CHANGE- uswnt

godlight

The night after our win against Australia, I found myself sitting in the media room, a USWNT backdrop behind me and a row of reporters in front. The air still carried the buzz of our victory, and I could feel the adrenaline lingering in my veins.

It wasn't my first press conference, but this one felt different. Bigger. My name was being mentioned more. My face was appearing on social media posts, game highlights, interviews. More eyes were on me than ever before.

A reporter leaned forward, tapping her mic. "Maddy, another strong performance tonight. You've been making a real impact off the bench in your first senior tournament. How does it feel to be thriving on this stage at just fifteen?"

Fifteen. They always emphasized my age. I swallowed, forcing a smile. "It's, uh, crazy, honestly. I just try to take it one game at a time and not think too much about it. My teammates make it easy to settle in."

A few reporters chuckled at my answer, as if they'd heard a version of it a hundred times before.

Another voice chimed in. "You say you try not to think about it, but making an Olympic debut this young isn't exactly normal. What motivates you to play at this level?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. The truth was, I didn't have an easy, polished answer to that question. I could say I loved the game, which I did, but that felt too simple. I could talk about my competitive drive, my desire to prove myself, but none of those answers felt right either.

So, I sidestepped.

"I think I just love competing," I said finally, adjusting in my seat. "And being in this environment, playing with people I've looked up to for so long, pushes me to be better every day."

The reporter didn't look satisfied. "Sure, but there's usually more to it than that. Every great athlete has a story. Something that made them chase this dream in the first place. Can you tell us a little about that?"

I shifted again, gripping the edge of my chair. The cameras were on me, waiting. I could feel the weight of the question pressing down.

"I don't know if there's one specific moment," I said carefully, my voice even. "It's just... always been part of me, I guess."

Another sidestep.

There was a pause before another reporter cut in. "You grew up in Maine, right? That's not exactly known for producing soccer talent at this level. What was that like?"

I nodded, relieved for a safer question. "Yeah, I was born in Maine, but I moved around a bit. I go to school in Chicago now."

Another follow-up. "Boarding school, right? Was it tough being away from home so young?"

I exhaled slowly, forcing another smile. "Yeah, but I think it prepared me for this in a lot of ways. It made me independent, taught me how to balance everything."

They kept pushing, but I kept my answers short, redirecting when I could. Finally, after another few questions about the game itself, the press officer wrapped things up, and I was free.

I practically bolted from the room, the tension still sitting heavy in my chest.

•••

Back at the hotel, I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The post-game high was wearing off, replaced by exhaustion and the lingering discomfort from the interview.

My phone buzzed beside me.

Unknown Number.

I frowned, hesitating before answering. "Hello?"

A smooth, confident voice came through the line. "Madeline Reese, right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"This is—" the voice paused for a second before continuing, "—an NWSL coach. I won't say which team yet, but let's just say a few of us have been watching you closely."

I sat up, gripping the phone tighter. "Oh. Wow. Um, thanks?"

He chuckled. "I just wanted to say, you're an incredible player. You bring something special to the game—fun to watch, technical, fast. We don't see many players your age making this kind of impact at the senior level."

My brain was scrambling, trying to process the fact that a pro coach was calling me directly.

"I appreciate that," I said, my voice slightly uneven.

"I know you're focused on the Olympics right now, but when the time comes to think about your next step, I hope you'll keep us in mind. We'd love to have a real conversation when you're ready."

I swallowed. "Yeah. Um. Of course."

"Good luck in the next match, kid. We'll be watching."

The call ended, and I stared at my screen, heart pounding.

I needed to talk to someone.

•••

Mal was sitting on the floor of our room, scrolling through her phone when I knocked. She looked up immediately. "What's up?"

I stepped in, still gripping my phone like it might disappear. "I just got a call. From an NWSL coach."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Which team?"

"They didn't say. Just... said I was fun to watch and that teams are interested."

Mal grinned. "Duh. You think they wouldn't be?"

I let out a breath, sitting on the edge of her bed. "It's just—this is all happening so fast. A month ago, I was at U-20s. Now I'm here, getting media attention, pro teams looking at me... I don't know how to handle it."

Mal set her phone down and leaned back against the bed. "I get it. It's a lot. But it's also part of the game. When you play well, people notice. It's a good thing."

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, but I feel like... I don't know how to balance it. The media, the pressure, all of it. And now coaches are calling, and I don't even know what I want yet."

Mal studied me for a second before sitting up. "Look, you don't have to have all the answers right now. You're fifteen. This is your first senior tournament. No one expects you to have your whole career planned out already."

I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing slightly. "Yeah. I guess."

She nudged my knee with hers. "And as for the media? Just give them what you're comfortable with. You don't owe them your whole life story."

I nodded, letting her words sink in.

After a moment, Mal smirked. "So, do I get to take credit for your first big NWSL call?"

I laughed. "Absolutely not."

She tossed a pillow at me. "Fine. But when you sign your first pro contract, I expect a thank-you speech."

I rolled my eyes, but the weight in my chest felt a little lighter. Maybe I didn't have all the answers yet. Maybe that was okay.