Abby Dunkin is a wheelchair basketball player who won gold at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio as well as at the 2019 World Championships in Suphanburi, Thailand. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about her introduction to wheelchair basketball, the importance of athlete advocacy, and what comes next following her recent retirement from Team USA. 

What does it mean to you to openly be a member of the LGBTQ community in sports?

Sports, in general, give you this platform and this voice to be able to talk about stuff that’s going on in today’s society. In that sense, to be part of the LGBTQ community gives us a voice to show that love is love — no matter politics, religion, sexual orientation, or culture. To be able to share that as an athlete on this platform is pretty special. Especially since there are a ton of athletes who share a similar voice — who are also part of the LGBTQ community. It shows that we can be successful and we can be good at what we do, while also being part of the LGBTQ community.

Why do you think it’s so important for athletes to be vocal on social justice issues, especially as they relate to the LGBTQ community?

It’s definitely important for athletes who are LGBTQ to speak up. Like I said, it shows that we can be successful. We can do things, we can be happy in the way we live our lives. We are able to normalize it, in a way. Hopefully, one day, people in the LGBTQ community don’t have to come out. We don’t see straight people having to come out, so we should be treated the same. There has been movement and new laws, like the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year was a huge victory for LGBTQ employees. These things will guide the way so one day we won’t have to come out, we can just be who we are.

What has been the role of sports in helping you come into your identity?

For me, discovering wheelchair basketball was a huge turning point. I grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, so there was basically a church on every corner. I knew a few of my friends who were still in the closet and who had fears of coming out because everyone was so religious. Once I was able to, I went to the University of Texas and, during my freshman year, my teammates and friends pushed me in a positive way to come out of the closet. They said, “Hey, it’s okay. We accept you for who you are.” Being in that atmosphere with coaches who were so supportive and teammates who were so supportive made me feel like I could do it. So wheelchair basketball, for me at least, helped me to come out publicly and be okay with myself. And I was lucky to have loving family and friends who supported me. With basketball, it doesn’t matter who you love, who you play for, what your skin color is or who you vote for — it just matters that you can play ball.

What first drew you to wheelchair basketball?

I grew up playing standup basketball and then, in middle school, I had knee surgery for a torn meniscus. After the surgery, the pain never went away, even though I was physically healed. I was diagnosed with CRPS, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. With CRPS, you’re in pain 24/7, even though there is no reason for it. I managed my pain until I was about 16 or 17 and then I realized that I had to do something — it was becoming too much. In 2013, I tried a number of treatments. I tried one treatment where they put electrodes on the outskirts of my chronic pain and I was hooked up to this machine for about an hour a day, five days a week for two weeks. After the first week, I felt really sick. And after the second week, I ended up losing 30 pounds total. One morning, I woke up and I could not walk. I stumbled around and my legs were so tight, I just remember going, “Mom, what is going on?” No one knew what was happening and the doctor refused to see me. So I ended up leaving the treatment early in a wheelchair. I was so excited because I had just been named captain for my high school’s basketball team, and then I came back from this treatment in a wheelchair.

I found wheelchair basketball on YouTube one day and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever. Your arms are jacked and you’re playing ball on chairs. I had no idea people with disabilities could even do that. I had never heard of the Paralympics. My dad was retired military so I was able to try out wheelchair basketball for the first time with guys who had just come back from overseas with either one or both of their legs amputated. I was this 17-year-old scrawny white girl with guys who were twice my age and twice my size, but I absolutely loved the game.

How did you go from playing wheelchair basketball with men in the military to being on Team USA?

From practicing with guys in the military, I got a reference to go and meet with the San Antonio Spurs wheelchair basketball team. They were just getting ready for their season, so I thought I was just going to watch their practice and see what it was all about. Eventually, they invited me onto the roster and I started playing. Then, I got a letter of intent to go play at the University of Texas at Arlington. Literally three months after that, I got recruited for Team USA.

How do you compare the change in perceptions towards LGBTQ athletes and Paralympic athletes over the last few years?

Over the last few years, especially in Rio, it seems like everyone is just coming together, regardless of Olympian, Paralympian, LGBTQ or not LGBTQ. Everybody is just an athlete. As part of the LGBTQ athlete community, I think we all just want to be athletes. We strive for the equality and the equity of just being an athlete. Being part of the LGBTQ community makes it a little bit more special.

So there has been some progression, but what do you think needs to happen or continue to happen in the near future?

I think it is important that we are treated just like our counterparts. As a Paralympian, all we want is to be treated and paid like our Olympian counterparts. Just like how LGBTQ athletes want to be treated the same as straight athletes. We play the same sports at the same competitive level and train the exact same way at the exact same facilities. We all do the same things. So I think equal treatment and equal pay should be at the forefront.

With COVID, how has training been? How is basketball now? 

For me, personally, my health has done a total 180 during the pandemic. I’m now walking and doing a lot of things that I never thought I could do. I actually retired from Team USA last month. A lot of it was due to the pandemic and positive health reasons, but it was definitely a hard decision. I know that, for the team, they cannot go back to the Olympic training center for a few months at least.

Are you continuing to play basketball even though you retired from Team USA?

Yeah, that is one of the things I’m looking at for this upcoming season. I’m thinking about moving to North or South Carolina right now. It’s all still up in the air, but I have built my own home gym. So, I’m still training like I’m playing.

Lexie Brown is a guard for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. Brown played college basketball at Duke University before being drafted by the Connecticut Sun in 2018 and traded to the Lynx in 2019. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about her experience in the WNBA bubble so far and how she sees her team advancing throughout the rest of the season. 

What are your thoughts on the WNBA’s social justice efforts and the importance of dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor?

It’s amazing. What has been going on in our country recently has really been going on forever. In these past few months, it was thrust into the spotlight because everyone was at home with the virus. I think it was a good opportunity for us to use our platforms to speak up and speak out. We’re not new to doing that. Female athletes in general, but specifically the WNBA, have always been at the forefront of social justice issues.

On top of that, we have all of these televised games which we didn’t know were going to happen. We came into this bubble just thinking that we were all going to be together and that our voices would be stronger as one — we all wanted to share one united message. The fact that we’re all over TV and social media has been amazing for us in trying to share our message.

They just added around 13 more games to the TV schedule, which is huge. It not only expands the platform, but it also shows that people want to watch you all play.

