Black Women Diving into the Soccer Spotlight

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 5, 1999 by Robin M. Bennefield

The growth in popularity of the sport among women is undeniable. But where Black women fit in is harder to determine. The NCAA only collects statistics of women from varying ethnic backgrounds participating in basketball and track. Of Black women playing sports at Division I NCAA schoolsin the 1996-97 freshman class, 1,279 played basketball, 1,477 ran track, and 797 played some other team sport like soccer, golf, gymnastics, softball, or swimming.

Soccer, a spring sport, is in direct competition with outdoortrack, which draws strong participation from Black women and can point to track greats like Florence Griffith-Joyner, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and current fastest woman in the world Marion Jones as role models. Now soccer, can boast of its own Black female role model.

"Seeing Black athletes perform at a high level is inspiring," says Brown, who was invited to this year's U.S. women's soccer camp. She declined to attend because of a conflict with final exams. "Seeing people like Brianna play at a high level in soccer and be successful may inspire more Black girls to consider the sport."

Brianna Scurry

Country:                                 USA
Born:                                    Sept. 7, 1971
Height:                                  5'8"
Position:                                Goalkeeper
College:                                 University of
                                         Massachusetts

1999 World Cup Stats

Record:                                  6-0
Shutouts:                                3
Opposing Team Shots on Goal:             27
Goals Against:                           3
Saves:                                   23
Cross Catch/Punches:                     20
Overtime Penalty Kicks Faced:            5
Overtime Penalty Kicks Scored Against:   4
Overtime Penalty Kicks Saved:            1

BLACK WOMEN IN DIVISION I
COLLEGE SPORTS

Number of Black women playing sports in
Division I NCAA schools in the 1996-97(*)
freshman class:

Basketball         1279
Track & Field      1477
Other(**)           797

(*) -- These numbers represent women on athletic scholarship in the 1996-97 fall semester.

(**) -- Other sports: Fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, la cross, rowing, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

SOURCE: 1998 NCAA DIVISION 1 GRADUATION-RATES REPORT