Hall of Fame Soccer Star Briana Scurry to Present Keynote Address at UMass Amherst Commencement Ceremony May 26

Legendary hall of fame soccer goalkeeper and alumna Briana Scurry, a trailblazer for African American women in sports, will present the keynote address at the University of Massachusetts Amherst commencement ceremony on Friday, May 26, at 9 a.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The university will also celebrate her many achievements with the presentation of an honorary degree.

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The 153rd UMass Amherst Commencement ceremony will confer degrees to approximately 7,500 undergraduate and 2,000 master’s and doctoral students at an anticipated gathering of more than 25,000 at the stadium.

UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said, “Briana Scurry has excelled in extraordinary ways throughout her life, and we are so proud to welcome her home to Amherst. Her dedication to teamwork and her advocacy to benefit others makes her a superb choice to provide insight and inspiration to our community.”

Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s most talented and influential goalkeepers. As one of the first African American and openly gay professional women’s soccer players, her 173 international appearances for Team USA championed equality and diversified the sport. After four stellar years playing for the Minutewomen from 1990-93, Scurry went on to become one of the world’s best professional goalkeepers, winning a gold medal in the first Olympic women’s soccer competition in 1996.

In the memorable 1999 World Cup championship game — played before more than 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl and an estimated 40 million viewers watching on American television — she shut out China through 120 minutes and made a lunging penalty kick shoot-out save that helped seal a historic win for the U.S., inspired a women’s soccer boom and landed her image on a Wheaties box. Her long and impressive U.S. Women’s National Team career ultimately included a second Olympic gold in 2004, as well as a silver medal in 2000, and additional World Cup appearances in 1995 and 2003.

Scurry was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017, and her story is permanently featured in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Title IX exhibit.

While playing professional soccer in 2010, Scurry suffered a career-ending traumatic brain injury. Since her recovery, she has channeled her tremendous drive into advocacy for sports safety and increasing awareness of traumatic brain injuries among female athletes. Scurry’s 2022 memoir, “My Greatest Save,” chronicles her feats on the field, her post-injury struggles with pain and depression, and her passion to break barriers and inspire others.

About UMass Amherst Commencement

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This year’s UMass Commencement has been re-envisioned to celebrate the entire Class of 2023—both undergraduate and graduate students—at one ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The event will be held rain or shine and is scheduled to conclude at approximately noon.

Entrance to the ceremony is free and tickets are not required. Shuttle buses will transport guests from parking lots to the stadium. Guests should plan to arrive on campus by 7 a.m. to ensure ample time to reach campus, park and arrive at the stadium via a shuttle bus or by walking. Services are available for guests with limited mobility and other disabilities.

Immediately following Commencement, a Hooding Ceremony will be held at the stadium for doctoral candidates. Later in the day on Friday and throughout Saturday, Senior Recognition Ceremonies will be held across campus by schools, colleges and other university programs, where undergraduates can have their names called and walk across a stage to be individually recognized.

Complete details are available on the Commencement website.