Exactly. And it’s been so nice to see the support. There is some negativity, of course. But seeing how many people are happy to have access to our games is great. Whether it’s my team or any other team, it’s awesome to see people asking where they can buy jerseys or those orange hoodies that are everywhere. It’s nice to see that people do care about our league because, usually, we see all of the negativity and we just have to ignore it and push through. So, it’s been really nice to get some visibility this year.

How do you think the league has handled all of the different logistics, both leading up to life in the bubble and now with games happening? 

I think they’ve done a great job. During the first day or two, when we were in our little quarantine, people were just getting used to the whole situation. And there were some things that went wrong, but anything that went wrong was fixed so fast, without any hassle. The staff members are all incredible. Everyone is so nice. Everyone is listening to directions. I think the WNBA did a really good job for as little time as they had to put this together. Obviously, you don’t want to be in a bubble, but for someone that’s living in a bubble, I’m very happy here.

Do you think it’s hard to stay motivated during the season while living in such a different environment?

For me, personally, I’m super self-motivated. And I’m not really a person who is out and about all the time. If I’m at home, I’m usually at home with my family and we’re just hanging out. So for me, this type of environment is very similar to one, overseas and two, how I am at home. I miss my friends and family, of course. And I miss our fans. I think that the hardest part for me is not playing in front of fans. But I’m in a situation where all I have to worry about is playing basketball and staying in shape, and that’s an ideal situation for me.

Do you think that there is a bigger focus on recovery since there is less traveling for games? 

Absolutely. One of my teammates actually went down with an injury last night, so now we’re down a player. Things change fast and we just have to take care of your bodies. The best thing for us is that we aren’t traveling, we aren’t sitting in airports all day or all night, we aren’t getting up at 6:00 AM to catch a flight. It’s leveled the playing field. At the end of the season, we’re going to see who took care of their bodies the best and also who did the most work leading up to the season. I made it a goal of mine to come into training camp as one of the most in shape players on my team, and I definitely did that. I love working out and the fact that this is my job is so amazing to me because I get to mess around with all different types of workouts and positively influence my job.

How has it been playing without fans?

It’s been so weird. In our first game, we were down and then we came back, but it just didn’t feel like we were making a comeback. It was so quiet. Everyone is going to have to adjust. Some players who aren’t used to talking and cheering on the bench are going to have to step up. Our coach asked us, “Why are we starting so slow?” And I said, “It’s just the environment.” We have to create our own energy. Some teams are better at that than others. For me, I love our fans, so while it hasn’t necessarily been hard, it’s been sad to not see those familiar faces in the stand.

You won your first game and lost your second. What are your thoughts on how the team has played?

Our energy has been a little up and down. We have so many new faces and a lot of younger players. We’re all adjusting and learning about each other. Our coach is used to having a veteran team, so I think she’s learning as she goes as well. It’s all going to be a process for us, but we all love each other. We have great chemistry off the court. Once we put it all together on the court, find our spots and get a rhythm, we’re going to be fine.

What are your expectations for the remainder of the season?

I just think that we have to play a little bit harder. Obviously we want to make it to the playoffs and potentially win a championship, but we want to be in the top percentages of different categories, too. Points, defense, steals, assists. There are so many things that we want to be great at, and we’re just kind of average at everything right now. Moving forward, we all have to hold each other accountable. Everyone just needs to find their groove and we’ll get there. The whole season is just so strange, the environment is strange, game days are strange. We just need to get used to it. After a few more games, we’ll get there.

Throughout your time in the Wubble, you have been documenting your experience via vlogs that you post on your YouTube channel. How did that come about?

I’ve been vlogging on YouTube for three years. I started vlogging at the end of my senior year at Duke. Actually, I started vlogging when my teammate and I went to this three-point contest at the Men’s Final Four, and our basketball program asked us to vlog it. We vlogged during Draft Day too, and I thought it was awesome. So, I just kept documenting things — I really enjoy filming and editing it all.

I started vlogging in the bubble because, one, so many people were against sports coming back and I wanted to show everyone that it was possible to bring sports back safely. And, two, because I wanted to keep the focus on social justice and social reform. I think it has also been a good way to lighten the mood and show everybody’s personalities. Everyone is still getting to know each other, so when I bring a camera out and start acting goofy it helps everyone to loosen up a bit. I’ve made three so far and I just finished editing another one. There are a lot of players making them, too. So, I think it’s amazing to see everybody’s different experiences on different teams and in different parts of campus.

Shea Groom is a forward for the Houston Dash of the NWSL. She spoke with Just Women’s Sports about the team’s semifinal victory over the Portland Thorns, and what they’ll need to do against Chicago in order to take home the Challenge Cup trophy this Sunday. 

The team came up huge against Portland. Can you walk me through your thoughts on the game? 

Portland’s an incredible team and they have shown that throughout their history in the league. Anytime you go against them, you’re going to expect good soccer and that you have to bring your best game. Walking into the game, we knew we had to be prepared, and that’s something that we’ve taken pride and responsibility in throughout this tournament. We were not doubting each other in our locker room at all. I felt like we came into that game fully believing that we were going to win it, and I don’t think we ever stopped believing. And then once we were able to get the goal, we just said, anything to win, defend for your life, and let’s get to the finals because that’s why we’re here. It was a fun win. And I’m really glad that I could do it alongside these players and for this club and organization

You won in the quarterfinals on PKs after a scoreless draw. For a while, it looked like the semis might also go to penalties. What did it mean to finally get that goal in regular time? 

I think we’ve had a weird tournament to begin with. I don’t think if you would have told anyone that we were going to come out and score three goals in the first game that they would have believed you. James [Clarkson, head coach] has given some crazy stats to us, like last year the team had zero or maybe a couple two goal games, but never a three-goal game. They didn’t score off the set piece once last year. So we are definitely a different team and a different look, and obviously it came with a little bit of pressure once we got later into the third and fourth game. But going into penalties, I think you never want to really leave it to that and get in that situation. Against Portland, I felt like we were on the front foot and we had enough chances in that game to have earned at least one goal. We were ready to push until the end to get a goal, and we kept our foot on the gas pedal.

We spoke with Rachel Daly earlier in the tournament and she defined the team’s mentality as “do or die.” What are your thoughts about that and your perspective on the team’s mentality up to this point?

For sure. It’s been fun to be a part of a side that has a clear identity and not something that was forced upon us. I think it happened organically. And someone said to me, I think it might’ve been Katie Naughton, she called us “the band of misfits,” just because I feel that a lot of us come from similar journeys or backgrounds, being tossed around teams or been on teams that weren’t necessarily competitive in the past or that found success. And we all came here and it kind of works. I think we have that “taking it personal” mentality. It reminds me a lot of what Michael Jordan said in The Last Dance. He always took things personally, even when people didn’t mean it that way.

And I know a lot of media and articles have come out saying we’ve finally earned our respect, and it’s funny because I think that no one’s thought that for a second. Even making it to the finals and rewriting a lot of the stigma that’s around the Dash, we still feel like there’s so much to do and that there’s always going to be people that think we just got here by happenstance. And it’s definitely been fun to be a part of that identity and to enter into every game like we have something big to prove. And I think for me personally, I relate to that so much, and feeling like I have a big chip on my shoulder, and wanting that respect, but also not needing it in the same breath. And I think James has done an incredible job creating that culture and bringing players in that fit, not just on the soccer field but off the field as well. It’s definitely been fun, and definitely I think something that will continue to be a part of this culture long past the Challenge Cup.

What does your preparation look like ahead of Sunday’s final? 

We’ve played a lot of games, so recovery is absolutely the most important thing. If we can get as many players as possible to go into the final game feeling good and healthy and well-rested, then I think we’ll have the best chance. There’ll be a lot of that, and then a lot of preparation. And while we’ll be preparing for Chicago and the weapons that they have, I think it’s also fine just tuning up what we have going on and making sure that it’s all ready to go and that we’re able to bring our best on Sunday. Hopefully we’re bringing home a championship.

Has there been any talk about a specific focus or game plan for Red Stars? 

Not yet but there will be. I definitely think that we really look into how other teams play and where we can exploit other teams with what we have. Obviously they’re an incredibly talented team and have a lot of players either with the national team or on the cusp of the national team, but I think we’ll match up well. And it’s been interesting being on the other side of it. Just the past couple of days, some of the girls have thought, “Oh, Portland and Chicago, we haven’t done well against these teams in the past.” And I’m over here like, “I’ve only been on teams that beat Portland or Chicago so why are you guys scared?” So it’s been fun to sort of mess with players like that and just saying this is a new team, and there’s nothing to be afraid of, and we have a good side. And I think as long as we believe that and we come out and compete, then we can take any team in this league.

What do you think it would mean for the team to win the Challenge Cup?

It would mean everything. People don’t even know the half of it. This team has been through everything. And I think a lot of people from the outside think, “Oh the bubble’s hard,” and everything. But we’ve had players lose their dad right before the tournament started. We had a player lose their grandfather a couple of days ago. Obviously some internal things going on with the team as well. And it seems like every other day we’re battling something hard off the field, and then we have to go play 90 minutes. And then watching our city suffer and be in the middle of some of the worst parts of this pandemic, it’s been really hard and dark sometimes, and we feel like we’ve been able to bring a little bit of light and a little bit of hope, and a little bit of healing through what we do, and hopefully that includes bringing a championship home. I think it would be incredible for our club and our city, and incredible for the players and all that we’ve dealt with. I want it so bad just for them.

Gina Lewandowski plays for Sky Blue FC. She spoke with Just Women’s Sports ahead of Sky Blue’s semifinal clash with Chicago tonight about what the club needs to do to continue its run through to the NWSL Challenge Cup finals. 

You guys upset Washington in the quarterfinals in penalties. What was your mindset heading into the shootout?

PKs can always be a nerve-wracking experience for any team, and they’re not necessarily the way you want to end the game. But I think we’ve been able to fortunately practice them throughout the weeks leading up to the tournament, as well as every day during the tournament. We’ve been getting some reps in to get that consistency in each person’s shot. We have a great goalkeeper too who has done very well in that aspect, so I think we were confident at that point in the game.

Prior to PKs, it seemed like it was a pretty high energy game. There were a lot of shots, a couple of misses. What were your thoughts about the level of play?

We were able to control parts of the game, play our tempo, play our style. I think Washington, they also had their moments in the game where they were dangerous in front of the goal. But each team was having difficulty finding the back of the net, and I guess the longer the game went on, the thought crosses your mind in the back of the mind that, “Okay, well, if the teams aren’t going to score, we’ll go into penalty kicks.” But we kept pushing until the end. Even in stoppage time, we were pushing and trying to get a couple of corner kicks, a couple shots.

Is fatigue a factor? 

For sure. With any tournament situation, and especially this type of tournament, with the schedule, plus the heat and the altitude, there will be a lot of fatigue. But you have to go with the cards you’ve been given. We’ve just tried our best to adjust as quickly as possible. And luckily, our organization, our staff, our coaches, and our trainers have all done a great job helping us adjust as quickly as possible. I think playing so many games back-to-back, no matter if you play one, two, three, four games, there’s fatigue there. It’s just a matter of how can you rest, recover and put in your best performance during the next game.

It’s hard for people to judge on TV, but how hot has it been in Utah? 

I feel like it’s getting hotter by the day. The 10:30am game is definitely a much different feeling than it is in the evening. The heat is scorching pretty much in the morning right at ten on the turf, and the heat has gotten a little worse over the last few days. So yeah, I guess we’re glad to be playing in the evening semifinal, just from a temperature standpoint. But both teams are in the same boat, so it’s all about how you’re performing that day. How do you take on the challenge that’s presented to you?

What is the team’s focus heading into the semis?

We have been resting, recovering, fueling our bodies to prepare for the game. I think doing everything we can off the field to put our bodies, our minds, in 100% shape. As we get closer to the start, we’ll talk more about what we’re doing on the field as a team. But a lot of it is just getting our bodies to recover as quickly as possible, and then fuel them up heading into the game.

Does the team have a game plan for Chicago and their playing style?

We do have our team meetings and we do look at the other team’s strengths, and we always try to prepare for that. I think each team respects the other team and the opponent that they’re going to face. But I think ideally it comes down to us and who we are and staying true to our own style of play, and just playing our game and having confidence in that.

