Six American women are in Australia, where they hope to win their fourth world title. Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Carla Overbeck have been on the squads that have won world championships in 1991 and 1999 and an Olympic gold medal in 1996. Michelle Akers, a seventh member of the illustrious group of U.S. women’s stars with a hat trick of titles, retired shortly before the Olympics.

Brandi Chastain

1991 WORLD CUP. Before she sculpted her bod and revealed it to the world, Chastain played a minor role in the China ’91 victory as a backup striker. She played the second half against Brazil (a 5-0 blowout) and went the full 80 minutes in a 3-0 defeat of Japan in the first round. 1996 OLYMPICS. By the time of the 1996 Olympics, she’d been dropped from the team and rebounded astonishingly. She didn’t make the squad for the 1995 Women’s World Cup in Sweden, yet in less than a year, she had self-converted into a solid, savvy defender. Teammates smirked at her whenever she yelled at an attacker for diving. “That’s really the pot calling the kettle black,” said keeper Mary Harvey. But Chastain used that awareness of a forward’s tricks to hone a sense of anticipation that superseded her lack of experience in the back. Chastain played every minute at the 1996 Olympics except for the time she needed to recover from a knee injury she suffered in the semifinal against Norway. 1999 WORLD CUP. She’s kept her starting spot ever since. A showstopper extraordinaire, whatever notoriety she achieved by scoring for both teams in a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Germany at the 1999 Women’s World Cup evaporated in the brilliant sunlight at the Rose Bowl nine days later.

Joy Fawcett

1991 WORLD CUP. A midfielder at the University of California, Joy (Biefeld) Fawcett moved to defender at the request of Coach Anson Dorrance, who had a strong midfield corps. He needed more pace in the back, and he had a real burner in Fawcett. She played five of six matches at China ’91 and went all 80 minutes each time. Opponents rarely beat her for pace, and the skill she blended with speed made her a threat coming forward. Her resolute defending of Germany’s Heidi Mohr and Norway’s Linda Medalen were key factors as the U.S. rolled to the world championship. 1996 OLYMPICS. Fawcett played every minute of the five U.S. games. In the gold-medal match, she sprinted up the right wing into the Chinese penalty area and played a square ball Tiffeny Milbrett tapped into the net for the winning goal. 1999 WORLD CUP. Fawcett coached five years at UCLA (1993-97), juggling her coaching and playing duties and her family responsibilities (she has two daughters Katelyn Rose, 6, and Carli, 3), before quitting the Bruins to concentrate on preparing for the Women’s World Cup. Of her 24 U.S. goals, the most important might have come in the quarterfinal against Germany. She headed in a corner kick with 24 minutes left for the winning goal in a 3-2 victory.

Julie Foudy

1991 WORLD CUP. One of the brat pack to join the U.S. national team when she was in her mid-teens, Foudy – age 20 – had secured her spot as central midfielder by the time of China ’91. Much of the playmaking duties fell to teammate Shannon Higgins, so Foudy often anchored the middle of the U.S. midfield. Her slashing runs forward were effective; she scored one goal and helped the U.S. rout Germany, 5-2, in the semifinal by setting up April Heinrichs for a goal. 1996 OLYMPICS. Five years later, at the 1996 Olympics, Foudy was still in the middle – now alongside Tisha Venturini – and serving a vital role as a ball-winner who could also get forward. Her through ball set up Shannon MacMillan for the sudden-death winner in the semifinal against Norway. Like in China five years earlier, Foudy played every minute of every game in the Olympics. 1999 WORLD CUP. Foudy’s effervescent personality resurfaced – somewhat – at the 1999 Women’s World Cup. She celebrated a goal against Denmark with an Austin Powers pose and triggered a three-goal outburst against North Korea when she came on as a sub at halftime. It was her cross early in the semifinal against Brazil that goalkeeper Maravilha dropped onto the head of Cindy Parlow for the first U.S. goal.

Mia Hamm

1991 WORLD CUP. She was the youngest member of the team (19) in 1991, yet just minutes into the first game against Sweden Hamm had raced forward to smash in a 25-yard shot. She started five of six games at China ’91, usually on the right side of midfield, and scored two goals. 1996 OLYMPICS. By 1996, Hamm had blossomed into a scoring star who could play up top or as a winger coming out of midfield. She scored just one goal at the 1996 Olympics – in the opener against Denmark – as tight marking, fouling and injuries limited her chances. A sprained ankle suffered against Sweden forced her out of the final group game against China. She returned for the semifinal against Norway and was nearly unstoppable. In the final, her deflected shot off the post bounced to Shannon MacMillan to score the first goal, and she pushed a ball down the wing to start the sequence for Milbrett’s winner. 1999 WORLD CUP. Defenses were designed to stop her again at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and she scored just two goals. Much of her time and energy were expended by pressuring opponents. When the U.S. had possession, her slashing dribbles and clever flicks split defenses apart. She also set up Chastain’s golden moment by drilling home the fourth U.S. penalty.

Kristine Lilly

1991 WORLD CUP. A nasty collision in the first half of the first China ’91 match against Sweden temporarily knocked her out of action, but she recovered quickly from a hip pointer and played in each subsequent game. Playing in midfield on the left flank, Lilly’s determined tackling and relentless running provided the ideal counterpoint to Hamm on the opposite side. She also headed away a goal-bound shot that had skipped off the hands of Harvey in a first-round game. 1996 OLYMPICS. Her hallmark is consistency, and never was that characteristic more evident than at the 1996 Olympics. Teammates usually grabbed the headlines as Lilly quietly did the hard work in midfield to disrupt the opposition and set the U.S. attack in motion. She played every minute of every game, just as she would do at USA ’99. 1999 WORLD CUP. Coach Tony DiCicco occasionally pushed Lilly up front. She scored two goals in the tournament, yet for once, her usual defensive brilliance didn’t go unnoticed. Before Briana Scurry and Chastain performed their heroics in the final, Lilly saved the U.S. by heading a Chinese shot off the goal line. “Lil is a workhorse and she’s one of the best players in the world,” said Scurry. “There’s no one I would trust more on that post than Kristine Lilly.”

