Diversity and inclusion speaker Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s best female soccer goalkeepers. Briana had an integral role on the team that set the standard for women’s professional soccer. Also, has a record 173 international appearances. Notably one of the first African American professional female soccer player, she has helped significantly to diversify the sport.

As a speaker, Briana Scurry draws on her ability to overcome obstacles to provide audiences insights on the importance of teamwork, motivation, focus, and strategies for leveraging personal strengths. As one the first African American professional female soccer players and one of the only openly LGBT players in the league, Briana is also an excellent person to have speak on diversity as well as overcoming obstacles to achieve your dream.

Named starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national soccer team in 1994, she helped lead the team to many achievements. Above all, those include two Olympic gold medals. Captivating the world in the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship game—which represented one of the most important events in the history of American athletics—she made history after an astounding shoot-out save, resulting in the win. Her talent protecting the goal and her team’s unprecedented success led to a huge increase of women’s soccer fans and inspired millions.

In 2001, she became one of the first women to participate in a woman’s paid professional league. Therefore, she pioneered the way for women’s soccer. As captain of the Atlanta Beat, she played in two WUSA championships. Briana played until 2010 when a debilitating head-injury led to her retirement and subsequent concussion awareness advocacy. She testified before Congress on Traumatic Brain Injuries in sports.

Scurry’s impact on the legacy of the U.S. Women’s National Team program and contributions on the field recently earned her a spot on the U.S. Soccer All-Time Best XI National Team. Additionally, as a permanent part of the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Title IX exhibit. In 2017, Briana was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

As one of the first African-American professional female soccer players as well as one of the first out LGBT players, Scurry has faced and triumphed over various challenges during the course of her career.