Lori Bylin Sweeney

Lori Bylin Sweeney was a determined midfielder on the first U.S. Women’s National Team, known for her work rate, composure, and ability to control the tempo of the game. She played collegiately for Green River College and the University of Puget Sound, and was a key member of the dominant Tacoma Cozars club team. 

Sweeney’s grit and consistency were vital to the team’s performance in its international debut, helping establish the competitive identity that would become synonymous with U.S. women’s soccer. 

“We all had a lot of heart and passion. And we weren’t going to stop. We wanted to figure out how to play well — and we did,” she recalls.