The Chelsea and USA star on her early influences, the differences between playing football in England and America, and why the US mindset has been crucial.
My parents put me and my sister into a bunch of sports, and in middle school I would play basketball, volleyball, flag football, all the random sports because my school wasn't huge, so everyone could play. I just really liked playing soccer. I had the most fun playing it, so I stuck with that.
There were probably a lot of things that I had that people in other countries didn't. Especially where I grew up in California, women’s soccer is a huge thing. With how successful the U.S. women's national team was, it was really cool to grow up watching them. Not a lot of countries have that when they were growing up, seeing their women's team reach the highest level, reach equal pay with our men's team. So I think it was really cool to have those leaders being people I looked up to.
They were such trailblazers but also they were the best in the world for so long. It made me want to be on that team and be a part of the national team. All of them are now legends of the game. I feel like they helped shape that winning mentality of American soccer and sports. Being able to watch them shaped me into knowing what it takes to be at the highest level and the mentality needed.
Americans always want to win at anything no matter what, especially on the field, and I think that helps us with being winners. Even if it's not the prettiest, we will always grind and get there in the end. I feel like it's a part of American culture and a part of that extra piece that we can bring to the field that maybe other countries haven't tapped into as much.
My first coach was my dad. He didn't play any soccer, but he just looked up a bunch of Neymar and Lionel Messi clips and would train us in the back yard. That joy was the first thing that I felt with soccer, and I think our dad instilled in us to have fun but also be dedicated to what you're doing and go the extra mile because that's what gets you to be great.
Soccer has always been fun for me to play, and it's a way to express myself in a different way than I can just talking or being around people. I feel free and I'm having fun on the field. It's cool to have that and be able to experience that everywhere.
I think soccer should be played with freedom for the most part. Being able to have a coach that leads in the tactics, but also being able to show your individual flair and what you bring is super important. It's always fun to watch players like that, who bring something that not everyone else has.
Being able to play in the Champions League, you experience so many different styles of football, and being in America, you also experience different styles of football. For me, you are always yourself on the field, and then you have to adapt to the things around you. It was nice coming here because I was able to see different things. You get that when you're playing different countries with the national team.
I didn't really see a lot of the European styles when I was in America, and it's been cool now being able to add that to my bag. Seeing how Italian players, Spanish leagues play, and then adding that, knowing I can break them down in this way or in a different way.
I still feel like I have been able to play like myself for the most part here in England, and I obviously just want to keep getting better. I think I have got better since I came here with the training, the team and learning new things. I can still play my game as I continue but also learn and grow as a player.
I feel like the football culture here and in America has been changing with women's sports. Maybe women's sports are a little bit more prevalent in America than they are here, but with the Lionesses winning the EUROs and having more people watching and celebrating them, I think that has brought up the culture here a lot. Both have a pretty deep football culture. It's just more that both of us need to probably keep pushing for more visibility of women's sports in general.
Something I’d change is that soccer in America is so expensive. The clubs are so expensive, we have to pay for it and pay for cleats and everything, so making it more accessible for everyone.
I also want young girls to hear that not everyone's journey is going to be the same, and you could still make it to this level while not copying everything that I did. So, don't compare yourself to anyone. Everyone's journey is going to be different, and if you are dedicated and really want it, then you can do anything that you put your mind to.
