Legacy Coach | Michelle Akers

Michelle has enjoyed over 25 years involvement with Northwest Soccer Camp, starting as a camper in 1980. Michelle is arguably the greatest player in the history of women’s soccer.

The all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Cup history with 12 goals, she played a key role in the USA’s 1999 Women’s World Cup victory, scoring the clinching goal in the semifinal against Brazil and exhibiting inspiring play throughout the tournament that earned her the Bronze Ball as the third most valuable player named to the 1999 Women’s World Cup All-Star Team.

• Named U.S. Soccer’s Chevrolet Female Athlete of the Year for 1999, the third time she has been so honored, but first since 1991.
• Played in 20 matches for the USA in 1999, starting 18, while scoring six goals with one assist.
• Became just the fourth player in the history of international soccer to score 100 career goals when she tallied against Portugal on Jan. 30, 1999.
• Started 15 matches in 1998 and scored five goals with three assists in her return to the national team after taking most of 1997 off.
• Received FIFA’s highest honor, the FIFA Order of Merit, on June 7, 1998, at the XVth FIFA Congress in Paris, just prior to the start of the 1998 World Cup, for her positive contributions to the game.
• One of only two women named to a special FIFA Commission by President Sepp Blatter to help shape initiatives for the future of soccer.
• Also on the commission are Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Bobby Charlton and Michel Platini.
• Member of the Gold Medal winning U.S. Women’s National Team at the 1996 Olympic games.
• Started all five matches in the Olympics, scoring a crucial tying goal on a penalty kick in the USA’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Norway.
• Was injured in the opening game of the 1995 FIFA world championship in Sweden and did not play again until semifinal loss to Norway.
• MVP of the 1994 CONCACAF Qualifying Championship in Montreal.
• Leading goal scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 in China with 10 goals, including five in one game, to win the Golden Boot Award while leading the USA to U.S. Soccer’s first-ever world championship.
• She also received the Silver Ball Award given to the world championship’s second-best player.
• U.S. Soccer’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1990 and ’91.
• Scored 15 goals in 24 games for the USA from 1985-90 before exploding for 36 goals in 26 games in 1991.
• Four-time All-American at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where she won the first Hermann Trophy.
• Central Florida’s Athlete of the Year in 1988-89, and offensive MVP in the 1987 NCAA Final Four.
• Three-time All-American at Shorecrest High School in Seattle.