Washington Spirit Names Olympic and World Cup Champion Briana Scurry Honorary Captain

Washington Spirit  |   May 11, 2016
Washington Spirit Names Olympic and World Cup Champion Briana Scurry Honorary Captain Featured Image

Photo: Brad Smith/ ISI Photos

BOYDS, Md (May 11, 2016) – The Washington Spirit has named World Cup and Olympic Champion Briana Scurry the Honorary Captain of the team. Scurry will promote the National Women’s Soccer League, market the Washington Spirit organization, and share her wealth of experience and knowledge with the team’s players.

Scurry, who was one of the founding players of U.S. women’s professional soccer in 2001, will utilize her prominent position in the sports community to further develop the game. “It is important that we create and grow the relationship with past generations of women soccer players and our present pros,”  said Spirit general manager and head coach Jim Gabarra.  “Having Bri as honorary captain gives us that platform.”

After becoming the starting goalkeeper in 1994, Briana Scurry helped lead the United States Women’s National Team to gold medals in the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games as well as the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. During the 1999 World Cup, she made one of the most iconic plays in American sports history – the lone save in the penalty shootout that set up the United States for victory. She hung up her cleats after a debilitating concussion in 2010, ending one of the most successful careers in U.S. soccer history. Since then, Briana has repurposed her visibility to advocate for player safety and concussion awareness and is one of the nation’s foremost thought leaders on traumatic brain injuries.

Briana will serve as a spokesperson on behalf of the club, promoting the Spirit through public appearances and the media. “Growing the Spirit fanbase that allows us to stay in touch is our number one priority,” said Washington Spirit owner Bill Lynch. “There is no one better suited to represent our team as Honorary Captain than Briana Scurry. Her dedication to promoting the game is unmatched, and she continues to inspire generations.”

Scurry will advise players both on and off the field, mentoring them on personal, professional, and organizational growth. “All players can benefit from a mentor, especially those just entering the professional sphere,” says Scurry. “I want to be that influence on the younger players – the one to show them how to manage themselves and their image within the game as well as outside of it.”

The Washington Spirit is unbeaten in 2016 NWSL regular season play and has a league-best 10 points through 4 games. The Spirit’s next home game is Saturday, May 14th at 7:00pm at Maureen Hendricks Field in the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD.

The full Washington Spirit schedule can be found here. Tickets are available now by calling 301-337-8579 or visiting the Washington Spirit website.

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