I’ve been part of a lot of beginnings in women’s soccer.
I’ve watched the game grow from borrowed uniforms and empty fields to sold-out stadiums and global headlines. I’ve watched women’s sports finally start to receive the attention, investment, and respect it always deserved.
Right now, I’m helping build a platform that creates opportunity for the women who built the game - the ones who rarely got credit, compensation, or equity. A place where athletes don’t just inspire the next generation… they own part of what they helped create.
This weekend, I get to see that next generation up close.
I’m heading to New York for the SheBelieves Cup at Sports Illustrated Stadium. There’s something surreal about walking into a stadium now - knowing what it took to make this possible.
Lindsey Heaps is in her 12th consecutive year scoring for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Twelve years. That kind of consistency doesn’t just happen - it’s built on culture.
Coach Emma Hayes - yes, with the cowboy hat - has brought a new energy to the team. She’s fearless. She’s brought in young players earning their first caps, and you can feel the shift. The depth. The belief. The joy.
Tobin Heath is being celebrated this weekend, too. Two World Cups. Two Olympic gold medals. Another legend retiring, another layer added to a foundation that started decades ago.
When we won Olympic gold in 1996, we asked U.S. Soccer if we could do a promotional tour to grow the game. They said no. So, we did it ourselves.
That’s what this moment feels like to me. SheBelieves feels like that early tournament- only now the infrastructure exists. The stadiums are full. The sponsors are here. The media is watching. The players can focus on playing because the machine around them is finally built.
It’s beautiful.
Every career builds on the one before it.
Before Mia. Before Alex or Abby. Before Lindsey. Before Mia.
There was a group of us in 1985 who didn’t even have women’s uniforms.
If you want to understand what those early days felt like - the uncertainty, the grit, the joy - make sure you listen to Origin Story: The 85ers. All 17 of us share what it took to build something from nothing.
So this isn’t just a guest column.
It’s personal.
It’s about honoring the women who built the foundation - and making sure they’re part of what comes next.
It’s about watching this generation soar and knowing exactly what it took to get here.
It’s about making sure legacy doesn’t fade into nostalgia - but turns into ownership, opportunity, and real equity.
For past and present. For all of us.
Because this moment in women’s sports is bigger than headlines and highlight reels.
It’s about building something that lasts.
See you in New York.
