About National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 4)
FC Gold Pride, the Bay Area franchise of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) has partnered with the San Francisco 49ers and the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) to create a Community Caravan this Wednesday, February 4 to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports day and kick off an extended initiative to support women's sports in the Bay Area and across the country.
The Caravan is scheduled to stop at Bowers Elementary School (Santa Clara) from 12:45-1:15 p.m. and Washington Elementary School from 1:45-2:15 p.m. where caravan participants will have the opportunity to reinforce the positive impact sports can play in the lives of young girls and women.
Participating in the FC Gold Pride Community Caravan is Pride Owner Nancy NeSmith, General Manager Ilisa Kessler, Assistant Coach Sissi, Soccer Icon and BAWSI Co-Founder Brandi Chastain, US National Team member and Santa Clara Alumni Leslie Osborne and Bay Area native and Cal Alumni, Tracy Hamm. San Francisco 49ers Guard, Tony Wragge, will also be on the caravan to represent the 49ers along with BAWSI Co-Founder Marlene Bjornsrud.
The Pride Community Caravan will take place on February 4 celebrating the 23rd annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day which honors the achievements of women in sports and encourages the participation of girls and women in sports. The Caravan was created as a way for the Pride, 49ers and BAWSI to proactively support the ambition young girls and women have to pursue participation in sports, and the emphasize importance sports can play in the development and future success of young women.
Caravan stops are closed to the public but fans are encouraged to show their support for women's sports by taking action to help further the success, popularity and participation of girls and women in sports. As the only professional women's sports franchise in the Bay Area, FC Gold Pride will continue to offer unique opportunities for fans to get involved.
The Pride will host 10 home games at Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University. Against the inaugural field of teams that includes: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, Los Angeles Sol, Sky Blue FC (New York/New Jersey), St. Louis Athletica and Washington Freedom .
For more information on FC Gold Pride and to purchase season seats, visit fcgoldpride.com or call (408) 541-3511.
About
Brandi Chastain:
Chastain was a member of the US National team over 12 years between December 1988 and January 2004, collecting 192 caps. During that time, she served as a trailblazer for women's soccer as part of the golden decade of the US Women's National team during the 90's, one of the most dominant teams the sport has seen to date. She was a member for the 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup Championship teams as well as the Olympic teams that brought home gold in 1996 and 2004 and silver in 2000.
The Bay Area native is best known for elevating the profile of women's soccer with her game winning penalty kick in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup that defeated China and ignited an explosive soccer following and increased participation in the sport.
About Leslie Osborne:
2008: Tore her ACL during training in late May. 2007: Started four matches at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China and came off the bench in one other game. Effectively marked Victoria Svensson and Kelly Smith out of the Sweden and England games, respectively. Participated in the 2007 residency camp. 2006: Played in 19 matches, starting 12, and scored both of her career goals, the first against Chinese Taipei in a rout, but the second was in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Final against Canada. Played in all three matches off the bench at the Four Nations Tournament in China. Played in two matches off the bench at the Algarve Cup. 2005: Played in just two matches after recovering from major ankle surgery in December of 2004. 2004: Played in her first nine matches for the full National Team, starting six. Came on for legend Mia Hamm in Hamm's final National Team game in December of 2004. Was a member of the USA's 2004 Olympic Residency Training Camp. Youth: A key member of the USA's 2002 Under-19 World Championship team, scoring two big goals in the first round (against England and Australia) and played a part in the "golden goal" that beat Canada in the title game, slipping the pass behind the defense, starting the movement that led to the goal. Scored one goal in CONCACAF Qualifying in T&T to help the USA advance to the world championship. Finished her U-19 career with 21 caps and four goals. Also has eight caps with the U.S. U-21s and played on the 2003 Nordic Cup championship team.
About Tony Wragge:
To learn more about Tony Wragge, click here.
