Twenty-four years later, Brandi Chastain remains one of the faces of the Women’s World Cup.

In 1999, after scoring the deciding penalty kick to lift the United States Women’s National Team to victory in the World Cup final, Chastain ripped off her jersey in celebration, creating one of the most iconic images in the history of the tournament.

But Chastain was hardly compensated at an amount commensurate with her ability at the time. For her first World Cup championship, in 1991, Chastain was paid $500.

“None of us started playing soccer because we thought we were going to get paid,” Chastain said on the 91st with Midge Purce and Katie Nolan. “We started playing soccer, and we stuck with soccer, because it made us feel good. We found our friends, we found a place where we could express ourselves, where we could get dirty and compete like crazy.

“Getting on the national team was just an amazing byproduct of all the fun that I had when I was a kid and all the sacrifices my parents made, with their time and the little resources my family had, to be part of the great game.”

In May 2022, a group of current and former members of the USWNT settled a lawsuit with U.S. Soccer over equal pay. U.S. Soccer agreed to pay the group $24 million in what amounted to backpay, as well as a pledge to equalize pay between the men’s and women’s teams in all competitions in the teams’ next collective bargaining agreement.

“Getting my first World Cup championship check for $500, it looks pretty good where we are,” Chastain said.

The United States Women’s National has not yet officially moved on from coach Vlatko Andonovski, but all signs point to the program making a move after its disappointing World Cup performance.

Brandi Chastain, the legendary USWNT forward and defender, in an appearance on the The 91st acknowledged to hosts Midge Purce and Katie Nolan that she is “not ready” but would “love to lead this national team some time in the future.”

“I’ve been asking to participate with our youth national teams for a while and have not gotten any traction,” she said. “I’m an A-licensed coach, I’ve been a volunteer at Santa Clara University probably for about 25 years, I coach youth soccer, I’ve been on the national team for 192 caps.”

Andonovski was hired in 2019 to replace Jill Ellis, who led the USWNT to back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019. In his first major test, the team finished third at the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo. Andonovski’s team was then knocked out in the Round of 16 at this year’s World Cup, triggering speculation about his dismissal.

Chastain refrained from naming any potential replacements but described what she believes the program needs in a leader.

“We have to have someone who is a risk taker, and also can hold their ground in this respectful way with the players,” Chastain said. “This is about respect, and this is about the game, and this is about putting together a gameplan and putting players in positions to be successful.”

Chastain recalled how former USWNT coach Tony DiCicco called on Chastain to play left back instead of forward in her later years on the USWNT.

“I had been away already from the national team and I knew what that felt like, and I wanted to be back in that mix,” Chastain said. “I figured he wouldn’t put me in a position that he didn’t feel I could be successful in, or I wouldn’t be able to contribute. So I took a chance.

“I think those are the kinds of things we need to do. We need to look at ourselves and be creative. We need to take risks.”

The U.S. women’s national team has endured plenty of criticism for its disappointing World Cup performance. The loss to Sweden in the Round of 16 marked its earliest ever exit from the tournament.

Some athletes have come to the program’s defense in recent days. Decorated alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin was the latest to offer her support, in a social media post on Saturday.

“A lot of people know about football/soccer, but not so much about the specific dynamic within the team, the organization, all the little things that happen on a daily basis,” Shiffrin wrote. “We just don’t see everything. We don’t know everything. And I think it’s important to remember that before pressing ‘post’ in the comment section.”

Shiffrin understands the kind of spotlight the USWNT players are under. She has the most World Cup wins (88) of any alpine skier in history and is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist. Last month, she was named the Best Female Athlete of 2023.

Amid all of the noise around the USWNT, Shiffrin encourages fans to exercise restraint.

“These conversations (if that’s what you call them) are truly unavoidable in big moments where a lot of people care,” Shiffrin wrote. “But sometimes I just feel like it’s awful. So incredibly ugly and hateful, especially when you are basically isolated at the wrong end of the barrel.”

Shiffrin added: “It is also undeniable that our USWNT raised the bar for soccer (and women’s sports in general) so exponentially that the entire world had no choice but to find that path, and start sprinting. And I have no doubt that our team will find their own path yet again, and raise that bar yet again. And they will continue to do this whole advocating for women’s sports, equality and inclusivity the entire time.”

Sam Kerr played 65 minutes in Australia’s victory over France on Saturday in the quarterfinals, her longest outing yet in the World Cup. The star forward suffered a calf injury before the tournament and had played minimal minutes before Saturday.

Kerr gave Australia a much-needed boost, and after the team defeated France in penalty kicks, 7-6, there is growing hope that the all-time leading scorer in Australian international history will be able to start the semifinal match against England.

