Images: Nike

As some of you know I am currently on a training journey with Nike Chicago to become a better athlete and healthier me. But, we still have to make room for fun and Nike Chicago gifted us with tickets to the Cubs game but we had no clue that we would be meeting with a living legend such as Briana Scurry for lunch. It all made sense as to why we were gifted the soccer jerseys earlier that week and why we were wearing them to a baseball game.

While we were greeted with an amazing spread of a lunch, we didn’t know how much we would end up inspired by our surprise guest Briana Scurry. Even though many of us didn’t know who she was but after hearing her story we understood why it was important for her story to be told.

Briana Scurry, is a National Soccer Hall of Famer, the first female goalkeeper and first black woman to be awarded the honor. She is also a two-time Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion. While Scurry has accomplished these amazing things in her illustrious career in 2010 she suffered a concussion that lead to her retirement. But, Briana Scurry continues to be inspired by the athletes that came before her and after and seeing change in the sport continue to this day.

‘I think the victory from out ’99 team really put us on the map. I’ve seen change in the way that women are perceived, particularly, athletic, strong, muscular women who are going after their passion and their dreams. I think it was seen in a different way, woman who are like that before ’99 and I think it’s definitely changed how women are perceived in that way now” said Briana. “Now they are seen are powerful, strong, passionate…and there’s a beauty that it’s almost like their wasn’t a beauty in that before but now people see the beauty of that.”

Today Briana would be throwing out the first pitch at the Cubs game and we all were wearing our jerseys to represent the US Women's National Soccer team. The new jerseys have three stars that signify the three championships they have won thus far in 1991, 1999 and 2015. "That is something that is special and particular to the womens team only because we're the only one that has won world cups in this country" said Briana. "On the back of the jersey is every state in the US, so every player will be wearing the states on their back. And third is the sleeve, which is a throwback and an honor to the women's '99 team. We had the two stripes on our jerseys as well and the beautiful thing about this is that Nike is connecting the two teams together."

We all felt connected as group as we celebrated Briana Scurry throwing the first pitch while wearing the new jerseys. We understood more than ever the meaning behind this jersey and why it meant so much to players like Briana and those who are inspired by the new campaign. We couldn't thank Nike Chicago enough for such a memorable and meaningful experience. This is what it's all about, to keep pushing the narrative forward.

Having a dream won't change the world. Sharing one will. #JustDoIt