In a Friday night battle in the NWSL, 31-year-old Lynn Williams and the NY/NJ Gotham defeated the Utah Royals FC 4-1. But Williams’ story is longer than just 90 minutes.
The Beginning
Williams grew up in Fresno, California and was put in both soccer and track by her parents. By high school, she was not getting recruited for college soccer, but she was for college track. Williams was planning on running track in college, but ultimately went to Pepperdine University after they were the only school that recruited her for her soccer talents.
After a stellar four years at Pepperdine, Williams was drafted to the Western New York Flash in 2015. She told the New York Post that she “hated it” because she was “away from home, it was cold, and we were losing.” It made her question if she “wanted to do this and if it was worth it being away from my family making only 10,000 a year.” And then, Williams injured her knee, which eliminated her chance at making the USWNT team for the 2016 Olympics and really made her “reflect on and question her path.”
Coming Back & Adapting to Change
Williams “came to the conclusion that the reason why I love playing is just because I love soccer,” and “it’s not because of the national team.” She did end up making the senior national team in October 2016 after strong NWSL play. She continued to get called up for a couple years afterwards, but was not selected for the 2019 World Cup. It was emotionally grueling, but Williams kept working.
There was a change in USWNT coaches from Jill Ellis to Vlatko Andonovski in late 2019, and Williams started to receive call-ups again. She credited the growth of the NWSL in allowing her to be “seen by the national team.” This highlights the importance of having women’s professional leagues like the NWSL and the WNBA, among others, and giving them the funding that they deserve.
“It’s the call you always dream of and always want...All the hard work I have been doing has paid off.”
The Next Battle
In a March 2022 NWSL game, Williams completely tore her hamstring and was sidelined for an entire season. The rehab was long and intense. It wasn’t until January of 2023 that she returned as a second-half sub in a USWNT game versus New Zealand. After only a couple of touches, Williams scored a goal that capped the team’s 4-0 victory. It was a perfect metaphor for all the hard work and uncanny grit that Williams had put into her comeback.
But the sailing didn’t stay smooth. In a “shocking trade” in the 2023 NWSL Draft, she was dealt to Gotham FC from the Kansas City Current. Williams had to recover psychologically, even though she was “grateful Gotham wanted to take a chance on her, especially after she had missed so much time.”
The World Cup & Olympics
Williams “didn’t even know if I’d be able to come back as the same player” after her hamstring injury. But she did, and got to represent the U.S. in the World Cup in summer 2023. “It’s the call you always dream of and always want,” Williams said. “All the hard work I have been doing has paid off.” One year later, Williams represented the red, white, and blue at this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympics. And now she has an Olympic gold medal to represent her dedication to her sport and country.
What’s Next
Williams and Gotham FC, who finished the regular season 3rd in the NWSL, will begin the playoffs next Sunday. The team doesn’t know what will happen in the playoffs. And no one knows what will come next in life. But it’s safe to say that Williams will be taking on whatever is thrown at her next.
