New York ( CNN ) -- Everyone remembers the iconic image of Brandi Chastain on her knees after the U.S. women 's soccer team won the 1999 World Cup Championship . Hope Solo was only 17 then , inspired by the American women on the field . Now , Solo , the goalie of the 2011 team , is poised with her teammates to repeat the drama of all those years ago . After winning several games in dramatic fashion , the U.S. women face Japan Sunday for the championship in Frankfurt , Germany . The 1999 team set the bar high , Solo told CNN Friday . But she wanted to set the record straight : her team wants its own bragging rights . `` Twelve years later , this team wants to write their own storybook ending , '' Solo said . `` We want to end with our legacy and we are a very different team from the '99 team . So , you know , we do hope that looking forward , people remember the 2011 U.S. women 's soccer team . '' Sunday 's game will determine what kind of lasting memories Solo 's team will be able to etch , but it was hard not to know Solo 's name Friday . She became somewhat of an instant celebrity , especially on Twitter , where a trending topic was `` marrymehope . '' She dodged the question about the topic on CNN 's `` American Morning , '' instead focusing on the team spirit that catapulted America to the finals . Others may find it surprising that the United States emerged as the new darling of 2011 soccer , she said , but not the team . `` We came into this tournament with one goal , '' Solo said . `` It was n't to beat Brazil in the quarterfinal . It was n't to make it to the final . Our only goal of this tournament was to win the whole thing . I think when you get this close , you would have a lot of regrets if you walked away and you did n't win it all . '' Japan may have world 's collective sympathy after the devastating earthquake and tsunami , but America is not going down to the sentimentality , Solo said . `` This team is truly a team , and , as cliche as that is in sports these days , this team will fight until the bitter end to find a way to win , '' she said . `` It 's not always pretty but everybody on the field is trying to find a way to win , '' she said . `` I think it 's the American way . It 's the American spirit . I think America is so behind us because you can feel that spirit and you can feel the fight in our team . And people kind of grab on to that . '' If they win Sunday , the U.S. women would become the first team to win the Women 's World Cup three times , after taking titles in 1991 and 1999 . Just as she was inspired by the 1999 team , Solo hopes to awaken the thrill of soccer among the next generation of American women . `` You ca n't not think about it when you see the kids come to our games , when you see all of the inspirational signs that are at the training fields , at the playing fields , '' Solo said . `` I do my best to be a good role model and I do my best to inspire people , especially the youth of America . '' She wants to give back , she said , because the fans instill confidence , give her joy . And that 's what will make her thrive come the all-important game Sunday .
K ##s was only 17 when the U.S. women won the 1999 World Cup . She says she was inspired by her mother . But the national team wants to leave its own legacy . In turn , she wants to be a good role model to younger players .