Kristine Lilly named finalist for U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

Women’s National Team legend Kristine Lilly has been named as a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The U.S. Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company announced the list of 28 nominee finalists on Monday, Feb. 27, with Lilly the only nominee representing soccer.

She is one of 18 Olympic athletes eligible for induction into the Class of 2012, which also includes five Paralympic athletes and five Olympic teams.

Lilly’s extraordinary career spanned 21 years and set multiple records. She holds the record for most caps all-time in the world and WNT history with an incredible 352 during a 21-year career. She scored 130 goals, the third highest all-time, and her 105 assists are good for second highest in WNT history.

Lilly represented the U.S. in 16 matches during three Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004). She scored four goals en route to earning two gold medals and one silver medal in the first three Olympics in which women’s soccer was included.

The veteran midfielder retired in November 2010 after playing her last U.S. game against Mexico in a World Cup Qualifying match.

The public is invited to vote for candidates and teams by visiting a dedicated voting portal at teamusa.org/halloffame. Voters will be allowed to vote once per day, per category, through April 9.

Once voting closes, the public vote totals will be added to the vote totals of Olympians, Paralympians and U.S. Olympic Family members to determine the six Olympians, one Paralympian and one team that will make up the 2012 class.

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate Class of 2012 will be announced in May and inducted on July 12 during an induction ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago.