US Lacrosse Magazine, formerly Lacrosse Magazine, is the longest-running and most widely read lacrosse publication in the world. The magazine dates back to 1978.

“The Vault” is a series in which we will revisit past cover subjects to see where they are now and what that moment in time meant to them.

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n May 2005, Cherie Greer Brown was featured on the cover of our magazine for the second time in her career. She was 32 years of age at the time, just two months away from competing as a member of the U.S. World Cup team for the fourth time — a feat accomplished by only two others — and she was still one of the elite players in the world.

The headline was not subtle.

America’s Superstar: Talented, humble and friendly, Greer embodies all that is a champion.

“I was certainly surprised by that headline, but pleased that others thought of me in that way,” Greer Brown said. “It was extremely meaningful.”

While bold, the headline was pretty much on point. There wasn’t much that the amiable Greer (she wasn’t Brown yet) hadn’t already achieved in her celebrated lacrosse career.

She enjoyed an All-American collegiate career at the University of Virginia while helping the Cavaliers capture NCAA championships in 1991 and 1993. Greer earned first team All-America honors as a midfielder in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Incredibly, she was named the NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, the same season that she also led the nation in scoring with 61 goals and 18 assists.

Her coach at Virginia, Hall of Famer Jane Miller, once said, “Cherie is the standard by which all other players are measured.”

In recognition of her outstanding career, she became the first lacrosse player to have her jersey (No. 18) retired at Virginia.

Greer made her first splash on the international level while she was still in college, earning a spot on the 1993 U.S. Women’s World Cup team that captured gold in Edinburgh, Scotland. She added a second gold medal in 1997 in Japan and a third in 2001 in England. She was named the most outstanding player of the championship game in both 1997 and 2001.

“I was so excited to play with so many other amazing players on those World Cup teams,” Greer Brown said. “They were all committed to being the best. Those were just phenomenal experiences.”

In 2000, she was named a member of Lacrosse Magazine's All-Century Team and was also featured on the magazine’s cover for the first time. That May cover preceded the upcoming summer tryouts for the 2001 World Cup squad.

Despite being a veteran of two earlier gold medal winning teams, Greer Brown knew that there were no guarantees in the eyes of U.S. coach Sue Stahl. She had to earn her spot on the team once again.

“I was working full-time by then, but I had to make time to train every day to be ready for the tryouts,” she said. “You had to come ready because those tryouts were always tough.”

As the daughter of a world-class athlete, NBA Hall of Famer Hal Greer, Cherie had grown up with a solid understanding of the drive and commitment that was required to excel. She thrived as a talented multi-sport athlete in Penn Valley, Penn., with field hockey, basketball, track & field and swimming all commanding her time in addition to lacrosse.

“I was into every sport,” she said. “I actually started playing lacrosse later than a lot of other kids. I didn’t start until I was in ninth grade, but I loved it. I never looked back.”

Her father’s encouragement helped fuel her passion.

“He provided a great foundation for my love of sports,” Greer Brown said. “He was very supportive and would come to all of my games. He had a huge impact on my success.”

Greer Brown continued with two sports at UVA, playing both field hockey and lacrosse during her first two years in Charlottesville. She finally settled on just lacrosse as a junior and senior, graduating in 1994.

She made her second appearance on the magazine’s cover as the 2005 World Championships, to be played in Annapolis, Md., drew near. Even before the first draw, Greer Brown knew that this would be her last international competition.

“I needed to move forward,” she said. “The time was right.”

Four years after wearing the Team USA uniform for the last time, Greer Brown received the sport’s highest honor, induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009. She also received the Tewaaraton Legends Award in 2017.

Married to her husband, Winston, since 2008, Greer Brown, now 47, resides in Orlando. The couple has two children: daughter Greer, 8, and son Cannon, 4. Cherie balances the daily demands of motherhood with her new venture as one of the principals in a boutique real estate private equity and investment firm, Realty Investor Capital. Most days, she is able to work from her home office.

“I appreciate being home with them after traveling so much earlier in my career,” said Greer Brown, who spent 16 years in sports management, working primarily with professional athletes.

“Everything has been a building block to where I am today.”