On the same day the U.S. women's national soccer team was being celebrated for its 2019 World Cup victory, the most iconic moment in the team's history -- Brandi Chastain's 1999 shirtless celebration -- was commemorated in the Los Angeles area.
When Chastain's winning penalty kick gave the United States a 5-4 shootout victory over China in front of more than 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl to capture the 1999 Cup, she ripped off her jersey and -- still wearing her sports bra -- dropped to her knees with clenched fists to celebrate.
That image, splashed across TV screens and newspaper pages around the country, was captured in a statue that was unveiled Wednesday in front of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
"What does today mean? To be honest with you, I don't really know," Chastain said. "Just like in 1999 when I stepped up to take that penalty kick, I didn't know what that day would mean and what that celebration would mean, because I had no idea what was about to happen."
Chastain was joined by former teammates Saskia Webber and Lorrie Fair in unveiling the monument that included not only the Chastain statue, but a background wall that depicts her teammates running to join the celebration 20 years ago.
"This is not for one person," said Chastain, now 50. "It is for every little soccer player out there. I hope that every player who puts on cleats has a moment like that."