Chastain discusses the team, their chances in the 2003 Women’s World Cup and the state of women’s soccer.

Q1: How about the play of Abby Wambach?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “As a teammate of Abby’s, I think one of the greatest attributes she has is that she’s different. She’s a big target, you can find her in the air, and you can find her on the ground. Over the last year playing with Mia, I think she has developed a very good rapport with her and they work well off of each other. Sometimes in the back, although we’d like to play the ball to the midfield, you just have to play it forward and Abby is a wonderful target.”

Q2: Is there a feeling that this World Cup can’t replicate what happened four years ago?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “We’re put in a position where we have to work around other schedules – NFL, college football – so those are things we have no control over. As far as the stadiums we are going to, if you have not been to the Home Depot Center, there is nothing like playing in a soccer specific stadium. Sure, it hold 30,000 people, but it is made specifically for the game, will be fan friendly and will have that great World Cup feel to it. I think, unlike ’99, people are ready for this World Cup. They have their TVs set to the time of the games, they know what’s coming, and they’re excited. We didn’t have that in ‘99. It was a unusual situation with the first-ever women’s event on that large of a scale. We’re looking forward to this tournament I think with even anticipation in terms of people who will be watching on television.”

Q3: How is the the team’s personality different from four years ago?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “The personality is as crazy as ever. We have Julie Foudy leading the way, so you can only imagine what kind of personality our team has. We get along very well. Kristine Lilly and I were just talking about this yesterday, and we were saying how we just get along so well. We look forward to seeing who our roommates will be when we show up on Friday. We love each other and we want to take care of each other and we want to play this World Cup.”

Q4: Can this World Cup help the WUSA (this was before the announcement to fold)?.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “Times are hard right now, and we are working really hard to sustain the WUSA. We’re trying to get people to recognize how important this sport is to young girls. Not only on the athletic side of things, but on the social side of things on how sports can help them develop as people in their communities and their families. We are working really hard. I think the WUSA is using the World Cup and the World Cup is using the WUSA. With the players and the development, we have to lean on each other to make women’s soccer successful.”

Q5: How will the WUSA season affect the fitness of the team?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “I think from the players’ perspective, they understand the Wednesday / Saturday / Wednesday situation is how we play in the WUSA. So, we know the proper amount of rest we need, what we need to eat and how we need to prepare to be ready for those games that close together. I think it fits to our advantage to have the season prior to the World Cup.”

Q6: Is there anything you know about the team already?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “We don’t know how we will deal with a World Cup situation because a lot of players haven’t been involved in one yet. But we also have leaders on this team that have been there, and at the appropriate times, you are going to see new leaders in the games. We don’t know who those are going to be at this moment because we haven’t played yet. But, I’m confident you will see players like Kate Sobrero and Christie Pearce, who aren’t normally called upon to be leaders, will become leaders by their actions on the field. That is something we will see in the World Cup.”

Q7: Did you think Shannon MacMillan would be able to make such a quick comeback?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “From personal experience, the answer would have been no. Every time we go out to training and I see her out there, whether it is in non-contact drills or in scrimmages, I am truly amazed. We don’t treat her any different than any other player. Shannon right now is not only doing well for herself, but she has created a feeling among the team that if she can work that hard, we have to raise our level. She’s been a wonderful example of how to fight through tough things and we’re going to go through tough times during this World Cup and we can use her as an example. Again, I am amazed. I think after my first surgery I didn’t get out of bed for the first two weeks and she was probably already in therapy and walking. I just think it is a great story and I applaud her for her efforts.”

Q8: What are the major difference this time around leading up to the World Cup?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “I think the number one difference is the professionalism among the players. Not that we go about our job on the field any different, but in the attitude in which the players go out knowing they are fighting for their position. They are representing so much more now than they ever had before, and I think they are doing it with grace. Kylie Bivens, Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach are shining examples of how the WUSA has given them the luxury of training on a daily basis with international players and they have just raised their games. They’ve become more complete players than they have in the past. I just think the awareness of the general public is greater. I think the WUSA has helped that, along with the World Cup ’99 and the Olympics in 2000 and ’96. There is just a greater awareness. I went to the grocery store today and the check out guy said, The World Cup is starting, aren’t you excited?’ I just don’t think that ever would have happened without the WUSA and ’99.”

Q9: How do you think the busy sports schedule might effect your audience size?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “I honestly believe we have a cross-section of people like we’ve never had before. Number one, we have soccer fans obviously, specifically young girls, who may have been too young to comprehend it in 1999, but people talked about it and now they are going into high school. I think we have that audience and their parents, who have watched their development. Also, I think we have a great cross over of just sport fans. I can’t tell you how many letters I received from people saying they had never watched soccer before, but said they watched in 1999. I think we have a cross-section of people who are new to soccer, but have grown since ’99. And we are competing with baseball and football, but however there are times in between those games where they will look for something to watch and I think they will find women’s soccer and they will continue to watch it.”

Q10: How important it is to win the World Cup considering expectations are high after winning it in 1999?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: “That’s about competing. It doesn’t matter if it is here, China or Australia. Going out to the field, it is about facing challenges. We don’t worry about other people’s expectations. We have high expectations and that is all that matters. Our objective is not to sell more tickets and get more people to watch us on television - even though that would be nice. It is to go out and play Sweden and obtain three points. This is a different team, a different atmosphere, different venues even, so we can’t say we have the same expectations or higher expectations. You can’t compare this year to 1999.”