The world’s most famous sports bra isn’t ready to retire just yet.
Brandi Chastain, whose spontaneous, shirtless, on-field celebration of a World Cup victory over China in 1999 brought unprecedented attention to her sport, was released recently by FC Gold Pride of the Women’s Professional Soccer League, leaving her without a team for the first time in her life.
“I was devastated when they told me. I’m mad now,” she told FanHouse Saturday. “They want to give the younger players the chance. I can understand the thinking, but I don’t like it. I’m still good enough to be out there, absolutely.”
Chastain, now 41, has been a women’s soccer pioneer, spending 12 years on the United States National Team, playing in three Olympic Games and three World Cup tournaments as one of America’s best athletes.
She was a founding member of both the now defunct Women’s United Soccer League and then the eight-team, WPSL that began last year when she played for FC Gold, which is based in Santa Clara, California. She lives there now with a daughter and husband, the soccer coach at Santa Clara University. She works as a volunteer assistant.
FC Gold opens training camp Monday for its spring season, but she was not invited, which could mean the end of her playing career.
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