Heather Mitts Believes Soccer Will Get Another Boom From Women's World Cup Win
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Women's World Cup Final victory for Team USA was a special one for the Philadelphia area. Delran native Carli Lloyd had the performance of a lifetime as she recorded a hat-trick in the clinching game.
A former teammate of Lloyd's with ties to the area was also happy to see Team USA win it all. Heather Mitts, a member of the 2011 United States Women's National Team, was on hand covering the World Cup.
Mitts played soccer professionally in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Charge (2001-03) and the Philadelphia Independence (2010).
On Thursday, Mitts joined Sportsradio 94WIP's Rob Charry and Ike Reese to talk about what it was like to witness some of her former teammates get over the hump and achieve what they were unable to do in 2011.
"I think everybody was kind of feeling like, ok, they're going to win this thing," Mitts said of the common attitude following the team's win over Germany to advance to the final.
LISTEN: Heather Mitts discusses the US Women's Soccer Team's World Cup Win
"The same time, you didn't want to be like overly confident, because we knew that we were playing against Japan and Japan's a very good team from what happened in 2011."
What happened in 2011 was a United States loss to Japan in the World Cup Final which set up redemption in 2015. Mitts described the 2011 loss as "gut-wrenching."
The United States won the game in dominating fashion as they were led by Lloyd. Mitts explained that she enjoyed watching the show.
"It was just fun to see them go out and win in that manner," Mitts said.
The 1999 Women's National Team was the last to bring home a World Cup victory. The signature moment of the final was the shootout goal by Brandi Chastain that lifted the US team to victory.
Mitts tabbed Lloyd's third goal of this year's final as the signature moment we will all never forget.
"It's from 54 yards out," Mitts said. "Carli beats somebody and looked up and saw that the goalkeeper was off of her line and so she decided to blast it from 54 yards and it was just a beauty. I don't think a lot of people would even had the confidence to take that shot."
The 1999 World Cup victory sparked interest in Women's Soccer and led to the creation of professional leagues and more participation in the sport. Mitts predicts a similar result will take place because of this year's team.
"That's when I decided I wanted to be on the National Team," Mitts said about watching the 1999 World Cup. "There was a boom. We had women's leagues that were able to perform because of what happened in 99 and I think the same thing is going to happen now. I think it's going to get bigger and bigger."
