The Wait Is Over

A Historical Evening

The Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Portland Downtown was standing room only for tonight's inaugural US Women's Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Once most people had found seats or places around the sides of the room to stand, Michael Charles, executive director of the US Women's Soccer Hall of Fame Museum, stepped to the podium.

Michael Charles: It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the first-ever induction ceremony for the newly-constructed US Women's Soccer Hall of Fame Museum here in Portland. First, I would like to pay out some thank yous before turning the mic over to our master of ceremonies. Thanks go out to Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson for having the vision to build a museum dedicated specifically to the history and accomplishments of women's soccer in this country. Thanks also go to USSF president Alexi Lalas for coordinating with us to have this ceremony coincide with the US Women's National Team's training camp here this week. Finally, I would like to thank my mother, Clarenda, for carrying the torch for soccer in this community until we were fortunate enough to land first an MLS franchise and then one in the NWSL. With that, I would like to introduce our master of ceremonies. In reality, he needs no introduction, as he has been the voice heard most often during the major moments in US Women's Soccer history. He was the play-by-play man for the 1999 Women's World Cup final, won by the US over China on penalty kicks. He also voiced the final of the 2015 Women's World Cup, which ended the US' 16-year drought from the top of the women's soccer world, as well as the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics soccer competition, where the US won gold on all three occasions. A round of applause, if you please, for our master of ceremonies, JP Dellacamera.

Dellacamera rose from his chair and approached the podium. He shook hands with Charles and started his opening remarks.

JP Dellacamera: Thank you for that kind introduction, Michael. A round of applause for Michael Charles, everyone, continuing the legacy of women's soccer in Portland that his father started more than 30 years ago. I know he would be proud of what you've accomplished as well as the growth of the game here in the Pacific Northwest. As you know, we will be enshrining four special teams this evening, as well as fifteen remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and achievements of women's soccer in the United States. Some of the enshrinees are known, while other will be made known for the first time tonight. Our first inductees paved the way for the more than 30 years of international success the US has had. They set off for China in the fall of 1991 to compete in the first-ever Women's World Cup tournament, where they would defeat Norway 2-1 in the final. The first group to be inducted into the US Women's Soccer Hall of Fame is the 1991 Women's World Cup Team. Would all members of the team please make your way onto the stage.

The players in attendance from the 1991 team stood and worked their way up to the front of the room. After everyone was on the stage, Charles presented each player with their Hall of Fame medal, draping it around their necks. Once completed, another round of applause was given the team and they stepped down from the stage.

JP Dellacamera: The next team to receive enshrinement brought an entirely new generation of fans to the game, winning Olympic gold on home soil in Atlanta. Would the 1996 US Olympic Team come forward.

All members from that team assembled on the stage and were given their Hall of Fame medals before returning to their seats.

JP: The third team to be inducted this evening set the standard by which every other team both in this country and around the world is measured. They won the third FIFA Women's World Cup with a shootout victory over China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Four of the five pre-announced individual inductees were part of this team, and another two people associated with this team will also be enshrined tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, the 1999 Women's World Cup Team.