Product Code Database
Natasha Kanani Janine Kai (born May 22, 1983) is an American professional soccer forward and Olympic gold medalist who played professionally most recently in 2019. She previously played for Sky Blue FC and the Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer and National Women's Soccer League as well as the United States women's national soccer team. In 2011, Kai was also part of the first US women's rugby union sevens team to play in the IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup held in Dubai. USA Women's prepare for Dubairugbymag.com
During Kai's standout career, she set multiple WAC records. She was named WAC Freshman of the Year in 2002, becoming the first soccer player to be named Freshman and Player of the Year in the same season. She also became the first player in WAC history to earn three Player of the Year awards and First-Team all-conference honors all four seasons. Kai owns the WAC career shots record (446) and is second in goals (72) and points (162). She finished her college career with 72 goals in 73 matches.
Kai scored four goals in her first seven WNT matches, including the winner in a 1–0 victory over Japan on May 9, 2006. She went on to become the first-ever player from Hawaii, and first with native Hawaiian heritage, to play for the full Women's National Team and to make a Women's World Cup Team. She played in 17 games during her first year on the National Team, starting in four matches. She scored six goals, two of them in the 2006 Algarve Cup. She also scored against Japan, Ireland, Canada and Australia. Her goal against the Matildas came in a 2–0 win at the Peace Cup in South Korea.
In 2007, Kai played in seven games heading into the final pre-Women's World Cup match, starting in four. She had two assists and one goal that came in a 2–0 win over China at the Four Nations Tournament to give USA the tournament title. She was one of the final three players chosen to the 2007 U.S. Women's World Cup Team.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Kai scored the winning goal in overtime to lead the U.S. past Canada in the quarterfinal round.
Kai last played for the U.S. on March 11, 2009 against Sweden. She has not been selected for national team duty since having major shoulder surgery in the fall of 2009.
In September 2011 via Twitter, Kai said she would never play for the Women's National Team again, stating, "I will never play for the USWNT ever again so Id appreciate it if u stop asking & tweeting me about it. Its in the past & staying there thx"
| 2006-03-11 | 1.1 | Quarteira | 71 | unassisted | Algarve Cup | |||||
| 2006-03-13 | 1.1 | Faro | 76 | unassisted | Algarve Cup | |||||
| 2006-05-09 | 1.1 | Osaka | 65 | Kristine Lilly | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2006-07-23 | 1.1 | San Diego | 74 | Aly Wagner | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2006-07-30 | 1.1 | Cary | 80 | unassisted | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2006-10-31 | 1.1 | Cheonan | Start | 35 | Abby Wambach | Peace Queen Cup | ||||
| 2007-01-30 | 1.1 | Guangzhou | Start | 56 | Kate Markgraf | Four Nations Tournament | ||||
| 2007-10-17 | 1.1 | Portland | 82 | Carli Lloyd | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2008-03-10 | 1.1 | Alvor | 55 | unassisted | Algarve Cup | |||||
| 2008-03-12 | 1.1 | Santo Antonio | 14 | Carli Lloyd | Algarve Cup | |||||
| 2008-04-06 | 2.1 | Ciudad Juarez | 13 | Heather O'Reilly | Olympic qualification | |||||
| 2.2 | 45 | unassisted | ||||||||
| 2008-04-09 | 2.1 | Ciudad Juarez | Start | 57 | Tobin Heath | Olympic qualification | ||||
| 2.2 | 89 | Angela Hucles | ||||||||
| 2008-04-27 | 1.1 | Cary | 35 | Carli Lloyd | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2008-05-10 | 3.1 | Washington | 54 | Carli Lloyd | Exhibition game | |||||
| 3.2 | 60 | Shannon Boxx | ||||||||
| 3.3 | 75 | Abby Wambach | ||||||||
| 2008-06-15 | 1.1 | Suwon | 35 | Heather O'Reilly | Peace Queen Cup | |||||
| 2008-07-16 | 1.1 | San Diego | 85 | Carli Lloyd | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2008-08-15 | 1.1 | Shanghai | 101 | Shannon Boxx | ||||||
| 2008-09-13 | 1.1 | Philadelphia | 32 | Heather O'Reilly | Exhibition game | |||||
| 2008-09-17 | 1.1 | E Rutherford | Start | 72 | Carli Lloyd | Exhibition game | ||||
| 2009-03-06 | 1.1 | Ferreiras | 90 | Christie Rampone | Algarve Cup |
She is also known for her distinctive Tattoo. She has over 60 tattoos, two being "Sleeve tattoo" on her left and right arms. She has tattoos on both legs, arms, feet, and hands, and on her back, chest, sides, and the front, side, and back of her neck. Along with the tattoos, she also has two lower lip piercings.
She was featured on an episode of the hit show LA Ink and had a large spread in ESPN The Magazine's "The Body Issue".
Kai has openly discussed the fact that she is lesbian, and was one of only three coming out gay individuals on the 2008 USA Summer Olympic Team. During an interview with NBCOlympics.com, Kai was quoted as saying the following:
It was a hard time... I had missed the first camp under new head coach Pia Sundhage in early-January because I had bronchitis, and I was going through a nasty break-up with my girlfriend. Then Coach Sundhage told me my job was on the line.Lo'eau LaBonta, 10 years Kai's junior, was a ball girl at a USWNT game Kai was at in Los Angeles. When Kai heard that LaBonta also had Hawaiian heritage, Kai gave her an autographed cleat.
Match reports
|
|
