each scored a goal during the tournament.
The 24-team event included five former Stanford players. Besides O'Hara and Press, Ali Riley played for New Zealand, and Alina Garciamendez and Teresa Noyola were with Mexico. All were teammates on Stanford's 2009 team that went 25-1, won the Pac-10, and reached the school's first NCAA final.
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The following are facts and figures concerning Stanford's history in international competition:
All-time World Cup players (8): Julie Foudy '93 (U.S.; 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003), Ali Riley '10 (New Zealand; 2007, 2011, 2015), Nicole Barnhart '04 (U.S.; 2007, 2011), Alina Garciamendez '13 (Mexico; 2011, 2015), Teresa Noyola '12 (Mexico; 2011, 2015), Kelley O'Hara '10 (U.S.; 2011, 2015), Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke '07 (U.S.; 2011), Christen Press '11 (U.S.; 2015).
World Cup champions (3): Julie Foudy (1991, 1999), Kelley O'Hara (2015), Christen Press (2015).
Olympic gold medalists (4): Nicole Barnhart (2008, 2012), Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke (2008, 2012), Julie Foudy (1996, 2004), Kelley O'Hara (2012).
World Cup caps (51): Julie Foudy 24, Ali Riley 9, Alina Garciamendez 6, Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke 5, Kelley O'Hara 4, Christen Press 4, Teresa Noyola 2.
World Cup goals (6): Julie Foudy 4, Kelley O'Hara 1, Christen Press 1.
U.S. national team caps (593): Julie Foudy (1988-2004) 272, Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke (2008-15) 113, Kelley O'Hara (2010-15) 63, Nicole Barnhart (2004-13) 54, Christen Press (2013-15) 49, Sarah Rafanelli (1992-95) 34, Ronnie Fair (1997-98) 3, Marcie Ward (2001) 3, Jessica Fischer (1993) 2.
U.S. national team goals (80): Julie Foudy 45, Christen Press 21, Sarah Rafanelli 8, Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke 5, Kelley O'Hara 1.