TARA BUCKLEY O’SULLIVAN

Tara Buckley O’Sullivan entered the U.S. Women’s National Team as one of the most decorated midfielders in college soccer history. A four-time All-American at the University of Connecticut, she was awarded the 1982 Honda Award as the nation’s top female collegiate soccer player and was later inducted into the UConn Hall of Fame. 

O’Sullivan brought technical skill, vision, and fierce competitiveness to the 1985 USWNT, playing a pivotal role in the team’s international debut. After her playing career, she earned a master’s degree in sports management and dedicated herself to education and coaching. 

“If we’d had more time together — even just a little — the scores would have been different. I really believe that,” she says.