“Everyday I’m feeling better,” Kerr said afterwards. “Last game really gave me confidence, going in for 20 minutes, and getting a bit of a run. And then two training sessions under my belt. I’m feeling really good.”

Tony Gustavsson, Australia’s coach, was criticized by some for not starting Kerr against France. He said the “biggest decision” of the match was when to bring Kerr in as a substitute.

“I was informed that she had limited minutes today,” Gustavsson said. “And then we needed to put extra time into consideration. That was a massive decision to get right. When Sam came in we really had them on the hook. We really got the momentum, and from the fans as well.”

Kerr said the plan when she injured her calf was to be back in the starting lineup for the semifinal. And now, after the team’s dramatic penalty kicks victory in the quarterfinal, she is right on schedule – with a newfound respect for coming off the bench.

“It’s not easy,” she said. “I don’t envy people who are super-subs because it’s an amazing job they do. I just tried my best.”

Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis first sparked dating rumors in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, when Mewis consoled Kerr after the U.S. women’s national team defeated Australia in the bronze-medal match.

A photo of the opposing players — Mewis, a USWNT forward, and Kerr, an Australian forward — embracing went viral. Soon after, the players revealed they were a couple. These days, Kerr and Mewis are hardly reluctant to share their romance, and after Kerr helped Australia defeat France in the World Cup quarterfinal Saturday, the couple shared a romantic kiss.

Kerr suffered a calf injury before the World Cup and had played limited minutes entering the France match. She entered in the 55th minute and provided an immediate boost for her side.

The teams remained knotted at 0 through overtime, sending the game to penalty kicks. Kerr converted her attempt, and Australia won 7-6 in front of its home fans in Suncorp Stadium. She then gifted her jersey to an excited young fan.

Mewis, meanwhile, has remained at the World Cup as a spectator despite USWNT’s exit in the Round of 16. She did not play in the group stage, but entered late in the team’s final game against Sweden. Mewis converted her penalty kick attempt, but it wasn’t enough for the USWNT in the shootout loss.

Now she remains at the tournament to cheer on Kerr, along with the rest of the host country’s fan base.

“I tried to bring energy when I came on, I tried to lift the girls,” Kerr said afterwards. “I kind of think the momentum swung a bit in our favor and that’s what you have to do as a sub.”

England entered its quarterfinal matchup against Colombia on Saturday at a disadvantage: Midfielder Lauren James, its top player, was given a red card and suspended after stepping on a Nigerian player in the Round of 16.

The Lionesses then went down a goal when Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos scored in the 44th minute.

England, however, was hardly ready to lie down. Forward Lauren Hemp knotted the game at 1 late in the first half, before forward Alessia Russo scored the go-ahead goal in the 63th minute.

“I really believe the best is yet to come,” said England goalkeeper Mary Earps. “There is so much talent in this group, and so many more levels that we can go.”

England’s national team has been on the rise in recent years, after winning the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship. The Lionesses also advanced to the World Cup semifinal in 2019.

The U.S. Women’s National Team’s stunning exit in the Round of 16 has created a void at the top of the international field – the USWNT won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019 – and England could be primed to fill it.

The Lionesses’ road forward will hardly be easy, though. England will play host Australia, which is coming off an emotional penalty kicks victory over France, in a semifinal match on Wednesday. And James will be unavailable once again because of the Nigeria incident.

“It’s exciting,” Russo said. “You want to play against the best teams.”

When Sam Kerr, the legendary Australian forward, entered her team’s quarter matchup against France in the 55th minute Saturday, Suncorp Stadium came unglued.

So after Australia’s emotional 7-6 penalty kicks victory, Kerr went into the crowd herself, peeling off her jersey and delivering it to a young fan, creating one of the more memorable moments of the World Cup so far.

Kerr, the Australian captain, is the all-time leading goal scorer in Australian international history and a national icon. “Sam is the best striker in the world,” teammate Emily van Egmond said in advance of the match. “There’s no other way to look at it other than that.”

Kerr suffered a calf injury before the World Cup, though, and had been limited entering the France game. She had only played 10 minutes in the tournament, entering in the 79th minute of the team’s 2-0 win over Denmark in the Round of 16.

Australian coach Tony Gustavsson decided to once again bench Kerr for the France match, a decision that elicited some criticism. When she finally entered the game, early in the first half, it was a cathartic moment for fans.

In the 61st minute, Kerr attempted a left-footed shot from the box, but it was saved. The teams were scoreless at the end of overtime, triggering penalty kicks. Kerr converted her penalty, and then Cortnee Vine did the same to seal the victory and send Australia to its first World Cup semifinal.

