NEW YORK (KRON) – The World Cup champs’ victory tour on Friday hit the Big Apple, where the U.S. women’s soccer team received a hero’s welcome. Four of the stars included players with Bay Area ties.
Thousands gathered as the team was honored with a large celebration at City Hall Plaza. The ceremony was followed by a colorful parade down the Broadway route known as the Canyon of Heroes.
Young girls were among the huge throngs of fans waving flags in New York City’s first-ever ticker-tape parade for a women’s sports team. The four members of team USA who played in the Bay Area are: Alex Morgan who starred at Cal, Julie Johnston from Santa Clara University, and two Stanford alums–Kelley O’Hara and Christen Press.
The U.S. beat Japan 5-2 in Sunday’s final in Vancouver to collect the top prize in women’s soccer for the first time in 16 years. It was a record third World Cup for the women’s team.