Julie Foudy is one of the most accomplished female soccer players in the world. As a midfielder who helped control the flow of the game, Foudy's talents on the soccer field were evident from an early age. By 16 she'd become a member of the U.S. Women's National Team. Three years later, in 1991, she was selected co-captain and wore the captain's armband until she retired in 2004. Over the course of her lengthy career, Foudy led the team to three Olympic medals and two World Cup titles, while also inspiring millions of girls to play sports. In 2007, Foudy was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. Following such an impressive career, Foudy joined ESPN in 2005 as a women’s soccer and FIFA World Cup analyst, where she continues to lend her voice, insights, and personality to soccer broadcasts today. Furthermore, Foudy sits on the board of Athletes for Hope (AFH), and is also on the advisory board of the American Democracy Institute (ADI).
Among her many accomplishments, Foudy is considered to be one of Stanford University's best female soccer players. She enrolled at Stanford in 1989, turning down a tempting offer to join North Carolina’s long-dominant program so that she could be closer to her California-based family. While at Stanford, there didn’t seem to be a soccer award that she couldn't win.
During her time on The Farm, Foudy was the team's first four-time All-American. She also led the Cardinals to their first three NCAA tournament appearances – and finished her collegiate career ranked second in total points scored. Adding to her fame, Foudy won Stanford's Outstanding Athlete Award in three of her four years and was named “Soccer Player of the Decade” by The Los Angeles Times. In 1991, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Despite earning admission to Stanford Medical School, Foudy deferred to play in her first Olympics.
The love Foudy feels for her alma mater is no secret, and she continually credits much of collegiate success to Stanford, which was "like four years in a little utopia."
In 1999, the trailblazing soccer star was back and putting on cleats again – much to the delight (and relief) of the Stanford community. With over 73,000 cheering fans at Stanford Stadium, the elite midfielder was hard to miss with her enthusiasm, dark-haired beauty, and beaming smile. While fans chanted "U-S-A," the Stanford grad used her formidable athletic prowess to help lead the U.S. Women's team in its 2-0 victory over Brazil to advance towards a World Cup.
Nor would that be the last time Foudy returned to her college roots. The next year, the legendary midfielder was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame.