Brandi Chastain inducted into Soccer Hall of Fame, talks life, sports, health

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The U.S. Men's Soccer Team takes on Hondouras in San Jose Friday -- an important match on the road to the World Cup. Before that match, U.S. Soccer will honor an athlete who changed the sport of women's soccer forever: Brandi Chastain.

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With the penalty kick that won the Women's World Cup- in 1999, Chastain ripped off her jersey and etched her name into sports history.

It was common for men to remove their shirts in a victory celebration, but for a woman to do it -- landed her on the cover of "Time," "Newsweek," and "Sports Illustrated."

"And to be honest with you, that moment catapulted me into a place that allows me to do the things that are most important to me," Chastain told ABC7 News.

She's used the attention to advocate for women's sports and fuel a growing interest in soccer.

"Our country has really started to come around to this great sport and watch it in a way they've never watched it before," Chastain added.

After retiring, she made what she calls a "difficult" move to coaching.

"It was not easy for me to walk away from playing soccer, because I loved it so much," she said.

In time, she discovered a new love.

"The empowerment you give to these young people, to be able to stand on their own t wo feet -- have a voice, make decisions, make mistakes, get up, fight on, put their arm around their teammate."

Watch the video in the player above for the full interview with Brandi Chastain.