Cromwell was born in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 1970. She graduated in 1988 from Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia, where she won a state championship and four district titles. In 1992, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in biology. During her tenure with the Virginia Cavaliers, Cromwell helped lead the team as captain to the Final Four in 1991. That season she finished as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy and Women's Collegiate Soccer Player of the Year. She was a four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, and three-time All-South Region team selection. Cromwell was also a two-time NSCAA All-American and a Soccer America MVP, and was voted the team's MVP in 1989. As a freshman in 1988, she was named Soccer America's Freshman of the Year and the Cavalier's Rookie of the Year. Cromwell was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team.
Professional career
Upon graduation from Virginia, Cromwell joined the United States women's national soccer team. While on the team, Cromwell earned a bronze medal during the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, and a gold medal during the 1996 Summer Olympics. During her time on the national team, she earned 55 caps. Between her tenure on the national team, and after she left in 1998, Cromwell played professionally in the United States and abroad. Between 1997 and 2003, she played for the Maryland Pride, Tampa Bay Xtreme, Charlotte Eagles, Washington Freedom, Atlanta Beat and San Jose CyberRays. In 1994, she played for the Hammarby Soccer Club in Sweden, making eight appearances under player-coachPia Sundhage. In 2010, Cromwell was inducted into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Cromwell became the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of Central Florida. Since taking the helm, Cromwell has helped to resurrect a program that only reached the NCAA Tournament twice in the previous ten years. She has led the Knights for 13 seasons, with only 1 losing record, and has led the team to 10 Tournament appearances, including five straight through 2011.
UCLA women's soccer team
In 2013, Cromwell became the head coach of the UCLA women's soccer program. Eight months after becoming coach, she led her team to the program's first-ever NCAA Championship. Cromwell's 2013 Bruins finished the season with a 22–1–3 record and went unbeaten over their last 21 games. They gave up just one goal during the NCAA Tournament and only eight goals all season, leading the nation in goals against average. In addition to winning the national championship, the team won the Pac-12 title and tied the school record for most victories in a season. Cromwell was named Soccer America's Coach of the Year, the first-such honor for a UCLA women's soccer coach.
Head coaching record
Sports diplomacy
Cromwell has also been an active participant in the SportsUnited Sports Envoy program for the U.S. Department of State. In this function, she has traveled to Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Germany, and Morocco, where she worked with Lauren Gregg, Jay Miller, Tracy Noonan, and Briana Scurry to conduct basketball clinics and events that have reached in excess of 2650 youth and women from underserved areas. In so doing, Cromwell helped contribute to SportsUnited's mission to empower girls and women through sport while promoting youth empowerment.
