Brandi Chastain is one of the most recognizable female athletes of the last decade, and has ridden the crest of the wave as soccer and female professional sports have reached new heights of visibility. Now she hopes to yield a new and rising tide of female athletes. Alongside U.S. teammate Julie Foudy and former WUSA San Jose CyberRay Marlene Bjornsrud, Brandi founded the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) in 2005.

Since its inception, BAWSI has helped thousands of girls in the San Francisco Bay Area learn about the benefits of an active lifestyle, while working to bring greater visibility to the work of female athletes at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The BAWSI Girls program brings college athletes to underserved elementary schools to role-model goal setting and healthy competition in an after school fitness program. BAWSI’s Salud Por Vida provides a structured and safe environment for mothers and teachers to take part in a nutrition and exercise program designed for them. BAWSI Rollers brings healthy competition and fitness concepts to kids in wheelchairs, and the Dads and Daughters initiative has sought to connect fathers and daughters. Chastain pours hours and days into each of these groups: by cheering and playing alongside young girls, or telling the nation about BAWSI's work through the media. BAWSI is more than a pastime.

With her new website, www.brandisworld.com, Chastain provides an “online clubhouse for girls” with fitness tips, short videos, inspiration, and encouragement. After the passing of her parents, Chastain has also been involved for many years with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

About Brandi Chastain

Brandi Chastain was a member of the United States National Soccer team for a period spanning 1988 to her most recent appearance in 2004. During that stretch, she won three Olympic medals (Gold in 1996, 2004), and two FIFA World Cups (1991, 1999). On July 10, 1999, she scored the winning penalty shot in the World Cup final against China, ripping off her jersey in celebration. A San Jose native and current resident, Brandi attended UC Berkeley and Santa Clara University, leading Santa Clara to two NCAA Final Fours. Brandi is currently playing for the FC Gold Pride of the Women’s Professional Soccer League, and played for the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct WUSA from 2001-2003.