Briana Scurry, the daring goalkeeper for the ‘99 US women’s national soccer team, braved a long battle for her health after a concussion - The Boston Globe (2024)

Years later, she had to find a way to save herself.

And that journey, the one that took years to complete, the one that saw her emerge from a traumatic brain injury, from the depths of depression that came with it, from financial ruin and loss of purpose that led to suicidal thoughts, is the one she has authored now. Scurry’s memoir “My Greatest Save,” written with longtime sportswriter Wayne Coffey, puts her on the front lines of many important conversations.

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“I think what has connected the most is what I call the ‘only’ thing, the entirety of me,” the 50-year-old Scurry said in a wide-ranging phone interview last week. “The only openly gay woman on the team, the only black player with a substantial position, that’s really resonating with people. It’s always been true obviously but it wasn’t always something I talked about.”

Briana Scurry, the daring goalkeeper for the ‘99 US women’s national soccer team, braved a long battle for her health after a concussion - The Boston Globe (1)

Until now.

Bold and brave, filled with wit and candor, Scurry shines light on topics once hidden or shrouded in silence. Her lived experiences on the personal and professional fronts make for a riveting read (available in print https://www.briscurry.com or in her own voice on audible.com), the story of how an athletically gifted youngest child of a large Minneapolis family landed a soccer scholarship at UMass, made such an impression on the coach who recruited her that Jim Rudy was moved to use every connection he had to get her on the national team despite no history of high-level club or youth play, who would anchor that team to two Olympic gold medals as well as the transformative World Cup championship.

Briana Scurry, the daring goalkeeper for the ‘99 US women’s national soccer team, braved a long battle for her health after a concussion - The Boston Globe (2)

The story didn’t end there, however, not after Scurry sustained a devastating concussion in what would turn out to be her last professional game. A knee to the temple caused every debilitating symptom you can imagine, cost her every penny she had to doctors and insurance payments, saw her sell off those Olympic medals just to pay the rent, saw her eventually get the right treatment (a surgery called occipital nerve release) and meet the right woman (she and her wife Chryssa Zizos married in 2018), and ultimately moved her to share it all in the hopes of helping others facing a similar plight.

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“The choice that I made to be an advocate for mental health, [traumatic brain injuries] in particular and all that entails, it chose me,” she said. “I had a concussion, which led to a three-year long odyssey, issues with everything, the basket of physical symptoms but also willing to talk about the emotional side. That’s what was missing in the conversation. In 2014-15, when TBI really started its advocacy, football players talked about the physical symptoms but not the emotional ones. They’re doing strange things, shootings, killing themselves, that’s the emotional part.

“I started talking about that. I wanted to paint a new face on TBI mental health and concussions. I read an interview that talked about 50 percent of women who play soccer at a high level will suffer with a concussion. That’s crazy. I had so many issues with doctors, treatments, misdiagnoses. I’m a two-time gold medalist and world champion. If I had all this trouble I can only imagine what it was like for others. When I started doing these talks, I had to be honest. There’s no shame in me telling people how I felt. It took a long time to include the suicide piece. That was still too hot. But talking about being depressed, anxiety, all these other pieces were important to share.”

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Briana Scurry, the daring goalkeeper for the ‘99 US women’s national soccer team, braved a long battle for her health after a concussion - The Boston Globe (3)

The conversation has filled her soul.

“I am so grateful and appreciative that I got out of that hole I was in,” she said. “I feel it as part of my legacy and my duty to talk about it. If I can connect with someone when I do my public speaking, inspirational speeches, that matters so much. In my preparation before I do it, I say ‘Let me reach the one person that needs to hear what I have to say.’ They may be afraid, hurting, masking it, going through their day trying not to be sad, let me get through to that person, and let them know they’re not alone.”

Once upon a time, Scurry was so comfortable in that alone space, standing on the goal line facing down the opposition. She built a Hall of Fame career with this combination of preternatural calm, intense preparation, confidence and skill. Though so often the ‘only,’ as she put it, she was always part of the whole as well, living a life built more on what she had in common with teammates and fans than what made her different. That is the connection that carries her now, and she’s never been more inspiring.