What do you think it would mean for your team to make it into the finals, and then one step past that, win the whole Challenge Cup?

Right now we’re taking one game at a time, and we’re trying to appreciate every day we get to stay here and step on the field, and just showcase who Sky Blue is. I think Sky Blue hasn’t had the best reputation in the past, but we’re a new team and new players and a new organization, in a sense, and we really want to do the best we can to showcase who we are. It would mean a lot for us to get to the next level and make it further than we have in a long time.

Danny Colaprico is a midfielder for the Chicago Red Stars. She spoke to Just Women’s Sports ahead of the Red Stars semifinal clash with Sky Blue FC tonight about what the team needs to do to make it to the Challenge Cup finals. 

You guys upset OL Reign in the quarterfinals on penalties. How confident were you heading into PKs?

We were super confident. We worked on them the day before the game, and everyone nailed their PK. I feel like the players that stepped up, those are the ones that felt pretty confident about taking a penalty in the moment. And right before we went out our coach Rory just looked at us and was like, “Well, you guys, you have the best keeper in the world. All you have to do is put your shots away and we’ll win this.” And that gave us all more confidence, knowing that we have Alyssa in the goal. We all looked at each other and we’re like, “Oh yeah, we got this.”

Before going into PKs, there were a couple early shots on both sides. What were your thoughts about the energy and level of play throughout the match?

Going into the game, we knew that OL Reign would be a tough team to play. And I feel like as the game wore, everyone was getting really tired. It didn’t really sink in that we would go into penalty kicks until the very end of the game. Not once earlier during the game was I like, “Oh, this is definitely going to penalty kicks.” I felt pretty confident about where our team was at and I thought we were moving the ball really well. We created opportunities. It was just a matter of putting one in the back of the net. But then as the game wore on and it got into the 80th minute, I was, “Okay, this could probably go to PKs.” But again, I was still confident we would end up on top.

What’s nuts is that almost every other game went into penalty kicks as well.

Yeah, I know. We thought about that after. We were like, “Wow! Three of the quarter finals went into penalty kicks.” That can be exciting, but at the same time, each game was really unique.

You hinted at this, but do you think that fatigue has been and is going to continue to be a factor throughout the rest of the tournament? 

Yeah. With how this tournament is set up, I feel like fatigue has been a factor throughout. I mean, we had a short preparation. Sometimes there’s three games in a week. And we had a quick turnaround between the quarterfinal and now the semifinal. Fatigue is going to be a factor.

But with that being said, I feel like both sides are going to be fatigued. So the game will be determined on what team can last the longest on the field. And I feel like that’s kind of where the grittiness and the heart and the drive behind your team really comes into play in the games.

How has the team been preparing for Sky Blue FC?

It’s been a quick turnaround, so we don’t have that much time to prepare, but I feel like our main focus is going over some different ways we can put the ball back in the back of the net. I feel like we’ve harped on that a lot since we’ve been here. With such a short pre-season, we didn’t really get a chance to emphasize or put work into our frontline and our front players. So it’s been hard for us to find the back of the net, but we’ve been watching a lot of film, going over the different movements of each player, and I feel like we feel pretty confident that as soon as we score one goal, the goals are going to just keep coming.

Outside of putting the ball in the back of the net, what would you say is the team’s biggest focus mentally heading into the game? 

I’d say the biggest thing that we want to focus on as a team is moving the ball and playing pretty soccer. But at the same time, in this league, a lot of games are won just by battling and grinding out the game. It’s grittiness and fight and all those other intangible things. So a big emphasis on this game for us is combining those two and bringing them together, finding the right times to play soccer, but also at the same time, realizing that to win a game, you don’t always have to play pretty. I hate to say that, but sometimes it really is just grinding up games and finding ways to score. We have to bring that energy against Sky Blue.

Stephanie Cox is a defender for OL Reign of the NWSL. As a member of the USWNT, Cox won gold at the 2008 Olympics. Following the 2015 season, she retired from the NWSL. Then, as an assistant coach for the Reign last season, she decided to lace up the cleats once more. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about her dual journey as a player and a coach, and what it’s been like to lead the Reign as they compete in the Challenge Cup bubble. 

How has life in the NWSL bubble been? What has surprised you about the whole bubble experiment? 

With OL Reign, we kind of had a unique experience. We were the only team in the tournament that had to go out of market for our preseason. Everyone was able to train at home, but because of Washington’s restrictions, we weren’t able to have full team training. So we ended up going to Montana. We’ve actually been on the road for six weeks now and have basically been in the bubble since the beginning. In Montana, things were looser. You were able to go out to eat and go to the grocery store. But I think that being in a hotel together in Montana and being away from kind of your own network, it kind of prepared us for this bubble experience. Everything you have to order in, everything has to get delivered. After the game the other day, in the middle of the day, I would have loved to stop and get ice cream with my daughters on the way back. So just not having that freedom has been just different. It’s not challenging, it has just been different.

How many daughters do you have and how has it been having them with you during this experience?

I have two daughters. Kaylee is seven and Grace is four. Fortunately, we’re at the Embassy Suites and our setup is great. We have several big meeting rooms that my girls can kind of go run around in, for better or worse. We brought scooters and bikes and all sorts of stuff. So we go out into the empty parking lot and go ride around, and they come to practice and games. They’re able to get outside and get some energy.

So we’re doing pretty good. We’re staying in a hotel that’s also open to the public, and we have the top two floors. One of the highlights definitely has been the hotel pool. They’re swimming all the time, but they know if someone else is in the pool area, that means that either we’re not going in, or yesterday when someone came in, we just stayed in the hot tub and then we kind of quickly left. It’s sad to me. I don’t want them to be scared of other people, but they’ve been trained to think like, “Oh no. Why are there other people?”

How has everyone been following the rules?

I think our team has been great. Really respectful of each other, not only our club, but just also of all the other teams. I think while we were in Montana, we got the news about Orlando having players test positive and them not being in the tournament. And that was really an eye opener for us. Like, okay, everyone needs to follow the rules.

The gameplay has been exceptional so far despite limited training. What do you think accounts for that?

I think that there’s just an energy and just an excitement and a gratitude to be on the field again. We’ve had a few months off going into this. A lot of players don’t have that kind of break usually. They go from our season to Australia and they come back again, or they’re in with the US team.

