"She's a superstar . . . everything a coach dreams about."--University of North Carolina women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance.

Tisha Venturini, the veteran midfielder of the U.S. women's national soccer team, has been a winner throughout her career. At the University of North Carolina her team won four consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles and the Tar Heels finished with a record of 97 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. In 1994 Venturini was honored as the best college female soccer player in the United States. Then, in the biggest triumph of her career, she played a key role as the American team won the inaugural women's soccer gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Growing Up

Multisport Star

Tisha Venturini was born March 3, 1973, in Modesto, California. She always loved sports. She participated in gymnastics, played tennis and softball, and ran track. Her Uncle Jack told Venturini she would be...