The NWSL is back in business after an international pause, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with the inaugural Rivalry Weekend.

Teams faced off as many players came back from playing the EUROs, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and Copa America Femenina. But as Washington Spirit tied against Gotham FC in Harrison, New Jersey, on August 9th, one key player was missing on their roster: Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos.

Santos has been on international duty for the Colombia women’s national team, who played the Copa America final against Brazil on August 2nd. Despite losing on penalties, making it to their second-consecutive Copa America final added to Colombia’s historic strides, where Santos has played a crucial role over the past few years. As more Latin American women’s soccer players work towards representation in international leagues and growth in their home countries, Santos is one advocating for such change.

Santos Has The Spirit

Acquired by the Washington Spirit in April 2024 and making her debut in August of the same year, Santos quickly made an impact on the team. When she debuted with the Washington Spirit she proved how ready she was to help the team. In a game against the Kansas City Current, Santos scored and assisted, becoming the fifth player in NWSL history to record a goal and assist in a debut.

“More than just playing in the US league, and looking at the pace of the game there as a whole, I think the physicality and intensity of the league is amazing,” she told FIFA prior to the Copa America final.

Her influence in the states comes from her influence on the national team, which continues to grow and make history on the world stage.

“When you have that ambition, it drives you to believe that the title will eventually be yours”

Leicy Santos

From Colombia To the World

In the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Santos was one of the national team’s stars. Colombia was the only South American team to have made it out of the group stage, reaching the quarter finals of the tournament for the first time. Despite losing against England’s Lionesses, it was Santos who scored Colombia’s only goal in the game. She considers this goal to be a prideful career moment.

“It might not be my most important goal but it was my first goal at a World Cup and that was so special to me. It also opened my mind that I can accomplish anything in the world of soccer… and, of course, it was a great time for the Colombian team,” she told the Washington Spirit.

She took the same spirit and vision to the 2024 Paris Olympics last year.

The women’s team qualified for the soccer quarterfinals for the first time in its history. Colombia shocked the world in a 2-0 advantage, with Santos contributing the second goal, and even though reigning world champions Spain eventually tied and won in penalties, one thing was certain: Colombian women’s soccer was prospering.

For Santos, the World Cup and Olympics were a “wake up call” to how much talent the team had to make it far in any tournament.

“When you have that ambition, it drives you to believe that the title will eventually be yours,” Santos told FIFA before playing Brazil a week ago.

Colombia didn’t have a women’s football league until 2017, and Santos has been a big proponent for the sport’s growth and development among women in Colombia. As the first Colombian woman to play in a European team and one of only four to play in the NWSL, Santos continues to be an inspiration for women and girl soccer players hoping to succeed globally. She was even a spokesperson for the Colombian league, speaking with authorities representing domestic clubs, and the Colombian government. The game her mom once considered “for boys, not girls” when Santos was young has brought her glorious moments in life.

What To Look Forward To

Santos’ influence will continue to reach worldwide audiences. On August 7th, Washington Spirit announced it is officially the first NWSL team to have Spanish-language social media channels, having debuted “SomosSpirit” on X and Instagram. Their goal is to connect even more with the growing Spanish-speaking population in Washington, D.C. and their global supporters. 

When asked by FIFA about the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup being held in Brazil, Santos didn’t shy away from sharing how much this means to the South American continent as a whole.

“It represents growth for our regions… All eyes will be on this part of the world when it comes to women’s football, so that’s very big for us,” Santos said.

Once Santos returns to action with the Washington Spirit, she is sure to continue showing how much of an asset she can be on any pitch she steps on. With or without the tournament title.