In August 2000 Medalen revealed that she was considering an approach from the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), following contact from the nascent American professional league's vice president of playing personnel Lauren Gregg.
[5] Medalen was sent-off at half-time in the 2001 Norwegian Women's Cup final, for slapping away Gøril Kringen's hand during a disagreement.
[8] In 2006 41-year-old Medalen made another playing comeback and was selected for Asker's 3–2 Norwegian Women's Cup final defeat by Røa IL.
[10] At the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament, Medalen scored her first two national team goals in her fourth appearance; Norway's opening 4–0 win over Thailand in Jiangmen.
Medalen's first-minute goal in the 2–1 semi-final win over Sweden helped set up a final meeting with the West German hosts in Osnabrück, but reigning European champions Norway were beaten 4–1.
Medalen scored six goals, including two in the semi-final win over Sweden and an equaliser in the 2–1 final defeat by the United States.
In UEFA Women's Euro 1995 Norway missed out on a fifth successive final appearance, being eliminated in the semi-finals by Sweden, 7–5 on aggregate, despite Medalen's second-leg goal in Jönköping.
She also had a new role as a central defender, having struggled to adapt to incoming coach Per-Mathias Høgmo's possession-based tactics for his forwards.
[14] Medalen came out as a lesbian in an interview with the Se og Hør gossip magazine in 1999, declaring: "I love a girl, it's not worse".
[24] She enjoyed Norway's rivalry with the United States team, frequently exchanging "trash-talk" with her friend Michelle Akers.