On Saturday, Bay City FC snuck by the North Carolina Courage, winning 1-0. Defender Abby Dahlkemper scored in the 83rd minute to lift Bay City to victory in the match. Bay City FC’s win was crucial for their playoff hunt. They now sit at 8th in the standings, right on the brink of the playoffs. The Courage still remain in prime position, currently fifth in the league.
The NWSL not only is home to high level soccer, but to game changers both on and off the field. Courage defender and VIS Mentor Brianna Pinto is certainly one of them. Her journey for encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion has led her to influencing the lives of many fans across the country. We spoke with Pinto to learn more about her impact beyond the field.
Making Her Mark
Pinto left her time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as one of the best players in the country. In just three seasons with the Tar Heels, she was a two-time All-American, three-time All-ACC First Team selection, and a 2021 MAC Herman Award Finalist for the nation’s best college player.
Despite all of her accomplishments, Pinto always had a knack for giving back to the soccer community. As a member of multiple U.S. Youth National Teams, Pinto traveled to many different countries. During these trips, she saw that many lacked the resources and infrastructure that they needed to provide equal opportunities for all potential soccer players. Pinto took those experiences to heart and spent time brainstorming the best ways to make a difference in her own community.
Creating Impact
So, in 2021, as a rookie in the NWSL, Pinto started the Pinto Futbol Foundation. “Soccer in the United States operates under a pay-to-play model, which is cost-prohibitive for many families. Additionally, to play at the top level, you’re expected to travel all over the country, which isn’t feasible for everyone,” Pinto said about the club soccer system.
To combat this barrier to entry, Pinto and her family host free clinics for kids in their community as part of the Foundation. The clinics “incorporate skills-training, scrimmaging, lunch, and a panel where we invited experienced current and former players to speak about their journey with soccer,” Pinto says. “To alleviate some of the burdens of buying soccer equipment, we send the campers home with gifts such as: t-shirts, soccer balls, shin guards, water bottles etc.”
So far, the Pinto Futbol Foundation has served over 350 North Carolina kids with the hopes of expanding outreach throughout the U.S. and globally.
“No matter what you look like, where you’re from, or what your socioeconomic status is, there’s a place for you in the game of soccer.”
Advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Not only has Pinto given back to her community, but she has also taken steps to make soccer more inclusive and diverse for future generations. Pinto joined the U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council in 2020 and has helped cultivate an environment where DEI is prioritized by representing all members of US soccer. “I have helped pass new bylaws, voted in U.S. Soccer elections, collaborated on the Membership Advisory Committee, volunteered for the Appeals Panel, and served on the Governance Taskforce,” Pinto says.
Aside from her daily tasks, Pinto also assisted in running a campaign called “Next Gen United” with four other athletes. They created the campaign to represent the next generation of soccer players, and Pinto and her peers bring their unique opinions to the table and make their VOICEs heard.
Seeing Diversity Grow
Much of Pinto’s love for advocacy came from her experience as a Black woman in soccer. “I was around 12 years old before I had my first black teammate and this was hard for me at times because I will still try to understand my own identity and become comfortable in my own skin,” Pinto says.
Pinto recalls how she would often straighten her hair to be able to wear her ponytail just like her teammates. But as she grew older, she began to learn the importance of being authentically and unapologetically herself. “As my platform grew, I wanted to reaffirm to the next generation that no matter what you look like, where you’re from, or what your socioeconomic status is, there’s a place for you in the game of soccer. Celebrating diversity is a beautiful thing and I believe it is one of the strongest attributes in successful teams,” she says.
Pinto wishes she would have had more soccer mentors growing up, but that has motivated her to give back through her role as a VIS Mentor. “The VIS mentorship experience is incredibly fulfilling because I get to share advice that I learned over the years to younger athletes now,” Pinto says.
A Game that Unifies
Moving forward, Pinto hopes to see soccer become the top sport in the U.S. because of the power it has to unite people across the world. “Soccer is a global game that unites people in such a special way. If we can use this sport as a platform to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion, I believe we will create more spaces for empathy, growth, and joy,” Pinto says.
For women’s sports, she recognizes the importance of fighting for positive change. “We must continue to demand quality standards to support our women athletes because the product on the court or field can inspire everyone across the world,” she says. And we should also use our platforms like Pinto so that we can make a difference in our communities and grow the sports we love so deeply. Because when we use our collective VOICE to advocate for change, we are unstoppable.
