Carla Overbeck at Cecilia's Haven

She was the captain of the U.S. women's national team and led them to their second World Cup championship in 1999 in the U.S. She captained the national team to a Goodwill Games championship as well in the summer of 1998. Overbeck was a key U.S. player but did not play in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, though she played in a few national team games in the fall of 2000. She retired from international competition in December 2000.

Overbeck was also instrumental in the undefeated 1998 season of the now defunct Raleigh Wings, the then W-League Champions. (Ironically, the Wings' demise was caused by the WUSA's decision to locate its Carolina franchise in Raleigh.)

She captained the U.S. team (and played every minute) when they captured the first Women's Soccer Olympic Gold medal at the Centennial Games in Atlanta in 1996. Overbeck played in every minute of the U.S. games at the 1995 Women's World Cup in Sweden. Overbeck started every game of the inagural Women's World Cup in China in 1991.

Overbeck attended the University of North Carolina, where she picked up four national chamionships (as Carla Werden) from 1986 to 1989, along with several other current and former national team players.

Stats

Position	Defender
National team appearances	128
Goals	7
Height	5'7"
Weight	125 lbs.
Birthdate	May 9, 1968
Hometown	Dallas, Texas

Why is she great?

Carla has made well over one hundred international appearances for the U.S. national team. She has also played in more consecutive complete international games, 63, than any other U.S. soccer player, male or female. This has garnered her the nickname the "Cal Ripken, Jr." of soccer.

Overbeck doesn't quite have the legendary status of a Michelle Akers (but who does) and she isn't mentioned as often as Mia Hamm when people talked about the best female soccer players in the world. But that might be because they and most, but not all, soccer players of note and fame are offensive players. Pele didn't play D but Carla does, and she plays extraordinarily well. She has been a world-class athelete, but her defensive abilities were nearly unparalleled.

Where is she now?

Where has she been?

Stats

Why is she great?

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