And I know when I decided to come back and play last year, I remember that first game and even just practice, I just had a big grin on my face because I loved getting to play again. And I think that you can see that joy for the game on the players’ faces in these games. And I really think that that contributes to the high level that you’re seeing across the board.

What has it been like playing without fans?

I was on the massage table yesterday for a quick flush after a game, and our massage therapist, awesome, Britney, she’s from Montana, and she just had so much energy. And we were talking about the game and I said, I felt like there were fans in that game. And she agreed. Just the intensity of it, the energy from our bench, the energy on the field. We went out there, we knew we had to win, we knew we had to put something out there on the field. And so I think sometimes when you get in the game, you’re just so intent on winning that header or winning that tackle or connecting a pass that it feels like there’s fans because you’re so dialed in. And lucky for me, at halftime, I get to look up in the stands and see my daughters and my friend, my nanny, Madison, and see my older daughter dancing to the music. It’s easy to spot them with their signs. For me, the most important fans are in the stands.

 Almost 600,000 viewers watched the opening game on CBS. What are your thoughts about what that means for the future of the league?

This is an opportunity for us to solidify the league. I played in a previous league in the WPS that folded, and so it’s so exciting to see the NWSL last so many seasons. As players, we want to continue to raise the standards higher and higher. I think that the exposure that we’re getting, the timing that we have now, when there aren’t any other women’s sports going on right now, is crucial. People are looking for something to watch. And yeah, it was a little scary being the first league to start playing, like, okay, what are we doing? But I think this bubble, you’re only having to monitor eight teams. I feel safe. We’re getting tested before every game. And I mean, my girls have gotten tested six times, so they’re making sure that just the environment is safe and all the protocols are being met. So I think that, yeah, this tournament is massive for this league and with sponsors, with viewers. And even though I don’t think our season will continue past the tournament, I think the success of the Challenge Cup is something super positive that we can take out of this crazy year of 2020.

 OL Reign has a defense first mentality. Is that the game plan for the rest of the tournament?

I think you want to get your defense right first. You don’t want to give up easy goals. And so that’s definitely been an emphasis. And I think to contrast that, I think the defense is kind of the easiest part. Offense and scoring goals is really the harder part. And I will give credit to our attackers as a defender. You have to be so precise and really make the most of your moments. I think our coaching staff and Farid [Benstiti, head coach] have been happy with the amount of chances that we’ve had attacking. We just haven’t finished those chances consistently. So during practice we’re just chipping away at these different patterns and opportunities so that we can capitalize on them in the future.

I wanted to ask you specifically about your story, which is super unique. After playing professionally for a few years, you semi-retired and during that time, you coached for a bit with the OL Reign. Now you are obviously back playing again. Can you just walk us through how this all unfolded? 

So I turned pro in 2008 and was with the Olympic team that year. The US team won the gold medal in Beijing. That was right after I graduated. I played professionally in the WPS for LA, and then two years in Boston. And then the league folded. And in 2012, I was with the US team, but I got cut from the London Olympic team. I ended up getting pregnant with my daughter, Kaylee. And then the following season is when the NWSL started.

I remember going to one of the games when she was a month old. During that time that I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to come back. So I talked to the coaches and worked really hard to come back. I was back with the team training about three months postpartum and then ended up playing in about five games at the end of the season. It was crazy to go out to train or have a game and then nurse her at halftime or something. It was just bizarre, a whole different world, which seems so far away now that she’s seven.

I ended up making the US team that fall. I got a contract again and then played the following season, and had a good 2014 with the Reign. But then I was cut from the US team, and without the national team in the picture I just decided that I was heading toward the end of my career. My husband encouraged me to play one more season with the Reign. So I played the 2015 season, but wanted to have another baby. I ended up getting pregnant, and in our championship game, I was 11 weeks pregnant with Grace.

I got to start and play the game and felt great and then had another healthy baby in April. I started assisting the Reign staff. I also started coaching my local high school team, Gig Harbor. With the Reign, I was just coaching part-time because the drive was more than an hour from my house. After one year, I was just coaching the high school team because of the commute. But then when Reign moved to Tacoma, which is just 15 minutes from my house, Bill, our owner, called me and said, “I know the drive was an issue. Would you be interested in coming back again?”

I was like, oh my goodness, heck yeah. I was so nervous when I initially turned down coaching full time with the Reign. I was like, am I burning a bridge here? Who turns down a professional job to coach a high school team? But really, coaching the high school team was huge for me and it just gave me more confidence to assert myself with the Reign.

Throughout this whole journey, I’ve just been so blessed to work for an organization that trusts me and that meets me where I’m at. I remember when I said, well, I actually want to come back and play. This was midway through last season, and I was coaching at the time. Our owner, Bill, was like, “Okay, you can play for as little or as long as you want. And then you can go back to coaching for as far as I’m concerned.” Who gives you the freedom just to do what you want to do?

Last season, I was having so much fun on the coaching staff. But when I realized I wanted to play again, I think I was a bit scared. I wanted to get back out there but I wasn’t sure if I could do it.  I read this book by Brené Brown, and it was like, “Don’t let fear hold you back.” And I’m like, why am I going to let the fear of failure stop me from trying to play? So I got out there and with the team and I just had a ball. And now, here I am, after three and a half years off. And I know this is where I want to be.

There are no expectations. There’s no pressure to make the national team. I’m playing because I love to play. I’m playing because I want to bring out the best of my teammates. I’m playing because I want to make this environment the best that it can possibly be. I want to make it excellent. I get to think about it in different ways, from a coach’s perspective, from an old player’s perspective, and from a mother’s perspective. It’s just so cool to have that experience and to get to bridge that gap a little between the coaches and the players, and to do that respectfully. And I think that maturity and time has taught me how to do that better and better. I’m just loving the role that I have with this group.

Jasmyne Spencer is a forward for OL Reign of the NWSL. Spencer previously played for the Orlando Pride, Western New York Flash, and the Washington Spirit as well as in Australia’s W-League and in the Cyprus and Danish professional leagues. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about her time in the NWSL bubble and how OL Reign is gelling under new coach Farid Benstiti.

How has life in the NWSL bubble been? What has surprised you about the whole bubble experiment? 

