The landscape of women's soccer has changed in the past 20 years.

The sport took a massive leap during the 1999 World Cup when U.S. Women's National Team's Brandi Chastain converted the winning penalty kick in the final against China, and responded by taking off her jersey and celebrating in her sports bra.

With the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France from June 7-July 7, attention is slowly returning to the sport in the U.S.

The SheBelieves Cup Tournament, with a stop in Nashville, is a reason why. However, maintaining the attention after a World Cup cycle is paramount for the USWNT and its players.

Women's soccer in the U.S. is in a better position now than it's ever been, according to USWNT coach Jill Ellis, but investment is needed.

"The state of soccer in this country, I think from the grassroots up, we're continuing to refine (and) get better," Ellis said. "Ultimately, this is a country that I think has really embraced women's soccer since the inception of it, especially since the World Cup in 1991.

"I just think we're in a good place, but I also know we have strides to make and everything from facilities to coaching to player development. But that's what we're about — wanting to get better."

Professional women's soccer leagues have gone through their share of ups and downs. The National Women's Soccer League is a nine-team league, but it only established itself in 2012 after another league, Women's Professional Soccer, went under after a lack of financial support.

The NWSL has not had a commissioner since 2017, and Amanda Duffy was named president in January, overseeing the day-to-day aspects of the league.

It's a stark contrast to what's happening in Major League Soccer. MLS and commissioner Don Garber continue to be ambitious with their expansion and growth with a total of 27 teams beginning play by 2020, including Nashville Soccer Club.

A reason why MLS is expanding is that billionaires have invested into the league and teams. The NWSL is lacking in that department, which affects the attention women's soccer gets when international games are not being played.

"We don't have billionaires owning teams," said midfielder Carli Lloyd, who plays for the NWSL's Sky Blue FC. "MLS has billionaires, and it took a while for them to get going, but they are kind of in a good position now. We don't have the deep pockets of owners, so it's what you get."

Tournaments like the SheBelieves Cup help bring the sport into the limelight. It's what happens after the World Cup is completed when things start to get worrisome for Ellis, Lloyd and the rest of the national team.

"I think events like World Cups continue to make sure there's a spotlight shined on it, but you want it to be there when that's not around, when it's not a World Cup year," Ellis said. "I think it's on all of us in the game to make sure that we continue to advance it and talk about it and report it and cover it. And then the big (factor) again, invest in it."

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.