Shannon MacMillan (born October 7, 1974) was a key figure in the growth of the University of Portland's outstanding women's soccer program and racked up awards and medals as a member of the US Women's National Team.
MacMillan was a big-time recruiting coup for Clive Charles at UP. She was a well-known three-year letter winner at Escondido (CA) High School and became a feared goal scorer and playmaker for the Pilots. She was the highest scoring freshman in the nation in 1992, the led the NCAA in scoring as a sophomore. In four seasons, Mac scored 87 goals and dished out 45 assists. She showed her grit in the clutch, scoring 26 game-winning goals. She had a four goal, three assist game and another with five assists. The Pilots advanced to post season all four years with Shannon in the lineup including two heartbreaking 1-0 losses to Notre Dame in the 1994 semifinals and the 1995 College Cup Final.
MacMillan was a finalist for the Hermann Award, given to soccer’s top collegiate player, three times. She won that trophy as a senior in 1995. Shannon's other honors included 1995 Soccer News All-American and four-time All-America, All-Far West Region and West Coast Conference selections.
After the University of Portland, MacMillan was a member of the USA’s Gold Medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics. MacMillan led the Olympic Team with three goals in their five matches, including the match-winners against Sweden and Norway. She was also a member of the 2000 Olympics Silver Medal Team. Shannon was a member of the U.S. National team in 1999, winning the World Cup, and again in 2003 when they finished fourth. In 2002 she scored 17 goals and was voted the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year. Shannon retired from international play in 2006 at the age of 31.
MacMillan also played professionally for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA, the first fully professional American women’s league and later worked in front office of the NWSL San Diego Wave.
Shannon MacMillan is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the University of Portland Athletics Hall of Fame.