By CAITLIN MURRAY
The votes are in and U.S. Soccer has determined the U.S. Women’s National Team’s All-Time Best XI.
Making up the bulk of the team is the group that won the World Cup in 1999 in front of a record-breaking crowd of more than 90,000 at the Rose Bowl – a moment widely seen as putting women’s soccer on the map in America. Mia Hamm and Joy Fawcett were unanimously voted into the Best XI.
Just three active members of the USWNT made the All-Time Best XI: reigning FIFA Player of the Year Abby Wambach; 24-year-old star striker Alex Morgan; and Christie Rampone, the remaining active player from the legendary 1999 group.
Without question, the most divided vote of the lot was goalkeeper. Briana Scurry ended up with 31 votes from the committee, beating out Hope Solo’s 24 votes, the most of any player to not make the Best XI.
See the Best XI list released Thursday after the jump:
Here is the Best XI and their vote totals:
Goalkeeper – Briana Scurry 1994-2008 (31)
Defender – Brandi Chastain 1988-2004 (31)
Defender – Joy Biefeld (Fawcett) 1987-2004 (56)
Defender – Carla Werden (Overbeck) 1988-2000 (49)
Defender – Christie Rampone (Pearce) 1997-present (46)
Midfielder – Michelle Akers 1985-2000 (55)
Midfielder – Julie Foudy 1988-2004 (40)
Midfielder – Kristine Lilly 1987-2010 (55)
Forward – Mia Hamm 1987-2004 (56)
Forward – Alex Morgan 2010-present (15)
Forward – Abby Wambach 2001-present (52)
A group of soccer historians, media members, former coaches and players made the selection in a 4-3-3 formation as part of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s centennial celebration.
The vote totals for all eligible players and a list of the voting committee are available at U.S. Soccer’s website. The men’s Best XI will be released Friday.
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What do you think of this Best XI? Are there any players you would’ve preferred to see make the cut? Would you have named Solo to your Best XI?
Share your thoughts below.