Carla Overbeck

1991 WORLD CUP. By her own admission, she’s never been fast. Her game is anticipation and timing. At China ’91, her coolness and sure tackling helped settle down a team that usually wanted to play at full speed regardless of the circumstances. “I have to read the game, because I’m pretty slow,” said Carla (Werden) Overbeck at the time. “Actually, I’m very slow. Our team as a whole is very fast, with one exception.” 1996 OLYMPICS. The U.S. gave up only three goals in five games. One of them was an own goal by Overbeck in the first round against Sweden, but still the U.S. won, 2-1. A miscue by Overbeck in the semifinal gave Norway a 1-0 lead, but again the Americans came back to win. The U.S. changed formations during the tournament, and this caused confusion in the back. Overbeck was the one responsible for sorting it out. 1999 WORLD CUP. Overbeck struggled at times during USA ’99, but in the final, she played one of her best games for the U.S. as she marshaled an American team that throttled China by squeezing off the flanks and surrounding its star, Sun Wen. She started off the penalty-kick tiebreaker by burying her shot, and minutes later held aloft the trophy as captain of the winning team. by Soccer America senior editor Ridge Mahoney.

The Big Six

Brandi Chastain

Position: Defender. Birthdate: July 21, 1968. Colleges: California (1986), Santa Clara (1989-90). Clubs: Shiroki Serena (Japan, 1993), Sacramento Storm (1997). WUSA: San Jose. U.S. Career 1988 – GP: 2. 1991 – GP: 13, G: 7. 1993 – GP: 2. 1996 – GP: 23, G: 2. 1997 – GP: 15, G: 2. 1998 – GP: 24, G: 5. 1999 – GP: 27, G: 5. 2000 – GP: 26, G: 2. Total – GP: 132, G: 23. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.

Joy Fawcett

Position: Defender. Birthdate: Feb. 8, 1968. College: California (1985-88). WUSA: San Diego. U.S. Career 1987 – GP: 7, G: 2. 1988 – GP: 7, G: 1. 1989 – GP: 1. 1990 – GP: 5. 1991 – GP: 25, G: 5. 1993 – GP: 12, G: 6. 1994 – GP: 5. 1995 – GP: 19, G: 1. 1996 – GP: 20. 1997 – GP: 1. 1998 – GP: 24, G: 2. 1999 – GP: 27, G: 4. 2000 – GP: 25, G: 3. Total – GP: 178, G: 24. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.

Julie Foudy

Position: Midfielder. Birthdate: Jan. 23, 1971. College: Stanford (1989-92). Clubs: Sacramento Storm (1993, ’95, ’97), Tyreso (Sweden, 1994). WUSA: San Diego. U.S. Career 1988 – GP: 1. 1989 – GP: 1. 1990 – GP: 6 1991 – GP: 24, G: 5. 1993 – GP: 12, G: 2. 1994 – GP: 12, G: 4. 1995 – GP: 19, G: 2. 1996 – GP: 21, G: 4. 1997 – GP: 18, G: 4. 1998 – GP: 24, G: 6. 1999 – GP: 28, G: 5. 2000 – GP: 25, G: 5. Total – GP: 191, G: 37. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.

Mia Hamm

Position: Striker. Birthdate: March 17, 1972. College: North Carolina (1989-90, ’92-’93). WUSA: Washington. U.S. Career 1987 – GP: 7. 1988 – GP: 8. 1989 – GP: 1. 1990 – GP: 5. G: 4. 1991 – GP: 28, G: 10. 1992 – GP: 2, G: 1. 1993 – GP: 16, G: 10. 1994 – GP: 9, G: 10. 1995 – GP: 21, G: 19. 1996 – GP: 23, G: 9. 1997 – GP: 16, G: 18. 1998 – GP: 21, G: 20. 1999 – GP: 26, G: 13. 2000 – GP: 25, G: 11. Total – GP: 208, G: 125. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.

Kristine Lilly

Position: Midfielder. Birthdate: July 22, 1971. College: North Carolina (1989-92). Clubs: Tyreso (Sweden, 1994), Washington Warthogs (CISL men’s indoor, 1995), Delaware Genies (1998). WUSA: Boston. U.S. Career 1987 – GP: 7, G: 1. 1988 – GP: 8. 1990 – GP: 6. G: 1. 1991 – GP: 27, G: 8. 1993 – GP: 16, G: 9. 1994 – GP: 13, G: 7. 1995 – GP: 21, G: 12. 1996 – GP: 23, G: 8. 1997 – GP: 18, G: 7. 1998 – GP: 24, G: 8. 1999 – GP: 28, G: 20. 2000 – GP: 26, G: 4. Total – GP: 217, G: 85. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.

Carla Overbeck

Position: Defender. Birthdate: May 9, 1968. College: North Carolina (1986-89). Club: Raleigh Wings (1998). U.S. Career 1988 – GP: 3. 1989 – GP: 1. 1990 – GP: 3. 1991 – GP: 25. 1993 – GP: 8. 1994 – GP: 13, G: 2. 1995 – GP: 23, G: 3. 1996 – GP: 24, G: 2. 1997 – GP: 5. 1998 – GP: 23. 1999 – GP: 27. 2000 – GP: 29. Total – GP: 164, G: 7. World Championships 1991: World Cup. 1996: Olympics. 1999: World Cup.