Ending with style

ATHENS — Thirteen years later, this is how the fairy tale ends.

No, not with the princesses saved by a dashing prince.

With the princesses kicking some Brazilian butt.

With a 2-1 win in overtime.

With gold medals all around.

With the anthem playing and the flag rising and tears of joy and gratitude.

"There are few times in life when you get to write the final chapter the way you want to," said Mia Hamm. "A lot of us got to do that today."

Hamm is one of five players on the American women's team who have played together since 1991.

Three have said Thursdays night's game will be their last.

Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett are retiring from international competition.

Brandi Chastain may not be able to hang on.

Only Kristine Lilly — who set up the winning goal — is sure to be back.

So Thursday's win was less a game than a valedictory, a final victory lap.

It was Michael Jordan beating the Jazz with his final shot.

It was John Elway winning the Super Bowl in his last game.

Except Jordan returned.

And, remind me, did Elway change the world?

These women did.

Look around your neighborhood. Look at the girls playing soccer and softball and whatever else they like.

Heck, look at these Olympics. Every time you turn around, American women are doing great things.

The softball team, the basketball team, the beach volleyball pair.

The wrestlers. Wrestlers! Whoever would have imagined that?

Of course, whoever would have imagined this country falling in love with women who play soccer?

Women.

Who play soccer.

You could have gotten long odds.

But that's exactly what happened, starting in Atlanta when they won gold in 1996.

Then came 1999, and the miracle run that was the World Cup. Chastain tore off her shirt. Everyone remembers that. But the most remarkable sight was little boys, cheering too.

So the five deserved a glorious final bow, but that didn't guarantee one. The Americans lost to Norway in Sydney. They could certainly lose again. Except . . .

"We just said that we're going out on top, that's the way it's going to be," Foudy said. "It just seemed right with this group, you know?"

The Americans scored first. The Brazilians tied it late. When Brazil then hit two straight goal posts, Foudy grinned.

"I'm like, 'See! This is what I'm talking about,' " she said.

Sure enough, in the 112th minute, Lilly lofted a corner kick to Abby Wambach.

Wambach was guarded by Monica, just Monica, Brazil's defensive star.