ROSWELL, Ga. — The United States Women's National Team are Women's World Cup champions once again and two members started their careers here in metro Atlanta.
Kelley O'Hara grew up in Fayette County and was a star player for Starr's Mill High School. Emily Sonnett, meanwhile, lived in Marietta and attended Fellowship Christian School in Roswell.
O'Hara started almost every match at rightback for the U.S. while Sonnett entered the game as a sub against Chile in the group stage.
[RELATED: USA defeats the Netherlands to become FIFA Women's World Cup champions]
Channel 2's Berndt Petersen visited the soccer fields at Fellowship Christian, where he spoke with Sonnett's former coach Trip Hughes.
Years before the Women's World Cup final, Sonnett helped lead the team to the state championship game her senior year.
"Teams knew who she was. They would double-team, triple-team her to try to stop her," Hughes said. "It was super exciting. We always wanted to see her on the big screen."
Hughes told Petersen he knew Sonnett was destined for greatness.
"She had that quality that you can't name. She exuded, 'I'm going to play this game for the rest of my life.' And she would say that," he said.
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Petersen also caught up with O'Hara's former club coach, Brian Moore. O'Hara played club soccer in Fayette County and also won a high school state title in 2006 as a captain for Starr's Mill High School.
"She's a legend in Peachtree City. I'm sure you can imagine. Even on the southside of Atlanta, everybody knows who she is. Everybody in our club is really proud and they should be," Moore told Petersen.
Sunday's victory over Netherlands gave the 2019 USWNT its fourth Women's World Cup title, joining the 1991, 1999 and 2015 teams.
[PHOTOS: USA wins 2019 Women's World Cup]
The coaches tell Petersen today's stars like O'Hara and Sonnett are inspirational for young women watching the game.
"People know who she is. Especially the young girls who play soccer at our school. They know Emily," Hughes said.
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