Letters

29

Katana's POV

"Here Munchkin." Tobin says as she hands me our line-up for tonight's match.

1-Katana Solo
16-Noelle Maritz
21-Rafaelle
4-Jen Beattie
5-Steph Catley
13-Lia Wälti
22-Frida Maanum
23-Mana Iwabuchi
14-Talia Martin(C)
25-Stina Blackstenius
77-Tobin Heath

We're playing Leicester City tonight in our first home game of the season and since we're playing Leicester City, Amaka is playing most of the back ups.

Once at Meadow Park, the bus parks then everyone gets off and heads to the locker room.

When we get to the locker room, everyone puts their stuff down in their respective lockers.

Once my stuff is in my locker, my teammates and I head outside for the pitch inspection.

After we've inspected the pitch, my teammates and I head back to the locker room.

When I get to my locker I take my AirPods out, I take out my nose ring, I take off my necklaces, earrings, bracelet and my rings, put my jewelry in it's safe then I put my jewelry safe and AirPods in my bag.

Once I'm jewelry free I take off my tracksuit and put my dark brown locs up in a ponytail then I put on my short sleeve lime green undershirt, my warm up top, and I put on my game shorts.

I then sit down in my locker and put on my socks, my shin pads and my red boots.

After my boots are on I tape my wrists, hands, and fingers then I put on my red keeper gloves before I head onto the field with the other keepers.

When I get on the pitch I run through my warm ups with the keepers for a while then head back to the locker room.

Once in the locker room I change out of the training top and change into my lime green keeper jersey while Amaka does her last minute talks.

When the last minute talks end, we are told to head to the tunnel so I grab my towel and water bottle then Appa, Socks, and I do as told.

Once in the tunnel, I line-up right behind Talia then I wait for us to be called out.

Minutes later we are told to head out onto the field for the prematch stuff so I follow Talia out onto the field.

Once on the field we stand in line for a few seconds then we shake hands with the Leicester players.

After we shake hands, we take a starting XI picture, Talia does the coin toss, we do our team huddle, then I lead Appa and Socks to the bench.

"Stay here pups." I say

Appa and Socks yip and smile at me so I scratch their heads then I jog to my position on the field.

Once I'm at my goal, I hang my towel up on the net, put my water in the net then Jen and Rafaelle come over and fist bump me before they head to their spots.

"Alright people." I mumble as the game begins. "Let's hurry this shit up."

- - - - -

"Everyone here?" I ask as I look at the large group of woman in front of me as I stand outside of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Yesterday we beat Leicester City 7-0 thanks to 3 goals from Talia, 2 goals from Stina, a goal from Frida, and a goal from Jessie.

Tonight, the Arsenal and Chelsea ladies were invited to the Denver Broncos v Green Bay Packers game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium here in London.

For some reason, I was designated as the ticket holder for both teams so I'm holding all the tickets to the four suites we have.

All of us we're able to take 1 or 2 guests so we have 4 suites together for all of us.

The West Ham and Tottenham ladies are in Liverpool and Manchester, respectively, today so they couldn't come.

"Yeah." Everyone says.

"And everyone has their tickets?" I ask then everyone in the group holds up their ticket so I quickly count all of them. "Alright we can head inside."

Everyone nods then we all head to the stadium.

Once at the stadium, we show our tickets then we all head up to the suites.

When we get into our suite, myself and Mikaela get food and a drink then we head out to the seats.

"I don't think I've ever been to an nfl game." I say as we sit down in our seats.

"I think I went to one when I was younger." Mikaela says.

"We want the Broncos to win right?" Aurora asks from the seat next to me.

Aurora's sat in-between me and Sahara.

"We do." Mikaela says.

"Cool." My little sister says.

"Hey Katana?" Pernille Harder says from behind me.

"Yes?" I say as I turn around.

"Did you already sell your share in Chelsea?"

"Yeah I sold them during the Challenge Cup." I say.

"Ah." Pernille says.

"Do you think you'll buy another team?" Fran Kirby asks.

"Probably when and or if I move back to America." I say.

"When would that be?" Sahara asks.

"No clue." I say.

I'm lying.

My plan is to play for Arsenal for the duration of my contract which ends after the 2024/25 season.

After the 2024/25 season ends, I'll take 6 months off of club football so I can focus on the 2026 Olympics then I think, should Mikaela and I stay together, we'll move back to America, probably Colorado, after the 2026 Olympics.

Once we move back, I'll play for the NWSL team I'm planning to start.

Cairo, Talia and Emma are already pushing for the league to be better in many different ways so hopefully by the time I join the league, it'll be good enough.

"Do you know what club you'd buy?" Jordan asks.

"Maybe Arsenal, Maybe a Ukrainian club, maybe a club from a different country that I haven't played in." I say. "Who knows."

"You just love being Mysterious." Tobin says.

"Maybe a bit Toby." I say. "Maybe just a bit."