Event 1

TLDR: ✨ With the #WomensWorldCup fast approaching, let’s honor those on whose shoulders we stand. Send a note/video to the FIRST US Women’s National Soccer Team (1985) about the impact they had on you & more broadly sports — I’ll hand deliver ✨

I grew up idolizing soccer players like Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm & Kristine Lilly. What I didn’t know, and frankly took for granted was that many of these early USWNT players didn’t have role models in women’s soccer they could aspire to become. Michelle wanted to be Mean Joe Green of the Green Bay Packers until her teacher told her girls couldn’t play pro football. Much of who we dream of becoming is framed by those who come before us and what we see as possible ➡️  So, imagine trying to become the first to blaze a path that didn’t exist. That’s what the first US Women’s National Soccer Team did.

For the FIRST TIME, we’re THANKING THEM 🌟 As we gear up for the #womensworldcup, we look forward AND honor the past. Stacey Enos, the first generation of USWNT Tar Heels is spearheading a weekend reunion (June 30th-July 1st) for the ‘85ers and Flame Bearers is planning a surprise. We’re compiling letters + short videos to the ’85ers, expressing our gratitude/sharing how they shaped our lives. I’ll be hand-delivering all messages, so WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU 🫵 Goal = give credit to the players who blazed the trail for women today and to show them how much their work meant to people everywhere. (Shoutout PUMA for supporting the original Ferns!)

Why? According to Enos, “We are part of this history and we have a story that has never been told.” Akers shares, “Incredibly, this team and its 38 year legacy of unprecedented world domination all began with 17 badass women in 1985 as the first ever USWNT. That first team set the stage for the greatness and warrior mentality of the American game today, and yet their story is largely unknown.”

HERE’S HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

📧 OR 📱: send a note or video to me via LinkedIn or email (jamie@flamebearers.com) by June 29th addressed to one of the original players listed below (or to the team as a whole). A few questions to consider (but it’s your letter):
⚽ What would you say to X of The Original US Women’s National Team?
⚽ How did she/they influence you or women’s soccer?

Players listed below (but 🤫 as only Akers and Enos know about this)…and yes, it’s a risk posting, but we’d prefer to open it up to more people:

-MICHELLE AKERS
-PAM BAUGHMAN
-LORI BYLIN
-KIM CRABBE (’86 team but joining the weekend!)
-STACEY ENOS
-LINDA GANCITANO
-RUTH HARKER
-TUCKA HEALY
-LORI  HENRY
-EMILY PICKERING
-DENISE BOYER MERDICH
-EMILY PICKERING
-ANN ORRISON
-KIM WYANT