Carla Overbeck

One of the defensive mainstays of the U.S. national women’s team in the 1990s, winning World Cups in 1991 and 1999.

Overbeck formed a strong duo in the United States’ backline with Joy Fawcett, and she was captain of the United States team at both the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1999 Women’s World Cup. At a time when the term “Soccer Moms” was a political buzzword, she and Fawcett were the two players who brought their children along with them to national-team training camps.

From August 1993 to January 1996, Overbeck played a record 63 consecutive games in the national team. Within that span, she also had a streak of 3,547 consecutive minutes. During Overbeck’s career, the United States played 23 games in the 1991, 1995 and 1999 Women’s World Cups and the 1996 Olympic Games. She was the only player to start all 23 of those games. Overbeck, who had begun her national-team career in 1988 as Carla Werden, had 170 caps by the time she retired from the national team in 2000.

Overbeck continued playing with the Carolina Courage of the Women’s United Soccer Association after the end of her national-team days, and won a WUSA title in 2002. She also had won a W-League championships with the Raleigh Wings in 1998. At the University of North Carolina, she played on four consecutive NCAA champion teams, from 1986 to 1989.

Inducted in 2006.