USA-Brazil women's soccer: The national team's win was one of the most thrilling, and deserved, victories in recent sports history.

USA-Brazil women's soccer: The national team's win was one of the most thrilling, and deserved, victories in recent sports history.: "There's a tension in women's sports, and in women's soccer in particular, between athleticism and empowerment. The United States' victory in the 1999 Women's World Cup, capped off by Brandi Chastain's triumphant, shirtless pose, was perceived in America as less of a sports-world triumph than a vehicle for inspiration—one small kick by the national team, one giant kick start for millions of young girls. Sunday's quarterfinal victory by the U.S. women against Brazil, 12 years to the day after 1999's memorable win over China, was stirring for the reason every great sporting event is stirring. This was not a win for all the 8-year-old girls practicing in their backyards. This was a win by the American women, for themselves. And they're can't be many teams in the history of balls, cleats, and nets that have deserved to win more than this one.

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