When I think about my journey in professional soccer, I see more than just games played, records set, or seasons completed. I see the obstacles, the fight for equality and sustainability, and the responsibility to leave the sport and the world better than I found it.

Growing up in Upland, California, I fell in love with soccer at an early age. I was fortunate to have dedicated parents, excellent youth coaches, and to be surrounded by a host of other girls who loved soccer as much as I did. At UCLA, I played alongside some of the best athletes in the country, pushing myself every day to reach the next level. But when I turned pro, I quickly learned that being a female athlete meant facing battles beyond the field – fighting for fair wages, better resources, and the recognition our sport deserves.

My professional soccer career began in 2011 with the now-defunct Philadelphia Independence of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league, and it was quite an adjustment for this California girl to experience life on the East Coast. Players in the WPS had to endure long bus trips and pick  up part-time jobs just to make ends meet. Over the course of my career, I’ve also had to work offering food samples in Whole Foods Markets, walking dogs on Rover, and spending hundreds of hours providing private soccer lessons to young players.

In 2013 I was drafted by the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and moved to this beautiful city to start the next chapter. Seattle changed my career in ways I never expected. When I joined Seattle Reign, I found a city that believed in women’s sports, a fan base that showed up rain or shine, and a community that valued leadership regardless of gender. That level of support was absent in the WPS and it has been a game-changer, allowing players like me to thrive. But I also know that for all the progress we’ve made, there’s still work to do.

Women’s soccer has grown tremendously in the past decade, but the fight for equal pay and resources continues. Players in the NWSL have spent years advocating for better contracts, improved facilities, and fair treatment. The reality is female athletes have always had to prove their worth in ways that male athletes never have. And while recent gains, like the U.S. Women’s National Team securing equal pay, are victories to celebrate, they’re not the finish line. They’re just the beginning.

Seattle is one of the best places in the country for women to succeed, but even here, we need more investment in women’s sports — more sponsorships, more media coverage, and more opportunities for young girls to see a future in professional sports.

My commitment to change extends beyond the game of soccer. Several years ago, I made the switch to a plant-based lifestyle, a decision that transformed my performance and my perspective. It made me think about the environmental impact of sports — how teams travel, how we consume resources, and how we can do better. I’ve worked to bring sustainability initiatives to the Seattle Reign, including distributing eco-friendly “Make a Difference” kits to all Reign players that include reusable utensils and water bottles. These efforts are making a difference, and I hope to see more teams and leagues follow suit. Sports have a massive platform, and we should use it to inspire change.

After more than a decade in this league, I am proud to hold the record for most regular-season appearances in NWSL history. But what matters most to me isn’t the number of games I’ve played. It’s the legacy I leave behind. As captain of Seattle Reign, I want to show women that they are strong, capable, and can overcome any challenge they face. For young girls, I want to show them that they belong in the sport of soccer, deserve equal opportunities, and that their voices matter.

Seattle has given me the platform to be an athlete, a leader, and an advocate. My hope is that women everywhere won’t need to face the same fights for equality that female soccer players have encountered over the years. And until that day comes, I’ll keep showing up, on and off the pitch, to push for the future we all deserve.

This feature is part of our annual Trailblazing Women series, honoring 10 women who turn challenges into progress and lead with courage, vision, and grit.