The most surprising thing is how smoothly it’s all been running. And I know that has a lot to do with the league and how well Utah has done as a host. But also our staff has been incredible, particularly our Assistant GM. We’ve been calling her our ‘Tournament MVP’ because she is just crushing it — making sure we have all of the resources possible, anything we need to make this our home away from home. I think we were all hesitant about what life in the bubble was going to look like. We’ve been doing this for two months now, because we were in a bubble in Montana and then relocated. But her and our staff have been so good about making it all as smooth as possible.

Has everyone been following the rules? How has it been with the protocols?

Everyone has been good. When the pandemic first broke out, everyone was concerned so we had pretty strict protocols in the state of Washington. By the time we got into this specific bubble, we had already become accustomed to following the protocols back in our home city. I think it gets a little tricky now because we are obviously in a hotel, and there are regular guests coming in and out. So we have to be conscious of limiting our interactions with them — sometimes we have to jump off elevators because we’re not allowed to ride with them. And then the tournament testing protocol is very, very thorough. I think that has helped ease any extra anxiety that players have because we get tested so frequently.

What about leaving the facilities? 

We’re not allowed to leave our hotel. We’re allowed to walk in the general vicinity if we wear a mask and social distance. But beyond that, we’re not allowed to go anywhere. We’re transported to and from the hotel for lunches and training and anything else that would take place outside of the hotel. We have to be driven in our team-issued vans by our admin. It’s pretty strict. But once the games start, we are so tired and focused on taking care of our bodies that honestly there’s no real downtime when you would want to do much more than just recover and get ready for the next game.

The gameplay has been exceptional so far. A lot of people have been surprised to see just how cohesive teams look with so little preparation. What do you think accounts for that?

This league has always been very competitive, so it’s been fun to get back into it. I do think it’s been a crazier version as far as how competitive everyone’s been. It’s a testament to how dedicated and professional everyone has been in being able to stay fit and focused, training most of the time on their own for those past couple of months. It’s a testament to all of the players and the coaches for doing their homework off the field and making the right tactical decisions.

For us, we have a new coach, a lot of new players, and a lot of players returning from injuries last season. We are for sure still working the kinks out, but the beauty of this tournament is that we all get to go to the quarter finals. So we get these four group stage games to work out the kinks and grow into the tournament. It’s pretty cool.

How has it been playing without fans?

It’s been strange, but also women’s soccer is definitely still in the growing phase. I think all of us can remember a time where you were playing in professional or semi pro games with little to no fans in the stands. We for sure miss them and wish they could be here with us. But at the same time, it’s familiar territory. We’re just trying to put on the best show we can and hope that people are tuning in from home.

Well, they definitely are. I think there were almost 600,000 viewers on CBS for the opening matchups. What do you think it means for the future of the league that people are tuning in to watch?

It’s incredible. I think we really took advantage of being one of the first sports back in this country. The sport has been growing on a national level and on the world stage, and a lot of people have become interested in women’s soccer. The tournament is just another step in showcasing our talents to the world. It’s going to be huge for women’s soccer going forward.

You mentioned playing with a new coach this season and new teammates. How has that been so far, and what are your expectations for the rest of the tournament?

It’s been great. Farid [Benstiti] has done a really good job of trying to build a family-oriented environment, especially in this crazy situation that we’ve all been thrust into. With everything going on outside of soccer, we’ve really been able to come together and be a strong united front. And I think it’s going to help us go far in the tournament. We obviously want to win, but this game is crazy and this league is crazy, so we focus on one game at a time. We’ve always prided ourselves on being a stingy defense and that old saying, “Defense wins championships,” is so real. The goals will come. They always come at some point, especially when you need them the most. If we can really just be stingy in our defense and limit the amount of opportunities that other teams can create, then we know that we’ll give ourselves the best chance of winning in the end.

Is there anything else that you’d like to add? 

The only thing I would add is that it’s been really great to be able to use my platform. This moment in time has given us all, but me especially, a greater reach with the Black Lives Matter movement since there are not too many sports being showcased right now. It’s nice to have you guys giving us another opportunity to use our platforms and share really great messages with the world, so thank you.

On that note, why do you think it’s so important for athletes, specifically, to speak up about social justice issues, especially Black Lives Matter?

As athletes, we have the unique opportunity for our voices to be heard more frequently than say someone who isn’t in the limelight. As female professional athletes, we don’t often have as big of a platform as our male counterparts. But right now, we are one of the only sports that people are going to watch, so it’s given us a chance to elevate and use our voices.

Kim Hildreth and Sarah Schermerhorn are a professional beach volleyball pair who will be competing in the upcoming AVP Champions Cup Series. Below, they spoke to Just Women’s Sports about the Champions Cup and how they feel about competing amidst the ongoing pandemic. 

The AVP tour is hosting a 3-week tournament to replace the 2020 season which had cancellations and postponements due to COVID. What are your expectations heading into the tournament? 

Sarah: First and foremost, we’re really excited that they were able to put something together this season. Typically, the first event is in May and everybody starts with preseason training in January. It was weird to have it keep getting pushed back and pushed back, not knowing when the first start date would be. When they announced the tournament, we didn’t know how small the event was going to be, so that was a surprise. They’ve limited it to 18 teams total in the mini series. Whereas, in a normal tournament, 12 to 16 teams get in, but there are 40 or 50 teams in the qualifiers. Kim and I feel very fortunate that we had a good season last year and that we’ve put ourselves in a position to compete. We’re the fourth seed in the qualifier. So, we are grateful to be included and excited to take advantage of the opportunity that AVP was able to put together for us in 2020.

You two won your first FIVB medal earlier this year. How do you two plan to ride this momentum during the AVP tournament? And do you two feel pressure to perform given the limited opportunities to play this season?

Kim: We had a little bit of a different path than a lot of other teams. In Florida, we were able to train almost the entire time that everything was shut down because there are private courts. And we live here together, and our coaches do too. So we were pretty fortunate. We’re feeling competent in our team. We know we are a much better team than we were last year, and getting that metal under our belt early in the season feels like another confidence boost for us.

The way this series is set up, it’s so different from the regular AVP tournaments because they are paying all of the athletes who are involved. It’s like we have a guaranteed salary. So I actually feel like there’s less pressure in this tournament because we weren’t even sure that there was going to be a tour at all. We’re going into this tournament feeling just thankful to play. Fortunately, we will get to keep our points for next season and we will be in a good position then as well. So this is just a bonus godsend from AVP.

