Briana Scurry

Briana Scurry, better known as the first female goal scorer and African American woman to be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, is the posterchild for diversity. Her pioneering influence has inspired countless minority athletes to pursue their sporting dreams, while her speeches on diversity and inclusion teach audiences the importance of acceptance in schools, the workplace and life in general. Whether she is discussing the devasting history of racism in America, or teaching corporate teams how to succeed under pressure, a speaker like Briana will resonate with guests, leaving a lasting positive impression.

As a founding player in the Women’s United Soccer Association, Briana has been a revolutionary figure in the world of women’s sport from early on in her career. The league was the first of its kind, and allowed professional female players to be paid for their talent. Briana herself was named the 2003 Goalkeeper of the Year in the league. She later played in the debut season off the Women’s Professional Soccer, before entering international football. As a goalkeeper for the US’ women’s soccer team, Briana was a legend, breaking records and earning 173 caps for her country. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and later at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, she won two gold medals with the national team.

Throughout the 2000s, Briana played in multiple FIFA women’s World Cups, before moving to broadcasting and coaching. With a respectable career of knowledge under her belt, Briana commentated for ESPN’s 2011 Germany FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage, a testament to her razer-sharp analysis of live matches. She was alter appointed First Assistant Coach of the Washington Spirit, and the Technical Advisor of the Spirit Academy programs. When she is not on the pitch or in the studio, Briana’s advocacy has improved the lives of countless athletes. Her first-hand experience with concussion drives her Concussion Awareness work, including testifying before Congress, while her partnership with America Scores has helped over 8,000 students have better access to sport.

Whether she is winning Olympic medals or improving inclusion in sport, Briana is a force of positive change. Her previous speaking engagements, for the likes of Goldman Sachs and US Youth Soccer, have discussed such topics as diversity, peak performance and issues faced by the LGBT+ community. As one of the first LGBT players to dominate the international stage, Briana’s victories mean more than first place finishes, they are dismantling the stereotypes surrounding women, African Americans and the LGBT+ community. When booked for events, Briana teaches corporate audiences how to make their workplace more inclusive.

Key Achievements:

• 2017 – Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
• 2011 – Named in the inaugural class of the Anoka Highschool Hall of Fame
• 2004 – Won a second gold medal at the Athens Olympics
• 2003 – Named WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year
• 2001 – Played in the first season of the  Women’s United Soccer Association, the first women’s league in the world where all the players were paid professionally
• 1999 – Named Best Goalkeeper at the World Cup
• 1999 – Won the World Cup
• 1996 – Won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics
• Capped 173 times by the US National Team