“The recognition, for one,” Trinity Rodman said. “Even just in conversation, it’s like, ‘Oh, who do you play for?’ – Spirit – and they’re like, ‘What’s that?’ I’m like, ‘Ugh.’” Nothing here but a challenge that Rodman faced when discussing the hardest part of being a female athlete with Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper last year. Somehow, this incident perfectly sums up the unfortunate reality of the lack of recognition in the NWSL. So, how could anyone have expected things to be any different a few years ago? No wonder teen soccer phenom and Red Bull athlete Olivia Moultrie, in an exclusive interview EssentiallySports with host Andrew Whitelaw, revealed she once considered “moving to Europe.”
It is an unfortunate reality, especially in the women’s game and particularly in America, where a persistent lack of recognition still exists. With such a harsh reality lying around to this day, hardly any American parent would like to see their child pursue a future that simply has little to offer. But for someone like Moultrie, that wasn’t the case at all; having received immense support from family, there’s no surprise why she is the youngest athlete to seal a Nike contract in team sports with the Portland Thorns Academy.
Not to forget the sacrifices that came in the process, like moving from California to Portland when you’re in your teenage years. So has that held any significance in her career? “Yeah, I mean, that was huge,” said Olivia Moultrie on the EssentiallySports exclusive. “When we decided to make the move, we knew we were going to move somewhere. We had thought about moving to Europe because, at the time, the pathway in terms of young players becoming a professional was more open there.”
There’s no doubt about Europe being one of the biggest talent-producing factories for the beautiful game. While it was only natural for Olivia to consider shifting continents, why did she eventually stay then? “Then Portland came along and it was like, ‘No, you can be with the first team from day one, training with them.’ I was like, ‘Well, what better environment can I get than that?’”
The Santa Clarita native accepted Thorns as her first home, calling it “one of the best women’s clubs in the entire world.” She aimed to challenge herself in that environment daily and initially expected to play professionally around 16 or 17. However, realizing she was ready earlier, she had to fight for her place on the field sooner than expected.
Sure a move to Europe would have looked glorious on paper, but in reality, Olivia has no regrets. “Things have turned out pretty good. And I still feel like I’m just at the beginning. Obviously, a lot more that I want to accomplish. But yeah, a big moment for me and an exciting one, having my family support me was huge,” concluded the 19-year-old in her exclusive interview with EssentiallySports.
From signing for the Portland Thorns to winning the championship with them, it has really been one ‘big moment’ after another for Olivia Moultrie. And while she successfully paved the way for her own success, her fight and courage also opened locked doors for others like her.
Olivia Moultrie’s fight against the NWSL
The rise of young talent in the NWSL can be traced back to Olivia Moultrie’s 2021 lawsuit. Before then, the league didn’t allow players under 18 to sign contracts. At 13, she gave up college eligibility to turn pro with a Nike deal but had no team to play for due to FIFA and NWSL age restrictions. However, with the support of her family, she was able to sue America’s apex women’s soccer league.
She challenged the league’s rules, won a preliminary injunction, and settled within two months. Since then, the NWSL has gradually eased restrictions, allowing more under-18 signings. By 2024, teams could roster up to four. One has to admit that Moultrie’s fight reshaped the league, helping both the NWSL and USWNT stay competitive globally.
But still, the league faces tough competition from its rival leagues. For instance, the recent pre-season saw an influx of players moving to Europe. The likes of Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Kerolin, and Crystal Dunn are a few to name.
Icons like Christen Press and Tobin Heath, who have played outside of America, have cited NWSL’s salary cap as a reason why players aren’t sticking around anymore in the NWSL. “The difference is so gross that it makes it almost not worthy of a daily discussion as to why players are going to the UK,” said Press.
So it is safe to say that even if Olivia Moultrie went against the NWSL and now finds it quite alright in the States, one can’t truly deny the lack of opportunities. Let’s see how it changes for the league.
The post Exclusive: Olivia Moultrie Reveals Lack of NWSL Opportunities Once Made Her Consider Drastic Move appeared first on EssentiallySports.