How do you think it will be playing without fans? 

Sarah: We play a lot of tournaments here in Florida where there’s a beach vibe and a lot of people playing, but not necessarily a lot of fans standing around your specific court. Obviously, it’s fun and engaging, and helps pump your adrenaline up when you have fans all around. I think Kim and I have experience playing in both environments. Ideally, it’s awesome to have fans to ramp up the event, but I know a lot of people are going to be watching from home. For me, it’s just as exciting to be able to give fans something to watch and something to be excited about, even if we don’t get to witness it firsthand.

Do you know your schedule and matchups yet? 

Kim: In theory, yes. The seeding has been released, but the AVP is requiring everyone involved with the event to be tested for COVID every single week. We just took our tests, so everyone is waiting to hear their results back. The seeding could change if someone tests positive for COVID and is unable to play in the event. Obviously, we hope for ourselves and for our competitors that that doesn’t happen because that’s not how you want to compete.

What other types of protocols are they putting in place to keep everyone safe during the tournament?

Kim: They are definitely taking it very seriously. I know that the city gave them guidelines to run the event. They are giving us information as we go on how to keep the event safe. There are going to be a lot of specific safety guidelines.

Sarah: One of the biggest issues was keeping the numbers small for this tournament, too. So, I think step one was minimizing the tournament size and then, like Kim said, there are going to be a lot of strict guidelines to keep players and staff safe.

Do you have any concerns about playing during COVID?

Kim: Everything these days is a little bit concerning health wise. But, I’ve been taking it pretty seriously here in Florida, and Florida has had an extremely high case number recently. Our plan is to travel out there as safely as we can, taking all of the precautions. And then, we are going to pick and choose what events we want to play to make sure that we’re able to compete in the AVP tournament. We feel confident that the AVP is taking it seriously and is going to do everything they can to keep us safe. It’s comforting to know that every single person that’s going to be at the event has tested negative.

Rachel Daly plays for both the Houston Dash of the NWSL and the English national team. She spoke with Just Women’s Sports about the ongoing NWSL Challenge Cup, what gives the Dash their mental edge, and what she expects from the club the rest of the way. 

Overall, how has your experience been living in a bubble and playing games under these conditions? 

We haven’t left our hotel other than to go to training, which is hard, but I think we’ve managed it quite well. We play ping pong tournaments. I’ve learned how to juggle. We play Mario Kart. Just things you wouldn’t do a whole lot of if you were at home. I think it’s a good time obviously for the team to get to know each other on a deeper level as well. It’s quite a unique experience.

As far as the games, we started off really well. We were disappointed obviously to tie the first game. I think we dominated that whole game, it just didn’t go our way at the end. The OL Reign game was good for us and was a massive confidence boost for the team. I think we needed that. I think we actually played really well. It was good for our team to get a good win and the media started to recognize us for who we are versus our old Dash ways. I think that was positive. Then, we took a bit of a hit and lost to Sky Blue, but some players were rotated. I think it’s obviously hard in tournaments to manage everyone’s game loads and things like that. It was a really disappointing result for us, but we still have a lot to look forward to.

What’s surprised you about the quality of play so far? 

I think what’s been exciting about us is obviously the amount of goals we scored. Five in the first two games is quite a big deal for us. We’ve never scored that many goals in the past in two games, but we’ve been pushing this past month or so in preseason on getting people in the box and creating scoring chances.

I think soccer games are quite tight all over, really. When you watch MLS now, their games are nil-nil, one-nil. Even the Premier League in the first week, I think there were about eight nil-nil games. I think it’s just getting that fatigue out of your body when you’re in quarantine and you can’t really train. You come into preseason, you’re only playing against each other. The shock of playing against another team and trying to get up to speed with the level of play again has been tough.

How has it been playing without fans?

You know what? I honestly don’t even notice it to be honest. At first I felt it was going to be a bit weird, having no sound, whatever. I think once you get out there, I think the only thing you’re thinking about is football.

You’re coming off a good year last year and a successful semi final World Cup run with England. Now you’re a co captain of the Dash. What does all that mean to you and how have you built off that momentum during the tournament?

It’s obviously been a long year of not playing since the off season last year. For me, this was just about trying to get through this tournament and get a positive result. Getting to the semifinal, getting to the final, that’s obviously something we’re pushing for. I think if I can help the team in any way I can, obviously for me that’s important. Dash has been a big part of my life for the past five years. The club means a lot to me, so I think every time I step out on that field, I think it’s more of a proud moment too versus just playing football, going out, and enjoying yourself. I’m actually playing to represent a club that I have loved for the past five years.

You’ve talked about this “do or die” Dash mentality elsewhere and how the team is often seen as an underdog. Can you speak to that idea?

Yes, I think we always have been an underdog, but we’ve brought that on ourselves. We’ve never performed to the level we should have. We’ve always come in the league and been sixth, seventh, eighth. We’ve never ever made the playoffs. That’s through our own fault. I think for us this year it was all about earning respect and gaining respect from the opposition, from the media, from the fans, and I think that attention came to us a little bit after the Reign game, which was nice.

For us, it is a do or die attitude. We had a lack of structure these past few years, but now we’ve actually got a really good quality team. We’ve got players that are new this year, players that have come back from last year, and the previous years. Different people, different personalities, different ability levels. I think that’s something that we capitalize on. There’s also the fact that you don’t have a US national team player on our team. That boosts our team a little bit more to push on, do well, and perform without that. I think we’re the only team in the league that doesn’t have one. That’s a big thing for us. We just want to go out in this tournament and show people what we can do and what we are capable of.

What are your expectations for the remainder of the tournament?

We want to win. We go out every game, we want to win every game. Obviously, it’s a bit of a weird one because everyone makes the knockout round, so people can rest and whatever, but I think we’ve gone in with the attitude every game to win. That’s not changed and that’s not going to change. Hopefully, we get a good draw in the quarters and push on. Our ultimate goal is to be in the final.

Kelsey Stewart has been a member of Team USA softball since 2014. A University of Florida graduate, she led the Gators to two National Championships. Recently, Stewart was among the 18 softball players who quit Scrap Yard Fast Pitch in response to a controversial tweet from the team’s GM. The players went on to form This is Us Softball. Below, Stewart discusses the events of the last few weeks and what softball can do to become more inclusive. 