Kerr handed the young fan her jersey and gave her a hug, and the fan beamed, her mouth agape. It was a fitting end to an evening no Australia fan will soon forget.

The 2023 World Cup quarterfinals kick off Friday in New Zealand and Australia (9 p.m. ET Thursday in the United States), and there are sure to be fireworks. One of the most closely watched games will be Japan vs. Sweden, and not just because the winner will go on to play whoever wins the matchup between Spain and the Netherlands.

Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa is currently leading the race for the World Cup Golden Boot award, with five goals scored in the tournament. Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt, meanwhile, is in a seven-way tie for third place with three goals.

There is a three-way tie for second place, with France forward Kadidiatou Diani, Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord, and Germany forward Alexandra Popp with four goals apiece.

All eyes will be on Miyazawa on Thursday to see if she can extend her lead, but don’t expect her to boast if she does.

“I was happy to score two goals, but this was a team effort,” she said after Japan’s 4-0 win over Spain in the group stage. “The defense did its job and I was given with the right pass at just the right time. This is what enabled me to put the ball in the net.”

Megan Rapinoe, the legendary U.S. women’s national team forward, earned the Golden Boot at the 2019 World Cup in addition to the Golden Ball, given to the top player in the tournament.

Golden Boot Tracker

Here are all the top scorers of the teams remaining in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

5 goals

Hinata Miyazawa, Japan

4 goals

Kadidiatou Diani, France
Jill Roord, Netherlands

3 goals

Eugénie Le Sommer, France
Hayley Raso, Australia
Alba Maria Redondo Ferrer, Spain
Aitana Bonmati, Spain
Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes, Spain
Lauren James, England
Amanda Ilestedt, Sweden

2 goals

Catalina Usme, Colombia
Esmee Brugts, Netherlands
Rebecka Blomqvist, Sweden
Stephani Catley, Australia
Tanaka Mina, Japan
Ueki Riko, Japan
Linda Caicedo, Colombia
Fridolina Rolfo, Sweden

The group stage of the NWSL Challenge Cup is complete, and only four teams remain.

The two finalists will be determined Sept. 6, when the Kansas City Current play the North Carolina Courage and OL Reign face Racing Louisville in the semifinals.

Teams will ideally have their international players back from the World Cup for the Challenge Cup knockout rounds. The World Cup final takes place on Sunday, Aug. 20, two days after the NWSL regular season resumes and two and a half weeks before the Challenge Cup semifinals.

Here is a guide to the NWSL knockout games.

Kansas City Current vs. North Carolina Courage

Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)

Kansas City shut out Racing Louisville 3-0 in their final match in the group stage to clinch the Challenge Cup Central Division title for the second straight year, with a record of 4-1-1.

North Carolina, meanwhile, won the East Division with a 3-1-2 record despite falling to Gotham FC 2-0 in their final match of group play.

OL Reign vs. Racing Louisville FC

Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)

The Reign became the first team in tournament history to not allow a single goal in group play. The team went 4-0-2 in the group stage to win the West Division.

Louisville secured the most points (12) among second-place finishing teams in the group stage, finishing 4-2.

Challenge Cup Final

Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

The winners of each semifinal game will meet in the championship three days later. The Courage are the reigning Challenge Cup champions, while the other semifinalists have never before hoisted the trophy.

As the U.S. women’s national team mourned its defeat to Sweden in the Round of 16, its earliest ever World Cup exit, an old foe rejoiced.

“Yes! Bye!” Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn thought when she learned the news, as she shared Thursday.

The USWNT played the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in the group stage after beating the Dutch in the 2021 Olympic quarterfinals and in the 2019 World Cup final. Beerensteyn was hardly displeased by the USWNT’s stunning World Cup exit.

“From the start of this tournament, they had really big mouths, they were talking already about the final,” Beerensteyn said. “I was just thinking, you first have to show it on the pitch before you’re talking.”

The Netherlands won Group E over the USWNT, then won its Round of 16 game, defeating South Africa, 2-0. Beerensteyn scored in the 68th minute to seal the victory and push the Netherlands to a quarterfinal matchup against Spain at 9 p.m. ET Thursday.

Beerensteyn insisted that she maintains “a lot of respect” for the USWNT players, who have become global stars amid the program’s domination of the sport. The USWNT won the previous two World Cups.

“But now they’re out of the tournament, and for me, it’s a relief,” Beerensteyn said. “For them, and it’s something they will have to take with them in the future: Don’t start to talk about something that is far away. I hope they will learn from that.”

Beerensteyn’s perspective differs from Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani.

“They have so much quality in their team, and this defeat will not take them down,” Asllani said. “Don’t talk s— about the U.S. women.”