Where were you ten years ago today? I was in my grandmother's hospital room watching as an exuberant Brandi Chastain pulled off her shirt, revealing a black sports bra and simultaneously etching one of the most iconic photos in sports history.

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the United State's win over China in the 1999 Women's World Cup. The event remains the most-attended women's sports event in history with 90,185 witnessing the U.S. women's soccer team's miraculous over-time win.

I don't know if grandma approved of the sports bra, but I keenly remember how pleased she was that an entire country rallied around these women. In her day, it was unusual for women to even go to college, but like the women of the U.S. soccer team, she defied expectations and pursued her college degree.

The tenacity of women like my grandma made it possible for others like Billie Jean King to have the courage and conviction to embrace and nurture their talents. With each generation, women have thumbed their noses at convention and dared to bare their aspirations for the world to see.

For me, the fact that I witnessed this event sitting at my grandmother's side is a poignant reflection of how far women have come. It's also a striking reminder of the power athletics has to change the culture of a nation.

For many young girls, that single moment inspired a lifetime of athletics involvement. It said to them what the Battle of the Sexes said to a different generation: You can do anything.

"It was about so much more than soccer," Chastain told columnist Bill Plaschke. "I really think the experience made girls stronger, more confident. They realized that team sports could be part of who they are."

From 1999 to 2008 participation rates for girls in high school athletics has increased from 2,662,336 to 3,057,266. Girls participation in soccer has increased from 257,586 in 1999 to 346,545.

The biggest spikes in high school girls' soccer participation happened over the last five years. While it's difficult to draw a direct comparison between the recent rise in soccer participation to the Women's World Cup victory, it seems at least possible that young girls watching the women play on TV decided to opt for the sport while they were young and continue that play into high school.

The World Cup victory also sent another important message to the country: it's OK (and actually fun) to root for female athletes. Today viewership for women's athletics is increasing every year. Professional opportunities are expanding and the WNBA just celebrated its 13th year.

Perhaps it's fitting that late last month Chastain received a special delivery in the mail from the now defunct Sports Museum of America--a framed black sports bra, returned to her once again just in time for the celebration.