(Editor’s note: this conversation took place shortly before This is Us Softball announced they would be cancelling the remainder of their season due to coronavirus.)

What was your reaction when you first read the tweet from Connie May, the Scrap Yard GM? How did the events unfold? 

I had actually left that morning, before the game, because I had to go take care of some personal stuff. One of my friends sent me the tweet and she was like, “Is this serious?” When I went on Twitter and saw the tweet firsthand, it was actually unbelievable. I screenshotted it and sent it to the girls. Then, I sat there and I thought about it. Should I make a statement? Should I not?

I realized I’ve been quiet for so long. I had been having conversations with other Black softball players over the past few weeks, so I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me to stand up for what I believe in and take a stance. I sent a message in the GroupMe saying that I respected whatever decision everyone wanted to make, but I personally would not play for this organization ever again.

A lot of people thought that it was about the flag or us standing during the anthem, but it wasn’t. She basically used us as a political pawn. She threw her views on us. She didn’t allow us to have a voice. And it was very insensitive to what’s going on with the Black Lives Matter movement.

How did it progress from a few players speaking out to more players quitting the team? 

I think everyone saw how hurt I was and how hurt Kiki [Stokes] was. Everyone was in agreement. That’s it. Everyone just got on board. Then, we started the This Is Us team, which is super cool. It’s about empowerment, unity, and awareness. I think we’re doing a great job. We have a website, This Is Us Softball, and I think we’re making great waves in the softball community.

What was the atmosphere like after you left the team and how is it now with the formation of the This Is Us team? 

I think when I left, everyone was a little stressed out. They were confused. They didn’t understand what was going on. I think it’s hard to relate to what Black people go through when it’s not your own issue. I think that this was the first time most of them had to deal with it firsthand, and it really opened their eyes.

Now, we’ve all decided to change the narrative — make it about this movement and what we can do as softball players to make our sport more inclusive. Now, it’s a little more lighthearted. We’re playing for something way bigger than ourselves. As you get older and you become professional, you sometimes forget about those reasons. To find something bigger than yourself is always a great thing.

How do you think softball, specifically, can be more inclusive and supportive of its Black athletes?

I think that it starts at a young age. A lot of people in the Black community don’t play softball or baseball because they are expensive sports. I think we can find ways to give back to the younger generations. I know I go through bats and gloves often — I get a new glove every year and my old gloves are still in great shape. Once you’re done with your equipment, you can donate it to younger kids and it will make a difference. Then, as far as the college level and the professional level goes, I think we need to allow players to have a voice. We need to allow them to have a platform to express their beliefs, and be proud of their background, and not have to hide who they are.

The This Is Us team consists of 11 players who are also on the Team USA roster. How do you think that being together in this movement has allowed you all to become closer, and what do you think you all have learned?

I think we were already getting closer before this because we were on tour with each other. Then, with COVID, it stopped. I think we knew that if we were going to be in this, we had to be in it together. That is something that I will take with me forever because this is the first time where I feel like my teammates truly and honestly have my back — that they would do anything and everything for me. We’ve learned that we can trust each other, no matter what. Now I know that my teammates would defend me to the death, and that’s pretty cool.

We’ve also learned how powerful our voices really are. Softball is not on the same level as soccer or volleyball. But our voices are powerful and we can reach a lot of people. It was important for us to stand up and realize that people do want to hear our stories. It doesn’t matter how big our platform is. As long as we stand for something that matters, it will reach the masses.

What does it mean to you, in our current political and social climate, to represent the United States at the national level?

Now, it’s bigger than ever. I think that the Olympics being postponed was actually a blessing in disguise because I’ve had this opportunity to use my platform. There is more awareness now. And I can really represent the Black girls. I was fortunate growing up that softball was in the Olympics consistently, and I saw Natasha Watley and realized, wow, I can be just like her. Now, I have my platform and I can really thrive in that. Michelle [Moultrie] and I are the only Black girls on our team, but we can now thrive in that. We have the platform to engage the younger generations, and allow them to want to be in our position, and encourage them that they can do anything they put their minds to.

You’re signed on to play for Athletes Unlimited. What do you think that league, especially as a new league, can do to promote inclusion and equality within the sport at the professional level? 

Athletes Unlimited has, honestly, been a refreshing experience. They do everything so professionally. We are always informed. I think they do a great job with allowing us to have a platform to use our voices. When everything started with the Black Lives Matter movement, they were one of the first organizations to reach out and say, “What can we do to help?” They are asking our opinions and they want to have meetings. The amount of people in this league who are from different backgrounds and different ethnicities is really cool. I’m excited for this new league to start because I think it’s going to be fantastic and it’s going to grow into something even bigger.

Has there been any word from Athletes Unlimited as to when you will start play, or if there will be a season?

We actually start on August 30th. We will report there either August 17th or a couple of weeks earlier, so we can quarantine. We won’t have any fans, but Athletes Unlimited partnered with ESPN and CBS so you can watch all of the games online.

Why do you think it’s important for athletes to speak up about social justice issues, specifically racial inequalities, in and beyond the sport?

The people who motivated me and inspired me to use my voice were Natasha Cloud and LeBron James. As athletes, we have a platform — we reach the masses. We reach the younger generations and the older generations. If we stay quiet, nothing will change. People support us on the court and they support us on the field. I think people need to realize, though, that yes, we are athletes, but we are also people and we fight different things every day. People learning who we are, beyond our sport, will really change the next generations. As athletes, we have to have a voice in everything that is going on. We have to vote. Just because we play a sport, doesn’t mean that is who we are. It’s just something we do.

The Olympics were postponed until 2021. What is happening in the meantime with Team USA? Are you planning on training together once it is safe to do so? 

We will probably start training this fall. It’s still up in the air because, with COVID, everything changes daily. As of right now, we have a couple of training sessions scheduled for this fall, and then we will start to tour again in February. Fingers crossed that everything stays on course.

Is there anything else that you want to mention?

On a lot of my posts recently, there have been comments from people saying that they want to put their bat and their glove down. Right now, I think that all of us older softball players are going through this so that younger players don’t have to. To all the younger players, keep swinging, keep playing catch, and we will protect you the whole way.