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“THE Ultimate Soccer Mom.”

Joy Fawcett is known as “THE Ultimate Soccer Mom.” She had her first child in 1994 and returned to play two weeks later in order to be ready for the 2nd Women’s World Cup. She repeated this feat again in 1997 and 2001 and never missed a step, balancing the demands of raising a family and being one of the most respected players in U.S. soccer history. Her accomplishments, both on and off the field, were recognized with her induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in August 2009.

Fawcett’s accomplishments include helping the U.S. National Team win the first Women’s World Cup in 1991. She was also a member of the 1995 team that took third place and the 1999 World Cup team that changed the face of women’s soccer in its historic Championship run in front of unprecedented sellout crowds.

Fawcett was also the core of the defense for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1996, 2000 and 2004 which produced two Gold Medals and one Silver. Between 1995 and 2004, even while having three kids, Fawcett played every minute of every game for the U.S. in each World Cup and Olympic Tournament. With over 3000 consecutive minutes in championship play, it is a standard that may never be eclipsed. Not bad for a soccer mom.

In addition to playing, Fawcett has excelled as a soccer coach, having been selected as UCLA’s first women’s soccer coach in 1993 and named PAC-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 1997. Fawcett also founded the Saddleback United Soccer Club in 2006, which consists of 10 teams and is growing.

Fawcett’s philanthropic efforts include serving as an Advisory Board member of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming youth sports to provide positive, character-building experiences for all young athletes.

Native to Southern California, Fawcett was raised in Huntington Beach, California, and continues to live in the area today. Fawcett graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Physical Education. While at Cal, she was a three-time 1st Team All American.