Upon Further Review: What If the 1999 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Had Lost the Women’s World Cup?

What if Brandi Chastain’s penalty kick against China in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final had sailed wide of the goal resulting in defeat? Just imagine the devastating fallout. There would be no thriving women’s professional league, women’s soccer highlights wouldn’t dominate ESPN’s Sportscenter and female players would’ve never gotten the same pay as the men. The thing is none of that actually did happen, despite their triumph in 1999. Louisa Thomas explores why and reports on the mixed legacy of women’s soccer in the U.S.