My story with soccer begins on a little dirt field behind the playground of a small Catholic school in Buffalo, NY. I was 10 years old, shy, acclimating to a new school where I wasn’t sure on how to make friends or talk to anyone. Yet I was bold enough to hop in and play. I can’t remember exactly what drew me to that foam ball being kicked around the dust at recess or that mass of boys swarming around it like a cloud of bees. But I must of smelled something sweet in it. Call it fun. Call it communion without language. Conversation.

Little did I know, the day I stepped onto that pitch, I began a life-long journey of lessons through sport. And here’s where I write everything that you’re probably expecting: I learned the value of hard work, teamwork, self-worth, and leadership and all sorts of yadda yadda. I think by some statistic I should be holding some position in a c-suite somewhere.

Instead, I’m a storyteller, writing to you from a large closet built in the 1950’s which I’ve turned into a cute office. (For real, though.) I’m a storyteller who wants to talk about the more interesting lessons, conflicts, and questions soccer has allowed me to explore — topics that intertwine with race, sexuality, culture, gender, beauty, nationalism, and more.

In this blog, you’ll find some of my musings that I started putting to paper during the 2019 Women’s World Cup and some conversations I’ve had with friends and family. What came out was seven love letters — “love” as in the feeling, the releasing, the dreaming, and calls for accountability — to the game that will always have a place in my heart. Not to mention some badass audio content. With each essay and interview, I’ve grown and changed. Maybe you’ll get something out of it. At the very least, I hope you share your story with me, too.

In joy and gratitude,

Adele

How to read this multimedia book

I recommend reading/listening to this thing in order since the essays follow along my journey to France from beginning to the end. However, you can hop around based on the type of content you want to explore. I tried to provide enough context in each one for you to do so! You can just read the essays or just listen to the podcasts by clicking the appropriate heading above.

In case you want to hop around the site, here’s a little sum up on the themes:

Forgive the Keeper on being a goalkeeper, navigating negative-self talk, finding forgiveness, and joy.

Erin Blankenship on Breaking World Records for Social Change: One of the co-founders of Equal Playing Field talks about how her team put together these mind-blowing feats to bring attention to international gender inequality.

Grand Old Flag Anxiety on nationalism, Black Lives Matter, and what the heck do we do with symbols anyway?

Black Cards, White Sidelines on exploring Blackness in a sport that has become very white in the U.S.

La Canicule on what it was like to freakin’ break a world record in the midst of Lyon’s heatwave.

Dismantling Barriers and Boarders Through Soccer and Friendship: I talk to my friends from India and Pakistan about what it was like to learn soccer in an environment that discouraged girls from doing so.

Understanding the Open Stadiums Movement with Iranian Activist Sara: Iran still kind of bans women from attending certain soccer games in stadiums…like what?

The Alex Morgan Question and the Trappings of the White “Male” Gaze on exploring beauty politics in sport.

Nothing Is Ever As It Seems: An Attempt to Capture the 2019 World Cup Final (and More) in Written Memes … nuff said

Telling the Stories of the Women Warriors Behind the Beautiful Game: I spoke with two documentary filmmakers who traveled the world interviewing pro female soccer players to show the current state of women’s rights and football in other countries.

Rainbows, Bowties, And Tied Reigns: The Evolution Will Never Be Linear: a reflection on personal and collective growth and being on international television during the USWNT Parade of Champions in NYC

ONE MORE CHAPTER TO COME

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