Our USWNT Journey

Naomi Girma, USWNT

My name is Naomi Girma. I am a 23-year-old native of San Jose, California and I play professionally for the San Diego Wave in the NWSL. I am the proud daughter of two parents who immigrated from Ethiopia for more opportunities in the United States and getting to play for my country in a World Cup is such an honor. 

I am playing for my family and my community back home who have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position. I am very grateful for all that they have done for me. I also play for young African-American and Ethiopian girls who can see themselves in me and be inspired by where I am.

My journey started at the grassroots level in San Jose and I worked my way through the American soccer system. I missed a lot of school and a lot of time with family and friends while traveling for soccer, but I do not look at it as a sacrifice. I have played in a few Youth World Cups, seen many places around the world, and I have felt like I have had everyone’s support. That has always made the journey more enjoyable and rewarding for me.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

In the photos, you see many of my National Team teammates who are some of my closest friends. They were taken during training camp with the National Team, and I feel like they capture moments between the crazy times and hard work that we all put into this dream to play for our country. The photos are really a good representation of how much time we spend together, how much we enjoy each other’s company, and how much of an amazing journey it is to be on this team.

I was trying to capture behind the scenes so people who see them can feel like they are on the team with us! They were taken during downtime, coffee runs, bus rides, regen sessions, or just hanging out.

One of my favorite photos is the one where Sophia Smith, Ashley Sanchez, and Emily Fox are sitting in our med room eating sushi and just talking. These are some of the best times on the road with my friends.

Are there any photos with a story you want to highlight?

I like the one where Tierna Davidson, Alana Cook, and Rose Lavelle are all reading their Kindles. We all love to read, and we have a Kindle club on the team that is growing every day. We recommend books to each other, talk about them, and it is another way to bond.

The photo of Megan Rapinoe on a boat in Santa Barbara during our pre-World Cup camp is just great, because it is Pinoe being Pinoe with Lynn Williams laughing in the background. We have so many different personalities on the team, and they all are unabashedly themselves, which I love.

The four moms with their babies in the locker room is a definite moment in time that I know they will cherish forever. To be able to have so many moms on the team is super inspirational, shows how far the game has come, and just makes me appreciate those moms even more. Playing without a child is so tough, I cannot even imagine playing with one!

What is one thing you always do to prepare before a game?

I like to listen to music. Anything, honestly. I like to listen to chill music on the bus ride and then something more hype when we get into the locker room.

What are the opportunities and challenges for women’s footballers in the US? What changes have you seen in women’s football since you started playing?

There are so many opportunities nowadays for women’s footballers in the USA. We have a talented National Team and a growing pro league. We have a big college system and thousands of club teams for girls. We are really in a great time for women’s football in the USA and around the world, but we have so much more room to grow. 

Things have not changed that much since I was in high school, but the real credit goes to the older players and the past generations who did so much work to make sure we have what we have today, which is the chance to be professionals and make a good living playing soccer.

What does football and representing your country mean to you?

Football has given me a huge community and support system. It brought me some of the best experiences in my life and introduced me to some of my closest friends. It is the game that I love, and I am so thankful to be playing it for my country at the highest level.

What are your personal ambitions for the future? What impact do you hope to make?

Outside of football and winning everything I can, my personal ambition is to use my platform to bring positive change. One of the ways I want to do that is increase access to mental health resources for footballers across the U.S. and especially in under-resourced communities through my work with Common Goal. In the future I hope to be an advocate for people in my community around whatever issues I am passionate about, as I am still young and still finding my voice.