“My current near goal I’ve had, and I haven’t had a goal like this in a long time, is to be a New York Times best-selling author,” she says with a laugh. “I want that so badly. I feel so strongly about my journey and my story and how much it can help, more than I could do when I was on the pitch. I just really love connecting with people.”

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Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at tara.sullivan@globe.com. Follow her @Globe_Tara.

Briana Scurry, the daring goalkeeper for the ‘99 US women’s national soccer team, braved a long battle for her health after a concussion - The Boston Globe (2024)

FAQs

How did Briana Scurry get a brain injury? ›

She was guarding the goal for the Washington Freedom, part of the newly launched Women's Professional Soccer league, when she lunged for the ball just as a forward for the opposing Philadelphia Independence also tried to get to it. The other player's knee slammed into Scurry's temple.

What are some interesting facts about Briana Scurry? ›

She was the first African American woman and female goalkeeper elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame and her U.S. national soccer team jersey is on permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. As an openly gay woman, Scurry today advocates for LBGTQ rights.

Who was the goalkeeper for the US women's soccer team in 1999? ›

Scurry was the starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team at the 1995 World Cup (3rd place), 1996 Summer Olympics (gold medal), 1999 World Cup (champions), 2003 World Cup (3rd place), and the 2004 Summer Olympic Games (gold medal).

Why did Briana Scurry sell her medals? ›

From winning the Olympics and World Cup to a traumatic brain injury that left her temporarily disabled and forced to pawn her gold medals, Briana Scurry's life has been filled with ups and downs.

Did Briana get her body done? ›

For DeJesus, her doctor combined a tummy tuck with a breast lift. “I did a tummy tuck, a breast lift with an implant exchange because she did have implants from before—she wanted to be smaller, higher and perkier—so we changed her implants out for smaller ones,” said Dr.

Who is the 17 year old on the women's soccer team? ›

In 2022, Shaw made her professional debut for the Wave at 17 years old, just 13 days after signing with the club and went on to be named the 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. Since then, Shaw has scored 13 NWSL goals, becoming the leader in goals scored by a teenager in the NWSL.

Who is the USA women's soccer player missing an arm? ›

In 2012, she was named Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the state of Florida, and 2012, Florida Times-Union First Coast Player of the Year. Pickett was born without a left forearm and hand, a fact many reporters have highlighted throughout her career.

Who was the women's soccer player who took her shirt off? ›

Chastain celebrated by removing her shirt, exposing her sports bra. This led to both praise and criticism from spectators and sports commentators, and the image of the celebration is considered a key symbol of women's athletics worldwide.

What does Briana Scurry do now? ›

Scurry pioneered the first paid professional women's soccer league as a founding player in 2001. A debilitating concussion led to her retirement in 2010. Since then, Scurry has repurposed her visibility to become one of the nation's foremost advocates for increased awareness for traumatic brain injuries.

Has anyone ever pawned a gold medal? ›

Briana Scurry is getting candid about a hard moment in her past. The retired soccer goalkeeper is recalling a low moment after a career-ending traumatic brain injury in 2010 when she had to pawn the two Olympic gold medals she won at the 1996 and 2004 Games.

How did Drew get a concussion in Degrassi? ›

On a show where seemingly every student has multiple personal issues, Drew also suffers from the effects of a brain injury sustained when engaging in an unlicensed and unregulated Mixed Martial Arts bout.

How long do head contusions take to heal? ›

Some minor contusions can clear up in a few days with nothing more than simple bed rest and mild medication. Other contusions can takes weeks or even months to heal—especially if invasive surgery was required to alleviate pressure on the brain.

Did Briana Scurry play soccer in college? ›

Scurry graduated from high school in 1989 and chose to play goalkeeper for the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass). She excelled at UMass, twice named the Collegiate Goalkeeper of the Year and the National Goalkeeper of the Year by the Missouri Adidas Athletic Club (1993).

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