AFH Sport for Good Highlight: National Women’s Soccer League
Over the years, so many inspiring women’s soccer players have made an impact with Athletes for Hope. As the NWSL season kicked off this past weekend, we wanted to tell you who we are rooting for.
Orlando Pride defender and former USWNT player Megan Montefusco has been a vital member of Athletes for Hope. In her role as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Athletes for Hope, Montefusco recruited many collegiate and professional teammates to join Athletes for Hope to make a difference.
She also helped bring AFH University to her alma mater UCLA. As an AFH athlete, Montefusco has participated in CHAMPS On-Demand and Hospital Heroes visits, volunteered with Marathon Kids in Boston, helped children stay active during the pandemic, promoted self care for the Mental Health Champions Club. Montefusco has continuously made a difference in children’s lives and allowed AFH to help even more communities.
One of Montefusco’s teammates that she recruited, Orlando Pride midfielder Viviana Villacorta, has given back to kids in the Orlando community, making a virtual CHAMPS visit to Palm Beach County PE.
Bev Yanez made her head coaching debut this weekend for Racing Louisville versus the Orlando Pride and has always been a great mentor for other athletes.
Yanez, a former NWSL player and assistant coach, has continuously advocated for athlete mental health. She is an AFH Mental Health Ambassador for the Whole Being Athlete program and has participated in multiple AFH panels about athlete mental health and life after sports.
Chicago Red Stars & USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has been a longtime AFH Athlete, mainly specializing in visiting children in the hospital. Naeher has enjoyed her many Hospital Heroes visits and even helped AFH and partner Starlight Children’s Hospital deliver festive hospital gowns to Comers Children’s Hospital. The star goalie and her sister also created a video for CHAMPS giving kids a fitness game to play at home during the pandemic.
Defenders Lauren Barnes of the Seattle Reign FC and Katie Lind of the Houston Dash joined AFH podcast Conversations with Women in Sports for Women’s History Month with Goal Five’s Lindsey Jones. They discussed the value of female role models in soccer and business, the growth of professional women’s soccer, and equal pay and treatment across gender in sports.
As the NWSL begins its 12th year with a new media deal and more hype than ever before, we are rooting for all of the amazing players in the league who are making a difference.