My Personal Plot Twist: An Unexpected Journey into Women’s Pro Football
I didn’t plan this. I wasn’t searching for a new sport, a new dream, or a new version of myself. But in my late 40s, I found myself lacing up cleats and trying out for a women’s professional football team. Yes—football. The kind with helmets, pads, and full contact. What started as a spontaneous decision turned into a personal plot twist I never saw coming. And yet, looking back, it all makes sense. I’ve always carried a deep love for sport and an even deeper commitment to the power of women’s athletics. This is just the latest chapter in that story—maybe the most unexpected one yet.
A Lifetime of Love for Women’s Sports
For decades, women’s sports have been an uphill battle for visibility, recognition, and respect. Yet, every so often, a milestone reminds us that change is not only possible—it’s happening. One of those moments is on the horizon, and I am at the center of it. In this most unexpected stage of life—on the brink of being an empty-nester, I am finding that passion, drive, and purpose have no expiration date. A former Olympic hopeful, I have spent my life standing for women in sports—first as fan, then as an athlete, now as a voice.
My journey in sports began long before I put on a football jersey. As a young athlete, I trained at an elite level, even earning a shot at the Olympic trials. My passion extended beyond personal achievements, as I have always been a fierce advocate for women’s sports. Representation matters, and these opportunities must be created with intention, not passivity. The founder of the WNFC, Odessa Jenkins (OJ) has been relentless leader with an unapologetic vision, and I want to be a part of this movement. Women’s football, like many other underrepresented sports, has fought for respect in the mainstream sports world. But with the powerful push of OJ and the WNFC, major networks like ESPN and Victory+ are stepping in to broadcast games. The narrative is changing. We are shaping its future.
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History in the Making
During Women's History Month, the Women's National Football Conference (WNFC) made the unprecedented announcement that the championship game will broadcasted on ESPN. Wow. What a statement that women belong in every space, at every stage of life, and in every sport—including football. In a world that often tells women to sit on the sidelines, we are stepping onto the field with a powerful message: we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere. As my teammates and I, along with the other teams in the WNFC, gear up for one of the highest levels of competition in women's football, we are playing for every young girl who has been told she didn’t belong in sports, and specifically in football. I am playing for every woman who has believed was too late to chase a dream. And we are playing for the future of women’s football.
Football is so much more than a personal challenge for me. It is a whole movement. Women’s sports deserve respect, coverage, and celebration. Athleticism isn’t bound by age or gender. I am reminded daily that the best opportunities don’t always come when we expect them. They come when we decide to keep showing up, pushing forward, and rewriting the rules.
When that championship game airs on ESPN, it will be a victory for every woman who has ever fought to be seen, heard, and respected in sports. Each step of progress matters. Tune into what's happening with women's sports. Cheer loudly. Support the movement. Get involved. Because when one woman breaks a barrier, she opens the door for countless others to follow.
This is a Movement. Let's lock in and make it happen.
#WomenInSports #FootballIsForWomen #BreakingBarriers #ESPN #RepresentationMatters
