U.S. women’s national team general manger Kate Markgraf is headed to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Markgraf, who also played for the USWNT, becomes the last starter of the 1999 World Cup-winning team to be elected to the Hall of Fame. She was told of her accomplishment by former teammate Julie Foudy during halftime of the NCAA Women’s College Cup final.
USWNT GM Kate Markgraf is joining the 2023 National Soccer Hall of Fame 👏 pic.twitter.com/oPa3EoSv5L— espnW (@espnW) December 6, 2022
USWNT GM Kate Markgraf is joining the 2023 National Soccer Hall of Fame 👏 pic.twitter.com/oPa3EoSv5L
A former defender for the USWNT, Markgraf appeared in 201 matches, making her one of just 12 American female players to record 200 or more caps. She also won two Olympic gold medals.
“There are so many more women that should be in this,” Markgraf said on ESPN. “And so I hope that the laws and the rules change. I’m very proud of this, but this is for everybody else that came before me. For all of the players that built this.”
She is joined in the Class of 2023 by former USWNT head coach and current San Diego Wave FC president Jill Ellis as well as World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lauren Cheney Holiday.
Markgraf was also awarded the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which is given each year to six former NCAA athletes on the 25th anniversary of the end of their collegiate career. She joins former USWNT teammates Foudy and Mia Hamm, as well as Dr. Heather Taggert, as the only women’s soccer players to have won the award.
Also honored with the Silver Anniversary Award in this cycle are basketball players Allison Feaster and Dr. Marsha Harris and former Tennessee football standout Peyton Manning. Texas football kicker Phil Dawson and USC swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg round out the 2023 recipients.
Markgraf will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on May 6, 2023, in Texas.