In their 2024 NWSL playoff opener, the Orlando Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1. This playoff appearance marked the Pride’s first in five seasons, and their decisive victory qualified them for the NWSL semifinals for the first time. The Pride will take on the Kansas City Current for a chance at a championship appearance in the semifinals on Sunday, November 17th.
A lot of the Pride’s success this year can be attributed to defender Carson Pickett, who joined the team this year. But Pickett’s influence on sport is so much more than her impressive defensive skills. Her experience playing with a limb difference has driven her to become an advocate for disability awareness and inclusion in sport.
Growing Up With a Limb Difference
Pickett was born with a shorter left arm and without a completely developed hand. Despite her limb difference, her parents treated her just as they would any able-bodied child. “I was raised by two amazing parents who always told me that I could do anything that I dreamed of,” Pickett told Ameridisabliity. As former competitive athletes, they signed Pickett up for as many sports as possible at a young age. They instilled in her the belief that her disability did not make her any less capable than her peers.
Becoming a Top Left Back Defender
Although Pickett enjoyed all the sports she played, she eventually chose to focus on soccer because she enjoyed its team camaraderie. Her unwavering work ethic and competitive nature led her to become one of the top soccer recruits in the nation in high school, and she ultimately decided to attend Florida State University.
“It’s such a discredit to her to say, ‘Look how good she is despite the fact that she has one arm.’ It’s a non-factor. She’s so good because of her ability and her work ethic,” Pickett’s high school teammate Sarah Voigt told Seattle Times. Pickett has proven that she is just as capable as her peers by constantly finding ways to improve and get creative with her game. And she definitely doesn’t let her limb difference limit her ability to chase her dreams.
When she plays, Pickett forces players to the outside towards her stronger right hand. She has also developed a strong ability to read the field. “I have to [read the game well]. I don’t want to get myself into this big, physical battle. If I read the game, and I’m already there – I don’t have to,” Pickett said. Even though Pickett’s coaches would excuse her from lifting due to her limb difference, Pickett has always worked with strength training coaches to find creative ways to become a stronger player in the weight room.
Tackling Challenges to Thrive
Pickett has admitted to struggling with her limb difference at times when she was younger. “I went to Florida State University, and I’d wear sweatshirts in the dead heat of summer. I didn’t want to show my arm. Freshman year was hard. I wanted to be the same as everyone else,” she told the International Paralympic Committee.
She now feels much more confident in herself and has chosen to focus on what she can accomplish with her limb difference instead of what others think about the way she looks.“I am here for a reason and it takes hard work. It’s tough to get stared at [at times] but I am lucky, and all the hard work is paying off,” she said in another interview for Ameridisability.
Advocating for Limb Difference Awareness
Pickett has inspired countless fans with limb differences and other disabilities to pursue sports, and they have in turn inspired her to become an advocate for disability awareness in sport. “Ever since I got to the pros and seeing how many amazing messages I get sent about how I inspire people, some who aren't even soccer players just showed me that I can do so much more than just be a good soccer player, and that I could advocate for something much bigger than soccer,” Pickett said in an interview with CBSSports, reflecting on her advocacy. In 2020, she teamed up with Nike to help develop and promote the Phantom GT Flyease, a soccer cleat without laces that is more accessible for soccer athletes with limb differences.
She also goes out of her way to interact with fans who have limb differences and encourages them to chase their dreams inside and outside of sport. “I hope to inspire people who are disabled or missing a limb like me to always follow their dreams and believe that they are capable of anything no matter what their body looks like. I want them to be able to step on a field, a court or an arena and feel like they belong,” Pickett said in an Instagram post.
Pickett has certainly inspired many in her career so far and continues to do so. Her journey proves that anyone can thrive in sport regardless of their unique abilities. We need to give everyone a chance to fall in love with sport and chase after their dreams!
